Car dealers help.

[DH1875]

So..., just bought my daughter her first car from Arnold Clark. Drove it away at 2 o'clock today and everything great. She drove about for a few hours to get used to it and then parked it up. Went out at 8 o'clock to go celebrate her getting her car and for wife's birthday and the thing is totally ****ed. Gear box has gone and cant even get it into first gear. Raging is an understatement but don't know our customers rights. Tried phoning them but closed and don't open till 11 tomorrow. ****ed if I'm claiming it on insurance but car won't move so how'd I get it back to Arnold Clark.

[patch1875]

Won’t be insurance, you should have a warranty or I would reject the car and get your money back.

Would never buy from AC.

[DH1875]

Won’t be insurance, you should have a warranty or I would reject the car and get your money back.

Would never buy from AC.

Car has 2 years warranty. Just gutted for my daughter to be honest.

[Alfiembra]

Sounds like a clutch problem, maybe master cylinder or slave cylinder, check if there’s any fluid in the reservoir might be straight forward enough to sort. Yes it’s unacceptable on the first day after picking the car up should have been checked before being sold but sometimes these things happen.

[cabbageandribs1875]

Won’t be insurance, you should have a warranty or I would reject the car and get your money back.

Would never buy from AC.



swings and roundabouts, all my sisters family/spouses have all bought from arnold clark(new and used) for years, my last two were bought from arnold clark, but anyway to the OP...i'm sure you will be able to take the car back and get your cash back...they might even give you a great deal on another car so as to not lose your present/future custom, play hard ball :dunno:

[DH1875]

Sounds like a clutch problem, maybe master cylinder or slave cylinder, check if there’s any fluid in the reservoir might be straight forward enough to sort. Yes it’s unacceptable on the first day after picking the car up should have been checked before being sold but sometimes these things happen.

Might sound daft, but I've genuinely no idea how or what that is lol.

[Northernhibee]

So..., just bought my daughter her first car from Arnold Clark. Drove it away at 2 o'clock today and everything great. She drove about for a few hours to get used to it and then parked it up. Went out at 8 o'clock to go celebrate her getting her car and for wife's birthday and the thing is totally ****ed. Gear box has gone and cant even get it into first gear. Raging is an understatement but don't know our customers rights. Tried phoning them but closed and don't open till 11 tomorrow. ****ed if I'm claiming it on insurance but car won't move so how'd I get it back to Arnold Clark.

Was it a "used approved" vehicle as in was it for example a Vauxhall bought from a Vauxhall dealership prepared to manufacturer standards, or was it "non franchise" as in prepared to Arnold Clark standards?

[calumhibee1]

A lassie I know bought a car from Arnold Clark and the door came off when she opened it :greengrin

[Alfiembra]

Might sound daft, but I've genuinely no idea how or what that is lol.

:greengrin Yeah not everyone is a diy mechanic, was only meaning that it could be a straight forward fix, but not to say it should never of happened in the first place.

[Hibbyradge]

It's disappointing for sure, but I think you've dodged a bullet.

You can return it for a full refund within 30 days if it's faulty and that's exactly what I would do.

They might try to say that they'll repair it, but I would stick to your guns and get your cash back.

I've rejected 2 card in the last 3 years. One brand new Discovery Sport and more recently, a used Porsche Boxster. Make them aware that you know your consumer rights and you shouldn't have any trouble.

https://www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/en/articles/your-rights-if-something-is-wrong-with-your-car

[Hibbyradge]

PS Arnold Clark will need to arrange to collect it.

[DH1875]

PS Arnold Clark will need to arrange to collect it.

Yeah they came this afternoon and took it to their garage. They've phoned and said their gonna fix it and it will ready for collection tomorrow night. I've said we should get our money back and get a different car but my daughter has fallen in love with this one and is wanting to keep it. Trying to explain stuff to her is proving difficult and having none of it. My wife isn't helping the situation as she's siding with my daughter and saying "let her keep the car". Seriously, could scream sometimes lol.

[patch1875]

Yeah they came this afternoon and took it to their garage. They've phoned and said their gonna fix it and it will ready for collection tomorrow night. I've said we should get our money back and get a different car but my daughter has fallen in love with this one and is wanting to keep it. Trying to explain stuff to her is proving difficult and having none of it. My wife isn't helping the situation as she's siding with my daughter and saying "let her keep the car". Seriously, could scream sometimes lol.

If she is determined to keep I’d be asking for some goodwill for the inconvenience, an extension on the warranty would be good if the car is going to be a lemon.

