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Hi everyone, I’m hoping for some guidance on a used car issue that’s dragged on nearly a month. The dealer agreed to repair but keeps delaying and debating everything - I believe I’m protected under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 but want to confirm next steps.
I bought a car on July 4th 2025, a Range Rover Evoque 2.2d, 12 plate, 67k miles.
It was listed for £8995, and on the listing it only said 'full service history' no other details. I did send a message via the motors website asking for more detail, specifically asking about things like clutch, timing, DPF etc. I had no response so decided to ring, was told they didn't have much info on the car as they acquired it through auction. I said I'd view it and paid a £100 refundable deposit to hold for viewing. Also stated I'd want it serviced before buying if I was happy with it, they agreed.
Upon viewing, I asked again about history of the vehicle and was given the same answer. I had done a little research and from the MOT history I could see that the car had only done 100 miles in the past 4-5 years, so called this out. Received the same answer, doesnt know, maybe it was someones who passed during the covid pandemic. My friend who came with me (ex-mechanic), said the timing needed doing on it. The dealer conceded and dropped the price to £8400. Seemed fair because I'd get the timing done with the difference.
I decided to buy the car, the remaining £8300 was paid to his private account, not his business account in which the deposit was paid to. The invoice is also in the dealers name, and the box was checked for in-house warranty, £400 cap. Though his website did also state that all cars were also covered by warrantywise as standard.
Few weeks later the EML comes on and car is misfiring. I had the codes read and it pointed to an injector, I had the fuel filter replaced and this has seemed to resolve the issue for now, hoping its not injectors. This was done at my own cost, I didn't contact him about it because the cost wasn't worth the hassle. I also had the timing belt replaced at the same time as I knew it needed doing.
Now the real issue, the gearstick felt a bit sticky going into first and reverse specifically, it gradually got worse and on the 27th September 2025 (within the 3 month warranty) it failed and the car has been off road since. I contacted him immediately and asked about warranty, what his website says, and how is this going to be resolved. He told me to have it checked and let him know, I told him the car is undrivable, I cannot have it recovered somewhere until you confirm liability and location, near to me, or back to you (im an hour drive ish away). He told me to try and drive it to a garage and get them to look at it, and that the warrantywise on his website, they no longer use it so im not covered by that, but get a quote and he'll see if he can help.
I insisted on him confirming liability and location first, so I instead phoned 3 garages and explained the issue and see if I could get some rough quotes. Clutch doesnt work with engine on, gears were sticky prior to this happening, have pedal pressure. The first garage quoted me £1313 pre-inspection, sounds like clutch and possibly flywheel but wont know until gearbox is out. Second garage said the same thing but quoted £1500-£2000. Third garage said they wont deal with it because of disputes with dealers/warranties.
So i did the best i could do given the circumstances, he'd not confirmed anything, I got a rough quote and went back to him. He argued over price and suggested they're inflating prices, and told me to look on GSF and EuroCarParts at part prices, I did, and the prices were the same or even more. I said I can't get trade price like he maybe can, so if he wants to do it himself then thats fine but he'd have to recover the car. He refused to pay for recovery, and also deleted the warranty section from his website (I do have screenshots of it prior).
I then said Im covered under the CRA2015, which his website also says they honour (AA standard), and he said fine get it back to him and he'll fix it, but still refused to cover the recovery fee. This went on for like 2 weeks in total from the breakdown date, in the end I gave in just to get this sorted, but i believe he shouldve paid under CRA? no cost to me it states? He said to get the car to him for the 13th/14th as it was booked in for the 15th october (yesterday). Sent the car to him on the 13th October, he didn't bother to tell me he'd received it until the 15th.
Now he's messaged me yesterday saying the car was supposed to be going in, he knows what the issue is, its the clutch, if I want the flywheel replaced then i can cover the cost. I told him if its not at the garage yet and the gearbox isnt out, he wouldnt know the condition of the flywheel, so i'll hold back an answer until then. Argues back saying its not the flywheel, garage wont wait around for me to make a decision or parts to be ordered, he'd already ordered the clutch (not the flywheel). Then said that the mechanic had an emergency and is now off for the week? it'll be looked at next week, 'out of hours' as thats the only time they can fit him in?
I said the same thing he said to me, it needs an inspection first, he's guessing, we can confirm once the flywheel has be inspected. So I said if the flywheel failed it would be on him to replace, if it was in good working condition then sure, i'd cover it for peace of mind - however, i want the old flywheel back as evidence of condition. (Did ask for pictures/videos first but he declined).
He's now said he'll just get the clutch done and leave the flywheel unless the mechanic says its knackered. I've asked has he now rescinded the offer for me to cover the cost of the flywheel and replace it proactively if it hasnt failen. I've also said im covered by CRA again, this has been going on for nearly 3 weeks at this point and its still not going to be looked at until next week. And that i expect an invoice from the business who did the repair, I just don't trust the guy at all.
Where do I stand? At what point can I say his one chance to repair has been exhausted? If its not done by next weekend (say 27th so its 1 month off road total) can I recover the car back organise repair local to me and send an LBA to claim all costs back?
My understanding is that he's violated 'a reasonable time', 'no cost to me' and this has definitely been a 'significant inconvenience'. I'm not even sure if you could say the car was sold in satisfactory condition anymore?
