I'm New, And Have Had Nothing But Problems With My Auris!

[Nasalhair]

First of all, hello - this is my first post here after reading the forum for the last couple of months, and as you seemed a nice bunch I thought I'd join.

I bought a second hand Auris in December from a major Toyota dealer in the Manchester area. My Auris is a March 2008 registered SR and had about 2000 miles on the clock, the previous owner apparently being a Toyota employee. I love the car to bits but since I got it I've had problem after problem...

Firstly, on the day I got it I found that the lighter didn't work when I plugged my iPod FM transmitter into it. I tried the lighter itself without success, checked the fuse was ok (it was) and took it back. It transpired that the lighter was all present & correct, as was its fuse, but the cabling for it wasn't connected up! So much for pre-delivery checks!

Secondly I noticed a very strange noise coming from the driver's side of the car whilst moving. It was coming from somewhere at the front, maybe in the engine, maybe the wheel, and sounded for all the world like somebody blowing over a bottle. It did this constantly while the car was in motion, sometimes louder than others, and didn't vary with road conditions or the weather. So far the car has been back to the garage four times for this to be fixed, and on each occasion it has been returned with a cheery "all fixed - it was the {insert name of part}" but after only ten or twenty metres' driving outside the forecourt the noise returned. It is going back for this again next week, and so far has had a new offside wheel bearing and an "air intake pipe strapped down" according to the mechanic.

Thirdly, I noticed that the seal on the outside of the driver's side window had its last couple of inches a little loose, so if you touched it after a rain shower water would squidge out from behind. Coincidentally the car makes a thin squealing noise from that door when driven on the motorway over 65mph. I took it back, the scraper seal was replaced - allegedly, as it was still loose when I collected it - and also the door seal has been changed, but the noise remains. This too is being looked at again next week.

In the course of my investigations regarding the whistle I have also noticed that the driver's door looks a little misaligned, its top edge sticking out a little further than the rear passenger door, and if you press it with your fingers the top edge of the door actually moves in and out. In addition, I have also noticed that the small air vent above the movable one above the driver's cup holder has a few chunks of broken glass in it! Could my Auris have had an eventful past I wonder?

Finally, last night I stopped on a steep hill, facing downwards, waiting for some traffic lights to change. My handbrake was on as high as it would go, yet after a few seconds I heard the tell-tale hooting noise of the car straining against the hand brake and it started to move a little, so I had to use my foot brake at the same time. Of course, I couldn't have done this if the car had been parked.

So have I got a complete dud here? Anyone got any ideas or suggestions about the "bottle noise" from the front? I doubt it is road noise as it doesn't vary with the surface being driven on and even does it when driving on wonderfully smooth brand-new motorways.

Hopefully the garage will be able to sort everything out next week, but at the moment I'm regretting with my ten year-old Renault!

[OldSkoO1]

That is NOT good,

I hope they fix everything to your satisfaction and sharpish. I would put it down in writing if they didnt and i wouldn't except the car back until every point has been crossed off.

With regards to the noise like a bottle top, fold the drivers side mirror in and see if it stops. It could be the air going over the wing mirror. May need some foam in the cavity - or even replaced if its mishapen or whatever.

The broken glass is unacceptable (dangerous), the lighter again a silly mistake. The handbrake, well, i will say i've probably driven 10+ different toyota cars from the corrola, avensis, rav4 3 and 5dr to the yaris and even their big van. I can remember 2 or them needing a tighten up on the handbrake linkage which is an easy fix.

I know it doesn't help but your experience isn't the typical toyota experience, quite the opposite so i hope its all sorted. I think your problems are more down to the lack of attention to detail and poor management of the dealship you bought it from. Most good dealers have to follow the toyota standard code of practice. They have templates which they have to follow for certain things. If the checks has been preformed properly or the demo's well looked after the problems may have been reduced or even eradicated / or the car not put on sale.

[Nasalhair]

That is NOT good,

I hope they fix everything to your satisfaction and sharpish. I would put it down in writing if they didnt and i wouldn't except the car back until every point has been crossed off.

With regards to the noise like a bottle top, fold the drivers side mirror in and see if it stops. It could be the air going over the wing mirror. May need some foam in the cavity - or even replaced if its mishapen or whatever.

The broken glass is unacceptable (dangerous), the lighter again a silly mistake. The handbrake, well, i will say i've probably driven 10+ different toyota cars from the corrola, avensis, rav4 3 and 5dr to the yaris and even their big van. I can remember 2 or them needing a tighten up on the handbrake linkage which is an easy fix.

I know it doesn't help but your experience isn't the typical toyota experience, quite the opposite so i hope its all sorted. I think your problems are more down to the lack of attention to detail and poor management of the dealship you bought it from. Most good dealers have to follow the toyota standard code of practice. They have templates which they have to follow for certain things. If the checks has been preformed properly or the demo's well looked after the problems may have been reduced or even eradicated / or the car not put on sale.

Hi, OldSko01 - thanks for the reply.

