BTD Posted April 22, 2008 Share Posted April 22, 2008 Firstly, this is my first post for a while and it concerns buying a second hand Zed from the stealers!! As you can imagine not too great to start with!! If you are thinking of buying one please get some independant evaluation eg: RAC or AA unless you are a car enthusiast. I bought a 53 plate GT about 20 months ago, and had a lot of trouble with the interior, such as broken air directors in the cabin when picked up (thought that might of been picked up on?). Also misled on the service that was carried out (a P1 not full P3). When I viewed the car it had just come out of the 'paintshop'. Apparently as so low down there is a problem with stone chips. Okay, that is not an issue (until later). Anyway took the car back on numerous occassions for retification work until it was all sorted. Although a hassle I thought it was at least dealt with. I only do about 6000 miles a year in it, so was a bit of a shock to take it into (another Nissan dealership, as didn't trust the one I bought it from) for a P3 and MOT to discover I needed new break discs and pads as well as 4 new tyres. Total cost 2345.00!! Apparently the breaks were so bad they refused to drive it!! I was away and they picked it up from my house and would not drive it back without the work done or someone else collecting it. Paid it as Nissan in Portsmouth only gave me 6 months warrenty (not that they would of paid for such items as it would of been a year after I bought it and the are consumable items). A few days ago an airbag warning light came on. The other garage looked at it with the computer diagnostic and couldn't find out the cause so simply re-set it and the light had gone. £50. !! For 15 minutes work. This was classed as a dashboard diagnostic...?? I asked them about the paintwork on the front bonnet which was bubbling (paintshop from previous garage), and they said approx £490 for a re-spray if no corrosion as well as stating it looked a particularly poor job, obviously when you first pick the car up it looks like new!!!. Heard back today the alluminium bonnet is corroded, 2 options: respray with no warrenty and it would come back in 8 - 14 months or new bonnet and re spray = over £1000!! I now have to pay for a new bonnet the other, original garage will have nothing to do with. I know this is probably a one in a thousand, (if that ) occurrance, but if you are thinking of buying second hand and are not too sure on what to look for pay the £100 odd for the RAC / AA to come out, it might at least pick up the tyres and discs. I thought buying from a Nissan garage gave some protection (due to the extra cost) and this is the worst experience buying from a dealers I have ever had by a long way. If I had employed the RAC / AA I would of at least known about the state or near end state of the tyres and breaks. Perhaps getting them replaced or an offer of a discount on the price which at the time was full second hand dealership price. I love the car, I still do, however I will not buy another Nissan from a Nissan dealership. Sorry about the rant, but this has been a long road, and costly, but has been worth the car driving experience, as I love the car!!!!! Honest!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NWZ Posted April 22, 2008 Share Posted April 22, 2008 What a rip off to replace discs, pads & tyres! You can easily get upgraded discs & pads for around £1000 all in fitted. Tyres should be about £600 for a full set - this is what I've paid for Michelin Pilots. Seriously though, are the discs, pads & tyres that bad? Do you check them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarnie Posted April 22, 2008 Share Posted April 22, 2008 Mate, first thing you should do before paying out any money is post it up on here. EBC pads from bigphil are £99 Disks are no more than a few hundred quid tyre are about £450 for 18's, could of saved you a lot of money. Hopefully you will have learnt that the stealers are robbing bastards.......The advice and traders on this site can save you thousands of pounds...... Bottom line: Come to us, before you let Nissan anywhere near your car Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BTD Posted April 22, 2008 Author Share Posted April 22, 2008 Took it in for a P3 as well as an MOT. Apprently the breaks are the same as a Ferrari's......and if you buy a high performance car those are the costs!! This was all via a third party as I wasn't there. Although as you can probably tell I am not too clued up on what things SHOULD cost!! I have been too trusting of the dealers, especially when away. I will get the docs from home and tell you exactly what they charged for. Although in essence what I have stated is it!! No extras. Quick amend. It goes back in for service and MOT in August so will get their wish list and then ask on here for costs. Really annoyed with myself and should really look at independant garages but thought FSH with Nissan stamp worth it. Unless I get the work done else where. Will it cost more if I put it in to Nissan find out what needs doing, get it done elsewhere then take it back to them? Or get the MOT done elsewhere with the tyres / pads then stick it in for a service? Sorry to be such a dick!!! Thanks for the advice!