Thanks for any feedback, this is my daily driver so need this resolved asap.
I bought a car on July 4th 2025, a Range Rover Evoque 2.2d, 12 plate, 67k miles.
It was listed for £8995, and on the listing it only said 'full service history' no other details. I did send a message via the motors website asking for more detail, specifically asking about things like clutch, timing, DPF etc. I had no response so decided to ring, was told they didn't have much info on the car as they acquired it through auction. I said I'd view it and paid a £100 refundable deposit to hold for viewing. Also stated I'd want it serviced before buying if I was happy with it, they agreed.
Upon viewing, I asked again about history of the vehicle and was given the same answer. I had done a little research and from the MOT history I could see that the car had only done 100 miles in the past 4-5 years, so called this out. Received the same answer, doesnt know, maybe it was someones who passed during the covid pandemic. My friend who came with me (ex-mechanic), said the timing needed doing on it. The dealer conceded and dropped the price to £8400. Seemed fair because I'd get the timing done with the difference.
I decided to buy the car, the remaining £8300 was paid to his private account, not his business account in which the deposit was paid to. The invoice is also in the dealers name, and the box was checked for in-house warranty, £400 cap. Though his website did also state that all cars were also covered by warrantywise as standard.
Few weeks later the EML comes on and car is misfiring. I had the codes read and it pointed to an injector, I had the fuel filter replaced and this has seemed to resolve the issue for now, hoping its not injectors. This was done at my own cost, I didn't contact him about it because the cost wasn't worth the hassle. I also had the timing belt replaced at the same time as I knew it needed doing.
Now the real issue, the gearstick felt a bit sticky going into first and reverse specifically, it gradually got worse and on the 27th September 2025 (within the 3 month warranty) it failed and the car has been off road since. I contacted him immediately and asked about warranty, what his website says, and how is this going to be resolved. He told me to have it checked and let him know, I told him the car is undrivable, I cannot have it recovered somewhere until you confirm liability and location, near to me, or back to you (im an hour drive ish away). He told me to try and drive it to a garage and get them to look at it, and that the warrantywise on his website, they no longer use it so im not covered by that, but get a quote and he'll see if he can help.
I insisted on him confirming liability and location first, so I instead phoned 3 garages and explained the issue and see if I could get some rough quotes. Clutch doesnt work with engine on, gears were sticky prior to this happening, have pedal pressure. The first garage quoted me £1313 pre-inspection, sounds like clutch and possibly flywheel but wont know until gearbox is out. Second garage said the same thing but quoted £1500-£2000. Third garage said they wont deal with it because of disputes with dealers/warranties.
So i did the best i could do given the circumstances, he'd not confirmed anything, I got a rough quote and went back to him. He argued over price and suggested they're inflating prices, and told me to look on GSF and EuroCarParts at part prices, I did, and the prices were the same or even more. I said I can't get trade price like he maybe can, so if he wants to do it himself then thats fine but he'd have to recover the car. He refused to pay for recovery, and also deleted the warranty section from his website (I do have screenshots of it prior).
I then said Im covered under the CRA2015, which his website also says they honour (AA standard), and he said fine get it back to him and he'll fix it, but still refused to cover the recovery fee. This went on for like 2 weeks in total from the breakdown date, in the end I gave in just to get this sorted, but i believe he shouldve paid under CRA? no cost to me it states? He said to get the car to him for the 13th/14th as it was booked in for the 15th october (yesterday). Sent the car to him on the 13th October, he didn't bother to tell me he'd received it until the 15th.
Now he's messaged me yesterday saying the car was supposed to be going in, he knows what the issue is, its the clutch, if I want the flywheel replaced then i can cover the cost. I told him if its not at the garage yet and the gearbox isnt out, he wouldnt know the condition of the flywheel, so i'll hold back an answer until then. Argues back saying its not the flywheel, garage wont wait around for me to make a decision or parts to be ordered, he'd already ordered the clutch (not the flywheel). Then said that the mechanic had an emergency and is now off for the week? it'll be looked at next week, 'out of hours' as thats the only time they can fit him in?
I said the same thing he said to me, it needs an inspection first, he's guessing, we can confirm once the flywheel has be inspected. So I said if the flywheel failed it would be on him to replace, if it was in good working condition then sure, i'd cover it for peace of mind - however, i want the old flywheel back as evidence of condition. (Did ask for pictures/videos first but he declined).
He's now said he'll just get the clutch done and leave the flywheel unless the mechanic says its knackered. I've asked has he now rescinded the offer for me to cover the cost of the flywheel and replace it proactively if it hasnt failen. I've also said im covered by CRA again, this has been going on for nearly 3 weeks at this point and its still not going to be looked at until next week. And that i expect an invoice from the business who did the repair, I just don't trust the guy at all.
Where do I stand? At what point can I say his one chance to repair has been exhausted? If its not done by next weekend (say 27th so its 1 month off road total) can I recover the car back organise repair local to me and send an LBA to claim all costs back?
My understanding is that he's violated 'a reasonable time', 'no cost to me' and this has definitely been a 'significant inconvenience'. I'm not even sure if you could say the car was sold in satisfactory condition anymore?
Thanks for any feedback, this is my daily driver so need this resolved asap.
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