I complained to the garage in writing a week ago, detailing all of the problems (apart from the glass, which I noticed on Saturday, and the handbrake issue which happened for the first time yesterday but also tonight) and they phoned me back the next day to arrange for me to take it back, and this time they want to keep it for two days. Having said that, last time they had it it was in for two days and nothing was sorted...

Regarding the "bottle" noise I'll try the door mirror thing tomorrow if I think on. It usually sounds as though it is coming from directly in front of me as I'm driving, so I thought it was maybe the wheel or something in the engine bay. Sometimes while it is doing it the steering wheel seems to "buzz" a little in my hands too. The noise seems pretty constant but does get louder on rougher roads, and goes particularly bad if I drive over, say, a manhole cover, so I'm thinking it is most likely wheel-related. As I said in my last post I don't think it is road noise as it does it on all surfaces, always the same pitch regardless of speed, just gets louder sometimes. I can also hear it over the stereo, even when the volume is on about 25.

Hopefully the dealer will sort everything out next week and I'll finally be able to start loving the car - at the moment all of the problems I've had have ruined it. The attitude of the dealer isn't great, especially as it has now been back to them four or five times already with these issues and on every occasion they've said it was fixed, but within seconds of driving off the forecourt the noises have revealed themselves once again. At the moment it feels as though their attitude is "we've got your eleven grand - now clear off." Hopefully next week they will redeem themselves.

[Nasalhair]

An update...

Today I took my Auris back to the dealer for them to have a look at it prior to the work being done on it next week. They suggested that the "bottle" noise I've been hearing is road noise due to the low profile tyres on the SR (I'm still not convinced about this as it sounds exactly the same regardless of the surface being driven on, even when the road is brand new and as smooth as glass). As for the broken glass in the air vent they couldn't answer that but said it had probably suffered a broken window at some time (obviously...) Finally, the squeal from the side door and the fact that the driver's door sticks out a little at the top perplexed them, and they believe that the door may be misaligned, so next week the dealer will drive the car with the door taped up to see if the noise is air entering the cabin, and will then rehang the door, hopefully correctly aligned, and that might just fix the problems. Probably not the "bottle" noise though...

[T Sport 1978]

An update...

Today I took my Auris back to the dealer for them to have a look at it prior to the work being done on it next week. They suggested that the "bottle" noise I've been hearing is road noise due to the low profile tyres on the SR (I'm still not convinced about this as it sounds exactly the same regardless of the surface being driven on, even when the road is brand new and as smooth as glass). As for the broken glass in the air vent they couldn't answer that but said it had probably suffered a broken window at some time (obviously...) Finally, the squeal from the side door and the fact that the driver's door sticks out a little at the top perplexed them, and they believe that the door may be misaligned, so next week the dealer will drive the car with the door taped up to see if the noise is air entering the cabin, and will then rehang the door, hopefully correctly aligned, and that might just fix the problems. Probably not the "bottle" noise though...

I would say the car has been in an accident with the glass and mis-aligned door, i am not too sure what you can do about it though. I hope they sort it all out for you, make sure every single thing is perfect.

[Haylands]

Hi

A popular way for yobs to break into cars is for them to grab the top of the door and bend it away from the car and then just reach inside to open it, sometimes the window will break, sounds to me as if this has happened to your car, they have started to pull on the door, the window has broken and they have got in. The glass has been replaced but the door not repaired. If it's an alignment issue the door would be in at the bottom if it's out at the top, check this.

Some tyres can make a lot of noise on the road, it's not just low profile ones, it depends on the stiffness of the sidewall and the tread pattern as well as rubber compound and pressure.

Get the dealer to send the mechanic, who will work on the car, out for a drive with you, you can then tell them which noise it is, don't just presume they will know what you are talking about.

I would also send another letter to the dealer stating that if they don't fix the car to your satisfaction within say 14 days then you will be rejecting the car and will want a replacement or refund. Do this by letter, not in person. Address it to the dealer principle.

Good Luck

Pete

[Nasalhair]

Hi

A popular way for yobs to break into cars is for them to grab the top of the door and bend it away from the car and then just reach inside to open it, sometimes the window will break, sounds to me as if this has happened to your car, they have started to pull on the door, the window has broken and they have got in. The glass has been replaced but the door not repaired. If it's an alignment issue the door would be in at the bottom if it's out at the top, check this.

Some tyres can make a lot of noise on the road, it's not just low profile ones, it depends on the stiffness of the sidewall and the tread pattern as well as rubber compound and pressure.

Get the dealer to send the mechanic, who will work on the car, out for a drive with you, you can then tell them which noise it is, don't just presume they will know what you are talking about.

I would also send another letter to the dealer stating that if they don't fix the car to your satisfaction within say 14 days then you will be rejecting the car and will want a replacement or refund. Do this by letter, not in person. Address it to the dealer principle.

Good Luck

Pete

Hi,

Regarding the alignment of the door it is perfectly fine apart from the top edge of the door, where the driver's door meets the roof and the rear door, and it is here that it is clearly a little out - maybe 3 or 4 millimetres. The mechanic didn't seem to think that it had been pulled out, but that it had been hung incorrectly, possibly after a previous repair - maybe after a crash, which could have been the cause of the broken glass in the air vent? (My thoughts, not from the mechanic.)