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarnie Posted April 22, 2008 Share Posted April 22, 2008 Took it in for a P3 as well as an MOT. Apprently the breaks are the same as a Ferrari's......and if you buy a high performance car those are the costs!! This was all via a third party as I wasn't there. Although as you can probably tell I am not too clued up on what things SHOULD cost!! I have been too trusting of the dealers, especially when away. I will get the docs from home and tell you exactly what they charged for. Although in essence what I have stated is it!! No extras. 100% complete bollocks. My service for my Gallardo was £800. Just beacause Brembo supply brakes for Ferrari does not mean Ferrai prices. Why the hell was this done through a 3rd party? I don't know a great deal about cars but it doesn't take much to compares costs acros marques........... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BTD Posted April 22, 2008 Author Share Posted April 22, 2008 I was away in the forces and I can't declare a need to be home for a car service. Also no internet cafe near my work. No joke. had more important things to worry about. You say it was £800 for a service. Did you get new tyres and break discs and pads as well?? I know I got ripped off but it wasn't just a service. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarnie Posted April 22, 2008 Share Posted April 22, 2008 I was away in the forces and I can't declare a need to be home for a car service. Also no internet cafe near my work. No joke. had more important things to worry about. Why didn't you wait till you got home? Your car is well out of warranty......whatever the reason, the dealer has thrived on you not being there...........all I can say is come back here when ever your car needs anything Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GIXXERUK Posted April 22, 2008 Share Posted April 22, 2008 I was away in the forces and I can't declare a need to be home for a car service. Also no internet cafe near my work. No joke. had more important things to worry about. Why didn't you wait till you got home? Your car is well out of warranty......whatever the reason, the dealer has thrived on you not being there...........all I can say is come back here when ever your car needs anything +1 always plenty of advice on here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BTD Posted April 22, 2008 Author Share Posted April 22, 2008 I thought if the car was out of service interval (as only get it done 12 monthly due to low mileage) it is dodgy on resale as away up to 9 months a year and also MOT out of date means insurance problems if the worst happens? It's on a private driveway but not garaged and driven by my brother once every two - three weeks to keep everything going. Perhaps that is incorrect? I thought I needed to get these done at set times for those reasons. But thank you for the advice on parts etc, as I will definately come on here next time or before to get an idea of those stealers prices. Thank you again, I do appreciate the help!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarnie Posted April 22, 2008 Share Posted April 22, 2008 I thought if the car was out of service interval (as only get it done 12 monthly due to low mileage) it is dodgy on resale as away up to 9 months a year and also MOT out of date means insurance problems if the worst happens? It's on a private driveway but not garaged and driven by my brother once every two - three weeks to keep everything going. Perhaps that is incorrect? I thought I needed to get these done at set times for those reasons. But thank you for the advice on parts etc, as I will definately come on here next time or before to get an idea of those stealers prices. Thank you again, I do appreciate the help!!! Once its out of warranty there is no need to go back to Nissan dealers. it may help resale but not by a lot. I would have no worries buying a car that missed a service by a few months as long as it was out of warranty and all the other services had ben done right and the price was correct. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chesterfield Posted April 22, 2008 Share Posted April 22, 2008 Dont worry, we have all learnt our lesson at some time or another - How do you think we all found out about the prices. For future awareness, you can get a set of EBC discs and pads all round for less than £500, + labour which is not a great deal. Discs alone Nissan will quote £1400 (or at least my local dealers did), which is nothing short of a joke. The paintwork sounds like quite a poor level of service. I would have expected that the dealer would have guaranteed their own repair work for longer than 6 months. If they dont want to even entertain sorting this issue out for you then it shows a very poor attitude in my opinion. Though it may be worth asking around local bodyshops for an idea on what they would quote to do a whole bonnet. You may find reviews of the local bodyshops level of service on a local car club - worth checking as you may save money and get a better job. It is rare that the dealers will do the spray work themselves, they often have an approved local bodyshop who does the work - so why not cut out the middle man? (as a broker I shouldnt say that, but anything for a fellow owner ) It may even pay to look in the back of car magazines for breakers yards, you may drop lucky and find a Z thats had a rear smash in the same colour as yours that you could get the bonnet from. (its a two man and transit van job to shift one though). Remember we are all here to help if you have any issues at all, someone here has probably been there and done it before you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigphil Posted April 22, 2008 Share Posted April 22, 2008 If we could charge those prices I would only need to work one day a week, unbelievable the stories dealers tell. