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Conference terri::cars_uk

Title:	Cars in the UK
Notice:	Please read new conference charter 1.70
Moderator:	COMICS::SHELLEYELD

Created:	Sun Mar 06 1994
Last Modified:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:	2584
Total number of notes:	63384

1319.0. "Guarantee outside guarantee period ..." by EVOAI1::HULLAH (Jacquie Hullah @EVO) Mon Dec 17 1990 13:58

    This file has quite a few notes on guarantees.  I've just discovered
    that if you're prepared to write a few letters and kick up a bit of a
    fuss - what, me ;-) - then even if your car's guarantee period has
    expired, it IS possible to get the manufacturer to sort things out.
    
    Story: MG Metro Turbo bought in Nov. 1987 (a present from my 
    husband who decided that as I needed a car, getting me one for my 
    birthday would save him having to make any decision on a 'real' present!).  
    Car was 6 months old and had done just 6000 km when engine overheated on 
    the Autoroute de l'Est on the way to Metz.  This overheading was due to a 
    badly fitted horn vibrating against the radiator and piercing it.  Car was
    taken to nearest Austin Rover garage and new radiator fitted under
    guarantee.  I asked AR's European Service manager to also send someone
    to check that no other damage had occurred, since the overheating was
    hot enough to melt paint under the bonnet.  The checking by an "expert"
    was decided by AR to be not necessary.
    
    At 18 months old, still under guarantee, AR asked to "expertise" the
    car because oil consumption becoming worrying.  They were reminded
    about initial incident, but refused to send anyone.
    
    In November 1990, Metro booked in for 50,000 km service at AR-Jaguar
    dealer in Fontainebleau.  (They carry out 60,000 km service ...)
    Performance APPALLING after service - take car back.  AR say "don't
    worry madam, it's just the timing" - but it's just been serviced!!!
    
    No better two days later when I collect the car, so take it to local
    garage - run by the sort of mechanic who gets his hands dirty and
    doesn't use fancy gadgets.  He diagnoses warped cylinder head, probably
    due to overheating ...
    
    Read on in reply 1.
    
    Jacquie

T.R	Title	User	Personal Name	Date	Lines
1319.1	The end of the saga	EVOAI1::HULLAH	Jacquie Hullah @EVO	`Mon Dec 17 1990 15:45`	49
1319.2	AR - Annoying Rubbish	MAJORS::REVELL	Shoots, but can't hit..	`Mon Dec 17 1990 19:44`	21
	Hi, I also experienced just a few problems with my Austin Rover car, an MG Montego Turbo . But after writing a letter to AR customer service in Cowley,Oxfordshire they said if I got any major problems then give them a ring and they would see what they could do. Well I held them to their promise , when my brake lights stopped working due to a wiring fault. The garage that repared my car wanted 100 sov's , so I phoned up AR and they said they would see to it. Mind you , the car was only two years old and had only broken down 4 times, twice due to ruptured hoses and gaskets. So it is worth bitching, though the dealers wasn't much use. If you have parted with X thousands of pounds, then you are entitled to a bit of customer satisfaction. Gary.
1319.3	The dealers spoil the reputation of the cars	VOGON::MITCHELLE	Oh! ......<o-' '42>.... oops!!!	`Mon Dec 17 1990 20:36`	13
	I think that many of AR franchised agents do nothing but harm as far as the Rover image is concerned. I know of several people who have only got things sorted out by going to AR customer services. (Isn't that one of the reasons why Penta in Reading was dis-enfranchised - too many customer complaints) We've had three new AR cars, and although we have had a couple of minor problems - all which should have been easily put right, the agrevation caused by the dealers magnifies these things out of all proportion. At the moment there seems to be no-one who can set up a pair of headlights on a Maestro so they are directed correctly!
1319.4		SUBURB::THOMASH	The Devon Dumpling	`Tue Dec 18 1990 13:11`	13
	Well, I had a Maestro, which I had serviced/repaired at Penta, I now have a Montego, it gets serviced in Theale, and it would have been repaired there too, however the insurers chose the higher quote. And my saga of that repair at the AR dealer is noted here. Suffice to say that my opinion of both is the same. Heather PS: Penta tried to get out of fixing my sunroof by telling me it was designed to leak!
1319.5		CHEFS::WARDC		`Wed Jan 23 1991 21:24`	10
	I am aware of two manufacturers, Ford and Fiat, who operate "Goodwill" schemes whereby parts that have failed well short of expected lifetime will be considered for warranty repairs. In both cases, one crankshaft and one clutch, I failed to get recompense only because I wasn't the original owner though I could prove low mileage from dealer service records. Otherwise I would not have had a problem. However, in all cases it pays to be tenacious and thorough in your record keeping as well as throwing your weight around, ie size of company fleet. In previous companies a phone call from the fleet manager to the dealer or to the manufacturer usually results in action.