The workshop manager did come out with me today, and on a previous occasion one of the mechanics came for a drive. On both occasions I described the "bottle" noise and explained that it isn't "in your face", but is something that as soon as you do notice it it is all you can hear - a bit like when my mum had a cooker and a cup was dropped onto the hob all she ever noticed was the tiny chip missing from one edge. Both times I let the mechanic drive and after a few seconds they'd ask what they had to do to hear it, to which I'd reply "you can't hear it, can you?" and they'd shake their heads. From the passenger side it is barely audible, but this afternoon when we were out my girlfriend heard it from there, so at least I know I'm not going mad! The fact of the matter is that the noise becomes audible when you pass 10MPH, never changes in pitch - i.e. it doesn't go higher when you go faster - but it does become louder at speed, and can be heard over the stereo when it is on a volume level of about 20.

Could it be road noise? The mechanic today said that he previously had an Auris T3 and when he first tried an SR he noticed it had a lot more road noise because of the low profile tyres. I'm surprised they didn't take me out in another SR today to see if that one made the same noise (how simple a test would that have been, eh?) but on the evidence of today it seems as though they're just dismissing it as road noise and not doing anything about it. When the work on the door is finished I'm going to ask them to come with me on a short test drive to see if things are any better, and if they're unchanged I'll ask to take another SR out for a supervised test drive to see if that also sounds a bit like blowing over a bottle, and if it doesn't mine will be going back for a sixth time, along with a letter going to Toyota UK HQ.

[balli hi]

Hi

It does seem to me that your car has been in an accident at some point, your dealer should be able to tell you for definate, from their records, or you can have an HPI check done for a small fee

below, you will see some information on what is involved in an HPI check, from a site that i entered.

This is the latest car check available that includes information from the PNC (Police National Computer for recorded stolen vehicles), the DVLA and the Association of British Insurers (recorded accident damage).

Our check also reveals whether the registration is recorded as stolen & recovered; our competitors do not...read more. NEW: All our checks are guaranteed and our Gold and Platinum checks include a guarantee of £10,0001.

For only £3.95, we protect you from buying a vehicle that may be:

Subject to Outstanding Finance2

Stolen (Police Interest)

Stolen & Recovered

Write off / Total Insurance Loss (Recorded Accident Damage)

Scrapped by the DVLA

Subject to Plate Transfers

Colour Changes

We also supply you with information on:

Make and Model

Number of Former Keepers

VIN (Chassis Number) Check

Engine Number and Size

Exported

Date First Registered

Year Manufactured

Colour

The results are displayed instantly and can be retrieved at any time for 30 days.

Subject to terms & conditions.

Finance protection requires completion of purchaser receipt, supplied on completion of car check.

Help

Contact

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Previous Customers

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Live Stats

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16.4% written off

16.7% VIN mismatch

Most Commonly Checked

Make: Ford

Model: Renault Clio

Colour: Silver

Stats are generated daily from vehicles checked by mycarcheck.com

[Nasalhair]

Hi

It does seem to me that your car has been in an accident at some point, your dealer should be able to tell you for definate, from their records, or you can have an HPI check done for a small fee

below, you will see some information on what is involved in an HPI check, from a site that i entered.

This is the latest car check available that includes information from the PNC (Police National Computer for recorded stolen vehicles), the DVLA and the Association of British Insurers (recorded accident damage).

Our check also reveals whether the registration is recorded as stolen & recovered; our competitors do not...read more. NEW: All our checks are guaranteed and our Gold and Platinum checks include a guarantee of £10,0001.

For only £3.95, we protect you from buying a vehicle that may be:

Subject to Outstanding Finance2

Stolen (Police Interest)

Stolen & Recovered

Write off / Total Insurance Loss (Recorded Accident Damage)

Scrapped by the DVLA

Subject to Plate Transfers

Colour Changes

We also supply you with information on:

Make and Model

Number of Former Keepers

VIN (Chassis Number) Check

Engine Number and Size

Exported

Date First Registered

Year Manufactured

Colour

The results are displayed instantly and can be retrieved at any time for 30 days.

Subject to terms & conditions.

Finance protection requires completion of purchaser receipt, supplied on completion of car check.

Help

Contact

About Us

Previous Customers

Latest News

Quentin Willson links mycarcheck.com to used vehicle warranties

DVLA to enforce drivers to have health checks.

1 Million Vehicle Checks sold this year by......

DVLA warns motorists – check V5C Registration Certificate before buying a used vehicle.

Moneysupermarket decide on mycarcheck.com

Sun 1st Feb 2009

Live Stats

Check Results

16.4% written off

16.7% VIN mismatch

Most Commonly Checked

Make: Ford

Model: Renault Clio

Colour: Silver

Stats are generated daily from vehicles checked by mycarcheck.com

Sorry, but I never do anything in response to copy & pasted text like that...

I did ask the garage about the history of the car and their response was "we bought it from Toyota themselves, so we have no information on its past." Seems frankly unbelievable to me.