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chesterfield Posted April 22, 2008 Share Posted April 22, 2008 You mean you work, and you dont just listen to Marcus turning the air blue whilst fitting the latest carbon lip! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigphil Posted April 23, 2008 Share Posted April 23, 2008 You mean you work, and you dont just listen to Marcus turning the air blue whilst fitting the latest carbon lip! Thats the best bit of my job, that and giving abuse to Jay on the phone When you consider the list of work you had done on saturday plus all the bits supplied and for almost half the cost it beggers belief they get away with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarnie Posted April 23, 2008 Share Posted April 23, 2008 You mean you work, and you dont just listen to Marcus turning the air blue whilst fitting the latest carbon lip! that and giving abuse to Jay on the phone I do that for free Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigphil Posted April 23, 2008 Share Posted April 23, 2008 You mean you work, and you dont just listen to Marcus turning the air blue whilst fitting the latest carbon lip! that and giving abuse to Jay on the phone I do that for free FOOL, I get paid for it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarnie Posted April 23, 2008 Share Posted April 23, 2008 You mean you work, and you dont just listen to Marcus turning the air blue whilst fitting the latest carbon lip! that and giving abuse to Jay on the phone I do that for free FOOL, I get paid for it Very true Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lomoto Posted April 23, 2008 Share Posted April 23, 2008 Basically all you have to remember is avoid Nissan main dealers , use a specialist repairer...and don't get fobbed off that you will lose your Nissan warranty doing this , so long as genuine parts are used to repair you will maintain your official warranty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BTD Posted April 23, 2008 Author Share Posted April 23, 2008 Thanks to everyone that posted, I will definately not be back to the stealers after this and will be using all your advice in future, an expensive lesson but one won't forget!! Cheers !!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris`I Posted April 23, 2008 Share Posted April 23, 2008 On the note of the bubbling bonnet, Chips Away spotted that mine has started to do this last week. I am going to take it to Nissan (Dan Perkins Slough and Westway Basingstoke) as far as I am aware there is a 12yr anticorrision warrenty, so if the paint hasnt been broken around the bubbling, I'm going to try and claim it is still their fault. No idea how I'll get on, may be time for a carbon bonnet (*cough* Phil *cough*) but I will certainly fight that it is poor quality on their part and let you know how it goes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nixy Posted April 23, 2008 Share Posted April 23, 2008 I think i'd try and get something out of them for the bonnet. I had a similar thing happen on a car I had after a year and they still offered to look at it for me, and that was a car supermarket NOT a dealer! I'm just wondering what you're consumer rights are on that issue. If you buy a car off a dealer no way should you be looking at spraying it a year later! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GC350z Posted April 23, 2008 Share Posted April 23, 2008 Unbelievable thread. There is definitely a 12year or longer anti corrosion warranty. This would include any paint work the dealer had done to the car. I cant believe dealers get away with stuff like this. When I serviced my first Z at my second dealer (issues with the first) they said it’d cost about €150 but could be more if the spark plugs need changing. At this point I started laughing as I knew the plugs wouldn’t need changing for a very very very long time. So how much I said. He told me each plug was a hundred and something. That was a funny day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M13KYF Posted April 23, 2008 Share Posted April 23, 2008 certainly lkooks like you've been had good and proper. At least your wiser now, just a shame it cost so much to get to this point. Have you taken any of your complaints up with NMGB? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trev-the-Rev Posted April 23, 2008 Share Posted April 23, 2008 You've certainly had a rough time of it and I can fully understand how you feel. Once you get this sorted (hopefully) use a specialist, not a main dealer as has already been suggested. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BTD Posted April 27, 2008 Author Share Posted April 27, 2008 Again, thank you for the sound advice. M13KYF, I haven't taken this up with NMGB. But I think it would be worth a look. Does anyone have an email contact or a snail mail address as I think I would like to at least get it off my chest to them. Not expecting too much in way of resolution, but I would feel better a least!1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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