Porkies

I purchased a “low mileage” Porsche from a reputed independent specialist 6 months ago, now showing 35,000 miles. While being serviced a problem was detected and on stripping the engine the cylinders were found to be scored. The car went to another dealer for a fix but the on-board computer readout showed that the car has done 50,000 miles. I am being advised to fit a refurbished Porsche engine at a cost of £14,000. What legal recourse do I have against the dealer who sold me the car? I was told the car was HPI checked but I did not demand to see the document. The online MOT test register confirms the mileage.

Asked on 15 January 2010 by PC, via email

Answered by Honest John
A car's ECU now records a car's total mileage, engine revs and road speeds in much the same way as an aircraft's black box clocks up total flying hours. This ECU recording is evidential and drivers have even been prosecuted for speeding on the basis of the evidence in the ECU. So if the car was sold as having a lower mileage than the mileage clocked up by the ECU it was falsely represented. MoTs are less reliable because a car can be run 'unhooked' (with the speedo disconnected) in between MoTs so the speedo and odo do not record the miles. This is done with Porsches because their value is very mileage sensitive. So you have a very strong case that the car was at least misrepresented and at worst clocked on the basis of the evidence in its ECU. And the ECU may contain other evidence such as the engine having been over revved, etc.
Tags: mileage
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