[balli hi]

Hi

It does seem to me that your car has been in an accident at some point, your dealer should be able to tell you for definate, from their records, or you can have an HPI check done for a small fee

below, you will see some information on what is involved in an HPI check, from a site that i entered.

This is the latest car check available that includes information from the PNC (Police National Computer for recorded stolen vehicles), the DVLA and the Association of British Insurers (recorded accident damage).

Our check also reveals whether the registration is recorded as stolen & recovered; our competitors do not...read more. NEW: All our checks are guaranteed and our Gold and Platinum checks include a guarantee of £10,0001.

For only £3.95, we protect you from buying a vehicle that may be:

Subject to Outstanding Finance2

Stolen (Police Interest)

Stolen & Recovered

Write off / Total Insurance Loss (Recorded Accident Damage)

Scrapped by the DVLA

Subject to Plate Transfers

Colour Changes

We also supply you with information on:

Make and Model

Number of Former Keepers

VIN (Chassis Number) Check

Engine Number and Size

Exported

Date First Registered

Year Manufactured

Colour

The results are displayed instantly and can be retrieved at any time for 30 days.

Subject to terms & conditions.

Finance protection requires completion of purchaser receipt, supplied on completion of car check.

Help

Contact

About Us

Previous Customers

Latest News

Quentin Willson links mycarcheck.com to used vehicle warranties

DVLA to enforce drivers to have health checks.

1 Million Vehicle Checks sold this year by......

DVLA warns motorists – check V5C Registration Certificate before buying a used vehicle.

Moneysupermarket decide on mycarcheck.com

Sun 1st Feb 2009

Live Stats

Check Results

16.4% written off

16.7% VIN mismatch

Most Commonly Checked

Make: Ford

Model: Renault Clio

Colour: Silver

Stats are generated daily from vehicles checked by mycarcheck.com

Sorry, but I never do anything in response to copy & pasted text like that...

I did ask the garage about the history of the car and their response was "we bought it from Toyota themselves, so we have no information on its past." Seems frankly unbelievable to me.

Well suit yourself buddy, but when someone does something in an attempt to offer help, its usually customary to say thanks, i'll be sure to steer clear of your posts in future ;)

[T V O R]

as you seemed a nice bunch I thought I'd join.

Sorry, but I never do anything in response to copy & pasted text like that...

The least you can do is check the information given, which I have found very useful, £3.95 for a vehicle check is a bargain. If you part with four quid you may find your car has history.

Broken glass in a car is a tell tale sign of some kind of ‘incident’

[Nasalhair]

as you seemed a nice bunch I thought I'd join.

Sorry, but I never do anything in response to copy & pasted text like that...

The least you can do is check the information given, which I have found very useful, £3.95 for a vehicle check is a bargain. If you part with four quid you may find your car has history.

Broken glass in a car is a tell tale sign of some kind of ‘incident’

Nothing personal, but I always associate huge swathes of copy & pasted text like that with forum spam, whereas if the poster had just said something like "try these - they're good" and posted a web link I'd have been more inclined to go there. Sorry.

The car is going back to the garage tomorrow for two days in order for them to "properly" look at it (mind you, it was in for two days the last time it was there but to no avail).

[Nasalhair]

Hi

It does seem to me that your car has been in an accident at some point, your dealer should be able to tell you for definate, from their records, or you can have an HPI check done for a small fee

below, you will see some information on what is involved in an HPI check, from a site that i entered.

This is the latest car check available that includes information from the PNC (Police National Computer for recorded stolen vehicles), the DVLA and the Association of British Insurers (recorded accident damage).

Our check also reveals whether the registration is recorded as stolen & recovered; our competitors do not...read more. NEW: All our checks are guaranteed and our Gold and Platinum checks include a guarantee of £10,0001.

For only £3.95, we protect you from buying a vehicle that may be:

Subject to Outstanding Finance2

Stolen (Police Interest)

Stolen & Recovered

Write off / Total Insurance Loss (Recorded Accident Damage)

Scrapped by the DVLA

Subject to Plate Transfers

Colour Changes

We also supply you with information on:

Make and Model

Number of Former Keepers

VIN (Chassis Number) Check

Engine Number and Size

Exported

Date First Registered

Year Manufactured

Colour

The results are displayed instantly and can be retrieved at any time for 30 days.

Subject to terms & conditions.

Finance protection requires completion of purchaser receipt, supplied on completion of car check.

Help

Contact

About Us

Previous Customers

Latest News

Quentin Willson links mycarcheck.com to used vehicle warranties

DVLA to enforce drivers to have health checks.

1 Million Vehicle Checks sold this year by......

DVLA warns motorists – check V5C Registration Certificate before buying a used vehicle.

Moneysupermarket decide on mycarcheck.com

Sun 1st Feb 2009

Live Stats

Check Results

16.4% written off

16.7% VIN mismatch

Most Commonly Checked

Make: Ford

Model: Renault Clio

Colour: Silver

Stats are generated daily from vehicles checked by mycarcheck.com

Sorry, but I never do anything in response to copy & pasted text like that...

I did ask the garage about the history of the car and their response was "we bought it from Toyota themselves, so we have no information on its past." Seems frankly unbelievable to me.

