A very angry LCR owner...

[Mike Green]

Hello all

I just wanted to let off some steam as I have just heard some news that has made me incredibly angry.

I bought an LCR 4 weeks ago from a certain dealer (who will only be mentioned in the dealer section if they fail to do anything about this) and when I asked about the tyre tread depth the sales guy said becuase I am going through a seat approved centre they have to provide decent/ a certain level of tyre tread depth, and not to worry about this. I checked one tyre (only today did i find out you need to check the inside of the tyres as these cars wear there first)

I have done less than 400 miles due to driving another car during the week, and have just come back from a garage.

The guy checked my tyres and told me i need 3 new tyres, one straight away and 2 within 1000 miles approx!!! I knew the car had good tyres (Eagles) and have been quoted £165 each from the garage. This just is not on being lied to like this, and I have no cash atall to buy new tyres as paid all I had and then some into this car. Tried calling the garage and of course not open on a Sunday.

Would any of you people be really off and complain to the dealer, or was it up to me to check the tread before I took the car away? I went by what the dealer sales guy said - its the first time I have bought a sports car and tried to look out for everything but never expected this!

 

[RikH]

if you definitely need new tyres, dont get them from there-those prices are rediculous
can be looking around 100 a tyre elsewhere

 

[si-mate]

I thought all second hand cars sold by businesses had to have a certain level of roadworthiness - which having a bald tyre means that the car isn't roadworthy.

Having said that I would always check the condition of tyres when buying a second hand car and haggle hard if they're past their best.

I would hope that the dealer will help you out with this as a sign of goodwill.

 

[Danny_FR]

I'm sorry to hear about your problems and I hope you can get your dealer to replace them as a good will gesture like already mentioned. Just don't go ranting and raving or else they'll just laugh at you. Be firm but fair.

On the other hand, I really don't think they have to. I mean, if you bought a second hand stereo and after a month of use you go back to whoever sold it to you and say that there isn't a volume knob you'll get told to bugger off... It's always best to check everything BEFORE you go home with it. It's quite easy to wear out a set of tyres in less than 400 miles, especially in a performance vehicle.

 

[777cupra]

did you get a check list when they gave you the car, I think when I got mine form a dealer they gave like 100 point check and the tread depths were written on there? If you got that, and mileage to prove you have only done 400 miles then you may be lucky and get something out of them.

I'd also get your tracking checked if the insides are worn much more than the outside?

I agree that if you go in ranting and raving they are less likely to help you, but you can't be too soft.

If you don't get anything off the dealer then try blackcircles.co.uk for tyres, they are loads cheaper. I got 4 tyres fitted for approx £300.

hope you get it sorted out tho mate

 

[skahigh]

if you dont manage to get this sorted you might want to think about ordering a set of these:

http://www.camskill.co.uk/products.php?plid=m4b0s134p6214

i just bought 2 to put on my rear axle (they are still in my boot at the mo), they have excellent reviews and are miles cheaper than the gsd's. robdon uses these i believe.

 

[karlosR]

if you dont manage to get this sorted you might want to think about ordering a set of these:

http://www.camskill.co.uk/products.php?plid=m4b0s134p6214

i just bought 2 to put on my rear axle (they are still in my boot at the mo), they have excellent reviews and are miles cheaper than the gsd's. robdon uses these i believe.

thats a good price, i certainly hope they're better than falken ZE512's as they are a terrible tyre. on a plus note i found a set of kuhmo ecsta 712's on ebay for £198 for four and they don't seem too bad for the price.

 

[Mike Green]

Cheers for the advice. Will be fair but firm. Good point about that checklist, not sure will have to have a look.

You always learn the hard way don't you, but yes you are right, I could have used it as a big haggling tool.

another lesson learnt.

 

[Mike Green]

if you dont manage to get this sorted you might want to think about ordering a set of these:

http://www.camskill.co.uk/products.php?plid=m4b0s134p6214

i just bought 2 to put on my rear axle (they are still in my boot at the mo), they have excellent reviews and are miles cheaper than the gsd's. robdon uses these i believe.

Cheers for the tip. Been reading the forum and these tyres have been mentioned a fair bit as being pretty good, especially good VFM. Going to call the garage tomorrow and see what can be done.

 

[supercuprar]

my seat dealer put 4 new ones on mine when i brought it , had to haggle for it though !

was the datchett/ windsor dealer off the m4 m . gets a thumbs up from me !

 

[Cupraloon]

Go back to the dealers, I don't supprose you bought the car "sold as seen" did you ???

In that case as a SEAT stealers, they must have supplied the car with at least a 3 month warranty, the car has the fit for the purpose, so if they sold it to you with almost bald tyres it isn't fit for the purpose or indeed for the road, if you'd been stopped and got a ticket for bald tyres would they have paid your fine I doubt it.

Take it back mate, and kick up a fuss unless they change them, trading standards is always a good place to start if they won't play ball.

another thing did they re MOT it when you got it, how did it pass if so worth mentioning !!!

Obvously don't go in there ranting and raving, but just tell them in no uncertian terms what you expect from them as you've only had the car 4 weeks.

 

[jamesy]

when i brought my car from a seat dealer they told me that all their used approved cars must have at least 3mm tread depth all round.
deffinetly go back to them and demand some action to be taken

 

[Mike Green]

Its a 55 plate so no MOT. I have decided to really kick up a fuss, but will try to be as calm as possible.

