Magnet

Bought from a dealer, or privately Aran? Emissions recall?? Beware of entertaining that. Kind regards, Gareth.

Welcome and thanks for joining Martin. So that we can hopefully best help you, could you give us far more detail of what you use the car for, how many miles you cover a year, whether this is your only car etc. Kind regards, Gareth.

Thanks Richard, There is better understanding, now that you have explained that the tow bar fitting specialist had already advised you that they know there isn’t anything abnormal about the situation you are left in. Knowledge of full facts is king if meaningful advice is to be given. Thanks again Jason, so the forum takes it that you have consulted with Audi Technical on this subject. If I may say, the forum needs to be assured that the facts it advises on are indeed supported. If they are, then that is fact If indeed they aren’t or haven’t been, then is must be taken as opinion or assumption, and that’s fine too - if stated to be. Many thanks and kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Jason, ‘They would have researched this….’ Is this statement in knowledge that they actually did, or is it an assumption on your part? I think my suggestion to Richard to seek advice at a specialist, before accepting what has been said, is both progressive and meaningful. Kind regards, Gareth.

Many thanks Richard, Since your car is 3 years old - and I guess has been fitted with its tow bar at some point after it was first registered - it may well be worth giving all this a good coat of thinking about before dismissing the possibility that it might be associated with the after-fitting of the tow bar, rather than an incorporated designed safety ‘feature’ Worth having a word with a towing bar fitting specialist-? Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Zoe, A lot has been said, and some tests done. If it were mine, I would now be taking this back to first principles and getting a compression test done on each cylinder before embarking on more expensive in depth diagnosis. Kind regards, Gareth. p.s. Trophy? - guess you are talking the Leaderboard trophy Jason - well done you - a lot of time put in to get that.

Hello Jay, I can only suggest what I would do if it were mine:- I would not make any contact with the seller before getting the car looked at on Saturday. Would I make contact with him following that? I would reserve judgement on that until you have Saturday’s outcome. Kind regards, Gareth.

Great Colin, Hope said son has been involved in finding and installing this, otherwise they can take it for granted such things just appear out of fresh air! Kind regards, Gareth.

Thanks Paul, I’m sure it will find a good home.

Acceptable price please Paul, as opposed to offers? This minimises the risk of you and forum members being messed around. Kind regards, Gareth,

You are very welcome Jay. Good luck with it all. Fingers crossed here that it all works out for you, and you will soon be able to enjoy it. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Jay, I really feel for you, since the seller fairly describes the car as Cat. N, the bodywork in very good condition all round, the interior…. very good all round, he ‘wisely’ doesn’t offer any description with regard to its mechanical condition - which is the all important omission in your case. The only questionable part of the description is ‘..well maintained..’ and I guess he has given you evidence to support that. Is it reasonable to assume that well-maintained = free from mechanical issue? A court might well argue -no - but it would need testing to find out. The fact that he has already given you a £100 refund may not be classed as any admission of a guilty practice, but simply a gesture of goodwill -? If it were mine:- I would be seeking advice (armed with the advert) at the CAB, before spending on any independent report. I feel all I can do at this stage is to wish you good luck with getting it into an acceptable condition, but please let us know if you think we can help further. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Jay, I think you are missing the all important point that he doesn’t have to tell you what is wrong with the car - it is up to you to assess the vehicle before you buy it. Now if he uses phrases such as ‘good condition’, ‘drives beautifully’ etc. then the vehicle must meet those descriptions. If his description is non-specific then the court is quite likely to simply judge its condition against that description. If you show us a copy of the advert then I’m sure it will be possible to advise how sound your claim will be. Regrettably, your written contact with him mentioning fault codes etc. dilutes your case by inferring you are ‘….handy with cars…’ which is what you have said, so you should be more capable than most of assessing what you were buying. I know this isn’t what you want to hear, but Clifford’s advice maybe worth a coat of thinking about, and you may end up with expenditure on reports etc. which may just result in more hassle than the worth of the outcome. Just send us a copy of the advert description Jay and we will then have a far better idea of what you are up against, and things maybe much brighter than my pessimistic view. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Jay, Sorry to hear of your issue. Simple things first:- was the car advertised as a Cat. N, and/or were you made aware of that before you purchased it? Re. faults:- can you recall the wording of the advert, and did it refer to the car’s condition in any respect? If it did, then even as a private seller, the claims made in the advert must be correct. This is why you will find some adverts simply stating ‘ Starts, stops, drives’. Small Claims Court may be an avenue, but beware, you will have to spend out on an engineer’s report on the vehicle, along with the court fee. The court is likely to want the engineer in attendance - for which you will have to pay, but will be able to seek reimbursement if found in your favour. Final pessimistic point is that the seller may not pay even if your case is proved. To try to keep this simple:- carefully read the advert and decide (irrespective of the faults you have) - does the vehicle meet the claims made in the advert ( if any)? Kind regards, Gareth.