Well suit yourself buddy, but when someone does something in an attempt to offer help, its usually customary to say thanks, i'll be sure to steer clear of your posts in future ;)

I'm sorry - thanks for your info, but as I said in my previous post when I see a huge splurge of clearly copy & pasted text like this I think it is the work of an advertising bot rather than a person making a recommendation. Nothing personal.

[balli hi]

I drive a Sherbet Dab, round London mate, nothing to do with advertising, merely trying to help, but its impossible to help those that won't help themselves, " cutting ones nose off, to spite ones face " springs to mind, or burying ones head in the sand, Ostrich style !

[dawesy]

if the door frame to door frame levelness is out that will cause wind noise. the standard from the factory is less than 2mm.

this is an easy fix. all it requires is that the window is wound down and the frame is gently pulled back in by hand.

could have had some thhing trapped in it or the previous owner fitted roofbars that didnt fit well. if it had been bent out as part of a breakin the frove would have suffered visable damage.

the auris does have more road noise when fitted with the 17" rims but that would be more like white noise.

it is also possible that the window was broken during a break in (it happens unfortunately and is no ones fault) and the frame was tweaked during fitting of the new glass.

as for the lighter, no idea

[Nasalhair]

Another update...

Well, I took the car back to the dealer this morning to have everything sorted out. They phoned me tonight to say nothing had been done, but they had found out that at some point between March and December '08 the car had a new door skin on the driver's door, and that it hasn't been correctly fitted. The body shop advised that to fix this the car needs a whole new door. The dealership have got in touch with Toyota to ask what happens next and while they wait for a response, I've got the car back with no changes.

I've also asked if I can take another SR out for a test drive so I can see if it makes the same "bottle noise" as mine. If it does, I know the "problem" is just road noise; if it doesn't it proves there is something wrong with mine. As I drove mine home tonight the "bottle noise" was terrible and actually sounds kind of shivery, a slight vibration noticeable in the steering wheel when it is particularly loud, yet the garage say this is just road noise. I'm thinking if the car has had a new door it has most likely been in an accident, and if so it may have also had e.g. a new wing, and possibly the offside wheel was damaged too, which may mean the tracking is slightly out.

"Bali Hi" - the stuff you posted... I don't see any hyperlinks or phone numbers in there. Is it all for mycarcheck.com, as I see them mentioned towards the end. Looking at their website I'm not sure if they'd be much help as it doesn't mention anything about accidents, aside from total write-offs.

I'm hoping that something will be done soon about my car, but at the moment I completely regret buying it :(

[dawesy]

if its only a skin i doubt it was a large impact as there is a side impact bar in there any damage to that would mean a new door.

[Nasalhair]

if its only a skin i doubt it was a large impact as there is a side impact bar in there any damage to that would mean a new door.

Well when they phoned me yesterday they mentioned it had had a new skin, but would need a whole new door. If the door has been damaged this could well explain the broken glass in the air vent.

I've just been seeking legal advice actually in advance of the dealer's next call...

[Rick D4D]

How long have you had the car?

[Red Yaris 54]

How long have you had the car?

I bought a second hand Auris in December from a major Toyota dealer in the Manchester area. My Auris is a March 2008 registered SR and had about 2000 miles on the clock

His Auris is newer than yours ;)....................It was all in the first post

[Rick D4D]

well then just return the car as sold as (not fit for purpose, trades good act) and get your money back and buy another you know you are happy with

[balli hi]

"Bali Hi" - the stuff you posted... I don't see any hyperlinks or phone numbers in there. Is it all for mycarcheck.com, as I see them mentioned towards the end. Looking at their website I'm not sure if they'd be much help as it doesn't mention anything about accidents, aside from total write-offs.

I'm hoping that something will be done soon about my car, but at the moment I completely regret buying it :(

Hi

Thats because i was'nt trying to sell you anything, just using that particular site as an example of the kind of checks they make.

However i did think they supplied information on accident damage, although i could be wrong. If you Google HPI CHECK, a whole host of sites come up, it might be worth phoning one to see if they include minor accident damage as part of their checks.

I have copied some text for you regarding a purchasers rights when buying from a dealer.

hope you find it of use,

If you dont get any joy regarding your dealer, the ( smmt ) society of motoring manufacturers and traders , will be a good place to start.

8 things you should know about buying from a dealer1. What should you expect?

Dealerships must abide by the law and sell good quality vehicles that are correctly described. They should offer some kind of warranty and be using services such as HPI and the National Mileage Register to check the vehicles they are selling. Before you buy, ask to see the dealer's HPI certificate. If they can't provide this proof, then get a check done yourself to be on the safe side.

2. Codes of practice

For added reassurance, find out which of your local dealers belongs to a trade association that requires the firm to abide by a code of practice. Contact the Retail Motor Industry Federation (RMIF) or Scottish Motor Trade Association (SMTA) for a list of members.

