What would you do?

Nearly three weeks ago I saw a tidy 3 year old one owner 90 CSW at a local (ish) main agent that I quite fancied. Despite it being listed on their website they had only just taken the vehicle in on p/ex and therefore it had not gone through the approved vehicle pre sale preparation but was assured that this would obviously be completed should I decide to proceed. A very few days later on the Monday, having discussed a p/ex deal I decided to go ahead with the vehicle and was quoted an estimated delivery on the Saturday so gave them £500 deposit via Visa on the phone. After this the salesman said that if I was planning to pay the balance by personal cheque they would require it that day to make sure it had cleared in time for the Saturday. A cheque for the balance was duly delivered that day (and in fact this cleared within 3 days).

The day before I was due to take delivery they rang to say that the vehicle had still not been prepped as they had detected a slight vibration in a certain gear at a certain road speed and therefore they wanted to investigate the cause and rectify. They said this was more than likely a minor problem and was probably down to engine mounts , propshaft UJ or similar. I was then told the vehicle would be ready the following Tuesday or Wednesday (this week) - it was not to be. I had a call on Monday saying that they couldn't find anything wrong with the engine mounts, propshafts etc and that they now suspected a flywheel problem. This being the case they wanted to replace the flywheel but didn't have one in stock so they would order one for delivery and that it would be in later this week but due to Easter etc they wouldn't get the job done until early next week. However in the meantime the vehicle would be back from the bodyshop prep by Wednesday (yesterday).

I called the Sales Manager this morning saying that as I was passing I'd like to call in and see the vehicle today now that the bodywork had been finished. He said the good news is that the flywheel was in but the vehicle was still in the bodyshop still having the hinges repainted and as they were out of the flexible paint for the wing eyebrows it had delayed fixing the scratch I'd noticed during initial inspection. The end result of all this is that all being they should get the motor back next Wednesday after which they will start on the flywheel job trusting that this indeed is the cause of the vibration.

So, here I am with the main dealer earning interest on the £11,000 of my money and I'm still no nearer getting my hands on the vehicle - which I don't doubt will be perfect when I do eventually get it.

I'm right on the verge of asking for my money back and they have agreed to do this should I decide to go this way.

What would you do?

Reply to
AN6530
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I'd get my money back and buy one privately for a lot less. You won't have a guarantee, but it sounds like this could be a problem vehicle anyway, which means a lot of hassle, guarantee or not.

David

Reply to
David French

AN6530 posted ...

Take the money and run .. ;)

Reply to
Paul - xxx

I guess you have to weigh up whether this is a natural type of inconvenience which has been subject to fate or whether they are p!ssing you around. Sounds rather unlucky but if you like the vehicle and they've offered a refund, maybe you're right to wait and they've shown goodwill.

Reply to
Mother

Practically, I doubt the interest on the money would be enough to worry about, and I'd be willing to give them the time they currently expect to need. After that, I'd be in weary-of-waiting mode. But if they can get this sorted, I reckon you're getting a good deal. They'd be setting a higher price now if you hadn't already paid.

Myself, I'd want a test drive before signing-off on delivery, just to be sure. But the trouble they're taking, it sounds as though the vibration was pretty bad, and not the sort of buzz I've known and lived with. I just hope they've checked all the obvious causes.

Reply to
David G. Bell

"David G. Bell" posted ...

I actually suggested taking the money, but maybe a test-drive to 'feel' the vibration, then another one when it's 'fixed' would maybe provide some kind of feedback as to the suitability of the thing before taking delivery .. ;)

Reply to
Paul - xxx

Given the age, they may be concerned that this may be one of the "exploding flywheel" batch which might explain their reluctance to let you have it before it's fixed or they have ruled the flywheel out....

cheers

Dave W.