Many thanks Jason, but I still find myself rather perplexed by any connection, but let’s put that down to my simple lack of understanding. I’m not aware of any fighting on here, and any differences of opinion have always been freely and amicably aired, and respected on all sides - it’s what we do! Anyway, thank you again Jason.

Hello Colin , and welcome from the other end of the Homeland, to you and your son. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Colin, Glad to hear the car meets your expectations in all respects - except for the spare wheel. As I see it, you have what the car was originally equipped with:- a compressor, and a container of tyre sealant. With these, you won’t have had a jack or a wheel brace, since there wasn’t a spare to replace. Where to go:- I would be looking on EBay for suitable space saver, and a jack and wheel base and their foam holder. Sub woofer will probably have to be repositioned. Kind regards, Gareth.

Thanks again John for your understanding. I think through all of this, lessons have to be learnt, and as I keep saying you are indeed right - the forum interchange between members is restricted to a relative few, and is unfortunately dwarfed by the number of quests for assistance. Let me come clean - my non-Audi is a Jaguar, the current being the fourth in as many decades, and I have first hand knowledge of the member to member interchange (and banter) on the forum there - it is great, albeit often off topic! , but it is an interchange. So I know full well what you mean. If only we could encourage such interchange on here. It’s pleasing to hear you intend to buy a Q5, and I wish you well in your search, and we really hope the forum maybe of some use to you once you have found the right one. Take care. Kind regards, Gareth.

Thanks Mike, I did gather that, but it’s progressive relevance to the thread, does indeed go over my (and most others?) head. Thanks John, Regrettably, I cannot answer which of the two possibilities you mention was being referred to. What I can, and want to do, is to apologise on behalf of the forum, if any offence has been taken. Kind regards, Gareth.

A little over the heads of most of us, I fear Jason.

Welcome Aran, Not reaching temperature is usually a classic symptom of a failed/failing thermostat, so I would be renewing that first. Kind regards, Gareth.

As I understand it, in these parts, non-retail stock cars are tendered to local dealers. If no interest is shown then the more costly ( and it can be costly) route of sending to auction is followed. Any particular reason for asking Smithy?

Thanks again John, Through all my responses , I haven’t excused the reason for your dissatisfaction, and it certainly would be great to encourage the interchange you seek. I’m pretty sure I have made two requests to you to suggest ways to improve this, but regrettably, nothing has been forthcoming, so come on John, what are your progressive suggestions. As our Welsh poet says ‘Look on our good side, not our bad’. Kind regards, Gareth.

Thanks Chris. These bodyshops work on ‘screwed to the wall’ labour rates, and although the final result is generally good, they aren’t going to take the time that you take to prepare the surface. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Malcom, You can fall in love with a supermodel, but she may not cook your dinner - or whatever! Just don’t attempt to live with it. Sounds like someone might have laced the guts out of it?? Kind regards, Gareth. p.s. I would be putting my intention to reject in writing, and not depending on conversations.