3. The laws

Dealers have to comply with a whole range of legislation, some of which is specifically targeted at the motor trade, including (links open in a new window):

The Trade Descriptions Act 1968

The Consumer Credit Act 1974

The Sale of Goods Act 1979

The Supply of Goods and Services Act

The Road Traffic Acts

The Data Protection Act 1998

Distance Selling Regulations

Price Indications

Unfair Contract Terms

4. What is 'satisfactory' quality?

Sale of Goods legislation rules that the car must meet the standard that a reasonable person would regard as acceptable, bearing in mind the way it was described, how much it cost, and any other relevant circumstances. Apart from usual wear and tear, a used vehicle must be free from defects - except ones pointed out to you and those which should have been uncovered by an inspection (but only if one has been done). Legislation also requires dealers to sell cars only where they have good title.

5. What does 'as described' mean?

Under the Trade Descriptions Act 1968, all descriptions applied to a vehicle must be true. For instance, a car cannot be advertised as having had one careful owner if it has actually had three.

6. What does 'reasonably fit for the purpose' mean?

If you have said that you will be using a vehicle for towing a caravan, for example, it must be fit for that purpose - unless the dealer has specified otherwise. Ask for written confirmation of the purpose as proof. For extra reassurance, HPI offers a unique outfit matching service to ensure the car you want to buy can legally tow your caravan. For a fee, you can check the match at www.towsafe.co.uk.

7. Does a car have to be roadworthy?

It's not illegal for a dealer to sell you a car that has been a total loss, provided that you have been made aware of the fact. However, the Road Traffic Acts provide that any vehicle sold for road use must be in roadworthy condition. If the seller cannot provide a Thatcham-approved inspection report, copies of most inspections are available from HPI at an additional cost.

8. What should you do if you are unhappy with the vehicle you have purchased?

Return to the dealer and, if he refuses to take action, contact the following organisations for advice

The Office of Fair Trading

Trading Standards

Citizens Advice Bureau

Retail Motor Industry Federation (RMIF)

Society of Motor Manufacturer And Traders (SMMT)

The Institute of Automotive Engineers and Assessors (IAEA) (for a fee, they will provide an independent assessment)

[Nasalhair]

"Bali Hi" - the stuff you posted... I don't see any hyperlinks or phone numbers in there. Is it all for mycarcheck.com, as I see them mentioned towards the end. Looking at their website I'm not sure if they'd be much help as it doesn't mention anything about accidents, aside from total write-offs.

I'm hoping that something will be done soon about my car, but at the moment I completely regret buying it :(

Hi

Thats because i was'nt trying to sell you anything, just using that particular site as an example of the kind of checks they make.

However i did think they supplied information on accident damage, although i could be wrong. If you Google HPI CHECK, a whole host of sites come up, it might be worth phoning one to see if they include minor accident damage as part of their checks.

I have copied some text for you regarding a purchasers rights when buying from a dealer.

hope you find it of use,

If you dont get any joy regarding your dealer, the ( smmt ) society of motoring manufacturers and traders , will be a good place to start.

8 things you should know about buying from a dealer1. What should you expect?

Dealerships must abide by the law and sell good quality vehicles that are correctly described. They should offer some kind of warranty and be using services such as HPI and the National Mileage Register to check the vehicles they are selling. Before you buy, ask to see the dealer's HPI certificate. If they can't provide this proof, then get a check done yourself to be on the safe side.

2. Codes of practice

For added reassurance, find out which of your local dealers belongs to a trade association that requires the firm to abide by a code of practice. Contact the Retail Motor Industry Federation (RMIF) or Scottish Motor Trade Association (SMTA) for a list of members.

3. The laws

Dealers have to comply with a whole range of legislation, some of which is specifically targeted at the motor trade, including (links open in a new window):

The Trade Descriptions Act 1968

The Consumer Credit Act 1974

The Sale of Goods Act 1979

The Supply of Goods and Services Act

The Road Traffic Acts

The Data Protection Act 1998

Distance Selling Regulations

Price Indications

Unfair Contract Terms

4. What is 'satisfactory' quality?

Sale of Goods legislation rules that the car must meet the standard that a reasonable person would regard as acceptable, bearing in mind the way it was described, how much it cost, and any other relevant circumstances. Apart from usual wear and tear, a used vehicle must be free from defects - except ones pointed out to you and those which should have been uncovered by an inspection (but only if one has been done). Legislation also requires dealers to sell cars only where they have good title.

5. What does 'as described' mean?

Under the Trade Descriptions Act 1968, all descriptions applied to a vehicle must be true. For instance, a car cannot be advertised as having had one careful owner if it has actually had three.

6. What does 'reasonably fit for the purpose' mean?

If you have said that you will be using a vehicle for towing a caravan, for example, it must be fit for that purpose - unless the dealer has specified otherwise. Ask for written confirmation of the purpose as proof. For extra reassurance, HPI offers a unique outfit matching service to ensure the car you want to buy can legally tow your caravan. For a fee, you can check the match at www.towsafe.co.uk.

7. Does a car have to be roadworthy?

It's not illegal for a dealer to sell you a car that has been a total loss, provided that you have been made aware of the fact. However, the Road Traffic Acts provide that any vehicle sold for road use must be in roadworthy condition. If the seller cannot provide a Thatcham-approved inspection report, copies of most inspections are available from HPI at an additional cost.