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Reply to
Dave White

I considered that possibility too and ran the VIN number against those issued by LR for recall but it's later than those listed, however obviously this does not mean that it's not a flywheel related issue of course. Bloody modern fangled things, I knew I should have stuck with something I know like a 300Tdi ;-)

Steve. Suffolk. remove 'knujon' to e-mail

Reply to
AN6530

Please do feel free to avail yourself of my S3 A snip (it would seem) at a mere 10K :-)

Reply to
Mother

I keep promising to treat myself to another Series jobby to play with, something like a nice little Series 1 would do nicely. For 10k I'd want to see the hallmarks first though ;-)

Steve. Suffolk. remove 'knujon' to e-mail

Reply to
AN6530

I do a special 'square deal', 20 percent off for cash :-)

Reply to
Mother

If they're fixing the factory recall 'flywheel crack problem', you should get a new flywheel, with a free clutch and thrust bearing thrown in (I did). But hey, if you ask for your money back, have to wait untill it's cleared from theirs to yours, found another one you equally like, and get that delivered. It might take a bit longer.

But agreeing to give you your money back, for a vehicle that's supposed to be ready, sounds to me like they're running up a bill, want you to negate, so they can 'reposition' it for maybe 13.500 (it's got a brand new clutch, guvna !).

Peter R.

Reply to
Peter R.

Oh you're going to have to do better than that Bruv :-)

Steve. Suffolk. remove 'knujon' to e-mail

Reply to
AN6530

But agreeing to give you your money back, for a vehicle that's

It's a 2001 model and having checked the affected VIN's (but not engine no.) it's too late to fall within the flywheel recall ....not to say that it hasn't got a dodgy one.

Anyway, the money is only part payment - I obviously still have the p/ex that was going to make up the balance.

Still undecided :-(

Mind you I have seen a nice TD5 110 crewcab up for grabs locally. See, I'm getting my just desserts for breaking my vow of never buying from a main dealer ...and being an impatient sod to boot ;-)

Steve. Suffolk. remove 'knujon' to e-mail

Reply to
AN6530

in article snipped-for-privacy@mb-m25.aol.com, AN6530 at snipped-for-privacy@aol.comknujon wrote on 9/4/04 12:16 pm:

You can have our Discovery, Range Rover and Series 3 plus the LPG kit thats sitting in the corner of my kitchen for less than 10K.

Reply to
Nikki Cluley

Oi BRUCE, BRUCE !!! QUICK ! SHE'S TRYING TO GET RID OF THE LANDYS

That women needs some strong discipline. Unless, of course, she is going to swap it all for a 101......

Steve

Reply to
Steve

I've only been pulling cars apart and putting them back together since

1962 - so tell me how a flywheel can have a problem? Surely, it could be: 1) Out of balance 2) Have a duff starter ring gear 3) Be loosely attached to the crankshaft 4) Break up, i.e., disintegrate/explode (usually due to excessive lightening)

........er, that's it?

Any other reasons for vibration? What'd'yer mean "Flywheek re-call"!!!!??? I really want to know how a manufacturer can get it this badly wrong!

CJ

Reply to
CJ

in article 407710f1$0$31717$ snipped-for-privacy@lovejoy.zen.co.uk, Steve at snipped-for-privacy@thetaylorfamily.org.uk wrote on 9/4/04 10:09 pm:

Not all of them. He wouldn't let the Lightweight go. Its his favourite.

The above was his suggestion. I should have started the reply with "Bruce says you can our Discovery, Range Rover and Series 3 plus the LPG kit thats sitting in the corner of my kitchen for less than 10K".

It would only be to purchase another and newer Discovery and any left over toward a suitable Land Rover ex-ambulance. A 101 would be his first choice as he really does fancy converting one into a camper.

Reply to
Nikki Cluley

Keep the gas kit then.

Steve

Reply to
Steve

I really want to know how a manufacturer can get it this

So you didn't hear about, say, the Discovery peeling dashboard saga, or the

300 Tdi cam belt problem?

Steve. Suffolk. remove 'knujon' to e-mail

Reply to
AN6530

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