The dealer told me as an approved seat dealer they have to provide the car with a certain tread depth and so this car has good tread. He never told me what it was, but obviously must be more than 1.6mm.

Cheers for the replies, you have all agreed with what I was thinking, going to kick up a fuss tomorrow with the manager and will let you know how I get on. TBH the way I am going to go with it is either they pay to replace the tyres or I am returning the vehicle, as I am not going to be lied to and get ripped off. To think I paid the extra £££ to avoid this by going through a dealer.

 

[swissrebel]

I'm hoping you meant warranty, and not MOT - if they sold it to you without that, then you've got bigger worries than tyres

 

[captcolourblind]

doesnt need MOT until 3yrs old..... is good practice to sell with sensible tread depths though.

 

[lc_allan]

if you dont manage to get this sorted you might want to think about ordering a set of these:

http://www.camskill.co.uk/products.php?plid=m4b0s134p6214

i just bought 2 to put on my rear axle (they are still in my boot at the mo), they have excellent reviews and are miles cheaper than the gsd's. robdon uses these i believe.

I was going to post about these I have just had 2 fitted on the rear. From Camskill. Seem ok so far even in this weeks downpours. Moved the shitty Rosso's to the front but these will also be replaced soon. I might even get a second set of the Falkens.

 

[Mike Green]

UPDATE - the dealers have asked me to go back to them for a second evaluation of the car. Going back this saturday to see what they have to day, only trouble is its near a 200 mile journey!!

Will let you know how I get on. They did say there is no way they did not check the car thoroughly and were sure the tyre tread was adequate.

 

[Cupraloon]

So far so ok then, Mike...

Sounds like they might be preparing you for a get out, which i hope isn't the case, for your sake.

Did you get a check sheet when you took delivery, hopefully there should be tyre tread depths listed on that ???

even if they sold you the car with the legal 1.7mm tread depth, which is a little nasty especially if they are a SEAT main agent, depending on the amount of mileage you did over the last 4 weeks can't see the tread going down that quickly Tbh,

Any hoo... good luck on Sat, if it all goes awry and they won't stick some new tyre's on for you, there are a few avenue's to get what you want, trading standards, write a disgusted letter to SEAT HQ's MD, (it worked for me with Peugeot, got money off them, after i got shite service) it's all worth considering hopefully you'll get it sorted amicably first, and won't have top have all that hassle.

 

[Mike Green]

So far so ok then, Mike...

Sounds like they might be preparing you for a get out, which i hope isn't the case, for your sake.

Did you get a check sheet when you took delivery, hopefully there should be tyre tread depths listed on that ???

even if they sold you the car with the legal 1.7mm tread depth, which is a little nasty especially if they are a SEAT main agent, depending on the amount of mileage you did over the last 4 weeks can't see the tread going down that quickly Tbh,

Any hoo... good luck on Sat, if it all goes awry and they won't stick some new tyre's on for you, there are a few avenue's to get what you want, trading standards, write a disgusted letter to SEAT HQ's MD, (it worked for me with Peugeot, got money off them, after i got shite service) it's all worth considering hopefully you'll get it sorted amicably first, and won't have top have all that hassle.

Cheers cupraloon. No checklist as far as I can tell was given to me. TBH if they turn round and say the tyres are fine I will go a bit mad - one tyre is right flush with the 1.6mm guage! In the last 4 weeks I have not even done 400 miles so something is dodgy somewhere.

Thanks a lot for your advice, if no joy the nice approach then a letter to Seat will be the first thing on my list. I have had a nightmare with this car from day 1 and this really is the last straw - I am fully prepared to demand a full refund and tell them to keep the car on Saturday after the problems I have had with it, but hopefully it won't come to that.

 

[Mike Green]

Update

So following from my first post, I went back to stealers today to complain about the tyres needing to be replaced after less than 500 miles driving!

The stealers looked into it and said they are low, but legal and would pass an MOT. I said that was fine but I bought the car on the basis of being told that there is plenty of tread and no need to replace tyres for ages. They said to me they only had standard Pirellis in store to replace my Eagle F1's with, and would replace all 4 as long as I contributed £200 quid! as it costs about £500 in total and they could not do this.

Anyways, I have no cash at the moment so we finally agreed (after big haggle) to replace the front 2 tyres only with no contribution from me. So now have 2 Pirellis on the front and the Eagles on the back, one of which I will need to replace soon as got 2mm of tread. At least they replaced 2, could have been worse but I was ready for a right old battle.

I arrived at 9 and left at about 12.30!!! so was very disappointed at the slow service, but was also glad they could fit me in today after calling them on Monday as there was not really another day I could drive 80 miles up to them.

So I will not name and shame this stealers, but neither will I praise them because they have messed me about - for e.g. I have had to endure somebody else's private plate for the last 5 weeks until they replaced it today (overall 9 weeks to get everything together, after telling me upon accepting deposit everything was all in place!!)

Right, rant over. Who said buying an LCR was easy....

Oh I mentioned it was pulling to the left, they said it was tyres, took it out for a 20 minute testdrive!!!!! and said all was fine. Drove car away, and yes instantly pulled to the left as before. Guess I will have to take it somewhere else.