8. What should you do if you are unhappy with the vehicle you have purchased?

Return to the dealer and, if he refuses to take action, contact the following organisations for advice

The Office of Fair Trading

Trading Standards

Citizens Advice Bureau

Retail Motor Industry Federation (RMIF)

Society of Motor Manufacturer And Traders (SMMT)

The Institute of Automotive Engineers and Assessors (IAEA) (for a fee, they will provide an independent assessment)

Hi.

Thanks for all of that - much appreciated. I'd actually spoken to the RAC's legal people and asked them where I stood, and this is exactly what they told me. Since then the garage have spoken to me a number of times, saying the matter was being passed around various departments within Toyota, and then finally last night I received a call asking me to take the Auris back to the garage to be fixed. It will be having a new door fitted but they said it will need to be in for five days, maybe longer (for a door to be fitted???) Maybe they've dug into the car's history and found more stuff which is a cause for concern and as a result will be changing more than just the door, I don't know. All being well I'll get it back next Friday and it will all be sorted, or will be a completely different car maybe. We shall see.

[Beretta]

"Bali Hi" - the stuff you posted... I don't see any hyperlinks or phone numbers in there. Is it all for mycarcheck.com, as I see them mentioned towards the end. Looking at their website I'm not sure if they'd be much help as it doesn't mention anything about accidents, aside from total write-offs.

I'm hoping that something will be done soon about my car, but at the moment I completely regret buying it :(

Hi

Thats because i was'nt trying to sell you anything, just using that particular site as an example of the kind of checks they make.

However i did think they supplied information on accident damage, although i could be wrong. If you Google HPI CHECK, a whole host of sites come up, it might be worth phoning one to see if they include minor accident damage as part of their checks.

I have copied some text for you regarding a purchasers rights when buying from a dealer.

hope you find it of use,

If you dont get any joy regarding your dealer, the ( smmt ) society of motoring manufacturers and traders , will be a good place to start.

8 things you should know about buying from a dealer1. What should you expect?

Dealerships must abide by the law and sell good quality vehicles that are correctly described. They should offer some kind of warranty and be using services such as HPI and the National Mileage Register to check the vehicles they are selling. Before you buy, ask to see the dealer's HPI certificate. If they can't provide this proof, then get a check done yourself to be on the safe side.

2. Codes of practice

For added reassurance, find out which of your local dealers belongs to a trade association that requires the firm to abide by a code of practice. Contact the Retail Motor Industry Federation (RMIF) or Scottish Motor Trade Association (SMTA) for a list of members.

3. The laws

Dealers have to comply with a whole range of legislation, some of which is specifically targeted at the motor trade, including (links open in a new window):

The Trade Descriptions Act 1968

The Consumer Credit Act 1974

The Sale of Goods Act 1979

The Supply of Goods and Services Act

The Road Traffic Acts

The Data Protection Act 1998

Distance Selling Regulations

Price Indications

Unfair Contract Terms

4. What is 'satisfactory' quality?

Sale of Goods legislation rules that the car must meet the standard that a reasonable person would regard as acceptable, bearing in mind the way it was described, how much it cost, and any other relevant circumstances. Apart from usual wear and tear, a used vehicle must be free from defects - except ones pointed out to you and those which should have been uncovered by an inspection (but only if one has been done). Legislation also requires dealers to sell cars only where they have good title.

5. What does 'as described' mean?

Under the Trade Descriptions Act 1968, all descriptions applied to a vehicle must be true. For instance, a car cannot be advertised as having had one careful owner if it has actually had three.

6. What does 'reasonably fit for the purpose' mean?

If you have said that you will be using a vehicle for towing a caravan, for example, it must be fit for that purpose - unless the dealer has specified otherwise. Ask for written confirmation of the purpose as proof. For extra reassurance, HPI offers a unique outfit matching service to ensure the car you want to buy can legally tow your caravan. For a fee, you can check the match at www.towsafe.co.uk.

7. Does a car have to be roadworthy?

It's not illegal for a dealer to sell you a car that has been a total loss, provided that you have been made aware of the fact. However, the Road Traffic Acts provide that any vehicle sold for road use must be in roadworthy condition. If the seller cannot provide a Thatcham-approved inspection report, copies of most inspections are available from HPI at an additional cost.

8. What should you do if you are unhappy with the vehicle you have purchased?

Return to the dealer and, if he refuses to take action, contact the following organisations for advice

The Office of Fair Trading

Trading Standards

Citizens Advice Bureau

Retail Motor Industry Federation (RMIF)

Society of Motor Manufacturer And Traders (SMMT)

The Institute of Automotive Engineers and Assessors (IAEA) (for a fee, they will provide an independent assessment)

Hi.

Thanks for all of that - much appreciated. I'd actually spoken to the RAC's legal people and asked them where I stood, and this is exactly what they told me. Since then the garage have spoken to me a number of times, saying the matter was being passed around various departments within Toyota, and then finally last night I received a call asking me to take the Auris back to the garage to be fixed. It will be having a new door fitted but they said it will need to be in for five days, maybe longer (for a door to be fitted???) Maybe they've dug into the car's history and found more stuff which is a cause for concern and as a result will be changing more than just the door, I don't know. All being well I'll get it back next Friday and it will all be sorted, or will be a completely different car maybe. We shall see.

