As regulars will know, I am a statistical anomaly. I have a Honda Accord Tourer that has been nothing but trouble.
In the 25 months I've had it, it's been off the road in the dealer's for just over 7 weeks so far, with both electrical and engine faults. It's ruined one holiday, made another very difficult, left me by the side of the road four times, and caused me work related problems when I've not had an appropriate vehicle for my own company's work.
I'm sick of it, and don't regard this as acceptable any more. I don't want the car back, and I'm wondering what my options are, given it's 25 months and 60k miles old. Do I have any?
All thoughts appreciated.
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If you have lost faith with it there is only one way out,sell it and get something different.I would bet the next owner finds nothing wrong with the car and the car performs perfectly for them.
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www.honestjohn.co.uk/faq/faq.htm?id=43
How did you buy the car? Legal responsibility rests with the supplying dealer and also, if the car is on finance, with the finance company.
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Give the car another chance I think and hope you have been unlucky and hopefully Honda will have got to the bottom of the issue this time.
My present Passat has had a new gearbox, thinner gearbox oil, new clutch and dual mass flywheel. All this in the first 3 years of ownership. Although my car never left me stranded. I wanted to get rid of the car after my 8th visit the garage and they decided to change the clutch and dmf to try and fix the notchy gears that the car had. In the end I decided that I would give the car another go and so far the car has preformed great with no more issues (touch wood).
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At 25 months old, neither Sale and Supply of Goods Acts and regs, not case law supports you and the cost of a legal battle is not worth the gamble. P/x or sell.
HJ
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I think there is another route which the OP might consider: mediation. The case of Egan v Motor Services (Bath) Ltd [2007], CA, is very useful on the point about costs. See the FAQ referred to above, and this link: www.nadr.co.uk/articles/published/AdrLRep/Egan%20v...f
I do also think a solicitor is needed if you would like to explore rejection formally, as HJ is a mite dismissive of the SOGA route :)
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I think there is another route which the OP might consider: mediation. The case of Egan v Motor Services (Bath) Ltd [2007] CA is very useful on the point about costs.
...specifically the need not to run them up to £100k over a £6k dispute. Lord Justice Ward got quite exercised on that point.
This may also assist: www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk/cms/7770.htm
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Gordon, you seemed happy enough when it was on 50k - hope it gets sorted out.
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Gordon you seemed happy enough when it was on 50k - hope it gets sorted out.
Yeah, that's a fair point, I was fairly pleased at that point. It's just getting ridiculous now tho - it was off the road for a total of a month for the electrical problems it had at about 17k, but had been fine up to 50k thereafter.
Problem is, it's been off for another 3.5 weeks since with completely unrelated problems that may or may not be to do with the EGR valve and turbo. It's causing problems with holidays, work, and the issue seems to be that they don't know what's wrong with it and can't seem to fix it. At least now it doesn't run at all, so they can't accuse me of imagining it!
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bhoywonder.
Various UK magazines advise to buy a Passat over the Accord because of expense. I have had incredible reliability with the VAG group all my long motoring lifewhich has been a long time. My Seat Toledo TdiSE ( from end of 1999 being far the best). After hiring a 2.4 litre Honda Accord with automatic and DSG box in Cape Town at Christmas. I would say, support Honda Accord!! I was in Japan in April '06. They take quality issues seriously. My brother-in-law has worked in Tokyo for years.I have seen the Japanese attitude. they are serious!!
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Cattleman6
All my issues where fixed under warranty thankfully and I had a good dealer experience (Verve in Glasgow) who thankfully took my issues seriously. VW customer service is next to hopeless and where just not interested even when the dealership rang them to try and sort out some sort of extended warranty.
VW will have to start taking there build quality seriously and stop cutting corners to save a few pence. They also have to sort out there dealers as most of them are carp and due to naming and shaming polices on this site I cannot name some of the horrendous service that I got from another VW dealer. Again I contacted VW customer service to complain and they where just not interested.
Sorry for hijacking your thread Gordon M
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bhoy wonder.
I had presure on me to buy a new VW as I have always bought from that group with success. I shall definitely take a look at the new Honda Accord.
I too apologise for hijacking your thread Gordon M.
I really hope the Honda trouble will get totally fixed up.
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Hi Gordon, I know how you feel when you loose confidence in the car and want out of it. Unfortunatly you don't really have a right to reject it, this would normally happen on a car that's days or even hours old. Your best course of action, I think, is to arrange a meeting with the dealer principle, explain you still want to stick to Honda but don't feel the car can be trusted anymore. I would try and push for a "special" p/x against a new Honda from the dealer, you can say you'll still service it with them etc.... They win cos they will make ££ on your old car and shift a new one, you'll win cos you'll get a new Honda on a special price.*
If they don't play ball, then you have the excuse never to buy Honda again, take it along to your local Mazda dealer and P/X if for a new Mazda 6!!!!!!
Good luck
*Might be worth popping to another dealer from another franchise and see what sort of deal you get.
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This comment " Unfortunatly you don't really have a right to reject it, this would normally happen on a car that's days or even hours old." appears to be in contradiction to the FAQ "Case law (Rogers v/s Parrish 1987) has put a limit of 6 months on the time you can successfully reject a car and obtain a full refund, though lesser refunds, taking account of mileage covered, may be obtained outside that period." Can you justify taking a very different line, J1mbo? IMHO this issue is where a lawyer/legal service insurance is needed, not amateur advice. Hence my wariness to be prescriptive, earlier.
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Thanks to all for your input. I'm going to talk to legal advisors, but frankly I think I'm on a hiding to nothing. I'm going to try and get mine back working, and then concentrate on the extended warranty or enhanced trade-in routes.
Given that Honda already gave me an extended warranty on the (unrelated) electrical issues I had, maybe that is the best option? I might even end up with the entire car covered by the longest warranty in Honda history :-).
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