The delay may be caused by them having to arrange for a body shop to fit and paint the door?

What ever happens I would be looking for a goodwill gesture/compensation from the Toyota dealer who sold it to you..

[Nasalhair]

"Bali Hi" - the stuff you posted... I don't see any hyperlinks or phone numbers in there. Is it all for mycarcheck.com, as I see them mentioned towards the end. Looking at their website I'm not sure if they'd be much help as it doesn't mention anything about accidents, aside from total write-offs.

I'm hoping that something will be done soon about my car, but at the moment I completely regret buying it :(

Hi

Thats because i was'nt trying to sell you anything, just using that particular site as an example of the kind of checks they make.

However i did think they supplied information on accident damage, although i could be wrong. If you Google HPI CHECK, a whole host of sites come up, it might be worth phoning one to see if they include minor accident damage as part of their checks.

I have copied some text for you regarding a purchasers rights when buying from a dealer.

hope you find it of use,

If you dont get any joy regarding your dealer, the ( smmt ) society of motoring manufacturers and traders , will be a good place to start.

8 things you should know about buying from a dealer1. What should you expect?

Dealerships must abide by the law and sell good quality vehicles that are correctly described. They should offer some kind of warranty and be using services such as HPI and the National Mileage Register to check the vehicles they are selling. Before you buy, ask to see the dealer's HPI certificate. If they can't provide this proof, then get a check done yourself to be on the safe side.

2. Codes of practice

For added reassurance, find out which of your local dealers belongs to a trade association that requires the firm to abide by a code of practice. Contact the Retail Motor Industry Federation (RMIF) or Scottish Motor Trade Association (SMTA) for a list of members.

3. The laws

Dealers have to comply with a whole range of legislation, some of which is specifically targeted at the motor trade, including (links open in a new window):

The Trade Descriptions Act 1968

The Consumer Credit Act 1974

The Sale of Goods Act 1979

The Supply of Goods and Services Act

The Road Traffic Acts

The Data Protection Act 1998

Distance Selling Regulations

Price Indications

Unfair Contract Terms

4. What is 'satisfactory' quality?

Sale of Goods legislation rules that the car must meet the standard that a reasonable person would regard as acceptable, bearing in mind the way it was described, how much it cost, and any other relevant circumstances. Apart from usual wear and tear, a used vehicle must be free from defects - except ones pointed out to you and those which should have been uncovered by an inspection (but only if one has been done). Legislation also requires dealers to sell cars only where they have good title.

5. What does 'as described' mean?

Under the Trade Descriptions Act 1968, all descriptions applied to a vehicle must be true. For instance, a car cannot be advertised as having had one careful owner if it has actually had three.

6. What does 'reasonably fit for the purpose' mean?

If you have said that you will be using a vehicle for towing a caravan, for example, it must be fit for that purpose - unless the dealer has specified otherwise. Ask for written confirmation of the purpose as proof. For extra reassurance, HPI offers a unique outfit matching service to ensure the car you want to buy can legally tow your caravan. For a fee, you can check the match at www.towsafe.co.uk.

7. Does a car have to be roadworthy?

It's not illegal for a dealer to sell you a car that has been a total loss, provided that you have been made aware of the fact. However, the Road Traffic Acts provide that any vehicle sold for road use must be in roadworthy condition. If the seller cannot provide a Thatcham-approved inspection report, copies of most inspections are available from HPI at an additional cost.

8. What should you do if you are unhappy with the vehicle you have purchased?

Return to the dealer and, if he refuses to take action, contact the following organisations for advice

The Office of Fair Trading

Trading Standards

Citizens Advice Bureau

Retail Motor Industry Federation (RMIF)

Society of Motor Manufacturer And Traders (SMMT)

The Institute of Automotive Engineers and Assessors (IAEA) (for a fee, they will provide an independent assessment)

Hi.

Thanks for all of that - much appreciated. I'd actually spoken to the RAC's legal people and asked them where I stood, and this is exactly what they told me. Since then the garage have spoken to me a number of times, saying the matter was being passed around various departments within Toyota, and then finally last night I received a call asking me to take the Auris back to the garage to be fixed. It will be having a new door fitted but they said it will need to be in for five days, maybe longer (for a door to be fitted???) Maybe they've dug into the car's history and found more stuff which is a cause for concern and as a result will be changing more than just the door, I don't know. All being well I'll get it back next Friday and it will all be sorted, or will be a completely different car maybe. We shall see.

The delay may be caused by them having to arrange for a body shop to fit and paint the door?

What ever happens I would be looking for a goodwill gesture/compensation from the Toyota dealer who sold it to you..

Well the dealer actually has its own body shop, and the car is booked in with the body shop on Monday. Five days just seems an awfully long time to fit and paint a door.

As for compensation I'll be happy if they just manage to stop this whistle, give me a door which doesn't make a banging noise when closing, get the glass out of the air vent, and hopefully identify and get rid of the weird "bottle noise".