[Killiehibbie]

Yeah they came this afternoon and took it to their garage. They've phoned and said their gonna fix it and it will ready for collection tomorrow night. I've said we should get our money back and get a different car but my daughter has fallen in love with this one and is wanting to keep it. Trying to explain stuff to her is proving difficult and having none of it. My wife isn't helping the situation as she's siding with my daughter and saying "let her keep the car". Seriously, could scream sometimes lol.
Explain it's just a car, a not very good one, and a better one is next.

[Pretty Boy]

As soon as I saw 'bought a car from Arnold Clark' I knew this was going to be a problem.

Bad company to buy from, a despicable one to work for.

[Allant1981]

I have bought my last 2 cars from arnold Clark and never had an issue. The wife bought her car from the Audi garage in stirling and had loads of hassles with them so I suppose they are pretty much all the same

[calumhibee1]

I have bought my last 2 cars from arnold Clark and never had an issue. The wife bought her car from the Audi garage in stirling and had loads of hassles with them so I suppose they are pretty much all the same

It may be because Arnold Clark is a huge company but I’ve heard a lot more horror stories about them than anywhere else.

[Northernhibee]

It may be because Arnold Clark is a huge company but I’ve heard a lot more horror stories about them than anywhere else.

I worked for two different groups in my time in the motor trade and TBH you'll likely hear horror stories about any of them. No matter how hard you try as a salesperson something will go wrong and it's always "bloody car salesman" rather than seeing it as bad luck. Even a manufacturers 120 point checklist won't be there to check every single thing in a car so things can still go wrong.

Having said that, I'd not buy a car from one of the companies who put their staff under stupid pressure with OTT targets. I've seen several grown men in tears from the pressure that they are put under, I've seen a man with a family tell his boss to shove his job up his arse without another job to go to and when someone is under that much pressure and stress they're not exactly performing at their best. 1 - in my mind they're more likely to miss something or take shortcuts to get the job done in time and 2 - it's a moral thing too - nobody should be put under so much pressure and stress that it makes them physically unwell.

[Allant1981]

It may be because Arnold Clark is a huge company but I’ve heard a lot more horror stories about them than anywhere else.

The only thing I didnt like with arnold Clark was how pushy the salesman was, he is obviously under pressure to get sales but I was close to walking out due to it, but so far never had any issues with my cars from the branch

[pollution]

The only thing I didnt like with arnold Clark was how pushy the salesman was, he is obviously under pressure to get sales but I was close to walking out due to it, but so far never had any issues with my cars from the branch


They are full of patter. Mine asked which company I worked for. I didn't like his patter so gave him a fictitious name.

He then brought out his book of business cards saying he sold a car to someone there before. A goat in a cheap suit.

The car is ok though.

[Peanut Shaz]

Know someone who used to work for another of Sir Arnolds companies. She was the centre manager and didn't have a good word to say about the company. Refused a company car from them as she knew what she was getting. Must say though I had a few drinks over the years courtesy of her company credit card! In her words 'Sir Arnolds paying'.

[lord bunberry]

Arnold Clarke are an absolutely brutal company if you have any problems post purchase. It’s all good in the showroom when you’re buying, but try going there after a fault occurs and they’ll find every reason they can to wriggle out of fixing it under the warranty. You couldn’t pay me to buy a car from them again.

[mvteng]

Arnold Clarke are an absolutely brutal company if you have any problems post purchase. It’s all good in the showroom when you’re buying, but try going there after a fault occurs and they’ll find every reason they can to wriggle out of fixing it under the warranty. You couldn’t pay me to buy a car from them again.

Thats a bit unfair. I have had problems fixed under warranty without any issues or complaints at the Seafield branch. Nothing major, but every time fixed without any issues.

I totally accept that some branches of Arnold Clark could be bad, but its not fair to tar them all with the same brush.

[lord bunberry]

Thats a bit unfair. I have had problems fixed under warranty without any issues or complaints at the Seafield branch. Nothing major, but every time fixed without any issues.

I totally accept that some branches of Arnold Clark could be bad, but its not fair to tar them all with the same brush.
It was the seafield branch I went to.

[mvteng]

It was the seafield branch I went to.

Wow. Had nothing but great service from them.

The guy in charge of sales is an irish guy called Garret. When we bought our first car off him, he was just starting as a salesman maybe 15 years ago, but every time we're in he remembers us and has time for a chat and catch up. Every issue we have had has been sorted out without any problems.

He's really passionate about AC, and he's always been really reasonable with us, so maybe worth asking for him if you have any issues

[cabbageandribs1875]

nothing but great service from Arnold Clark with my car...even OUT of warranty, AC is the largest independent car dealership in europe for a reason, quite silly to tarnish the reputation of a huge dealership because of a problem, EVERY single dealership has a bad/unfortunate one somewhere, evans halshaw(my daughter) peoples(me) but it's not stopped me looking around Peoples and halshaw the last few weeks(along with AC) for a newer used car. i also got a 3 year clark plan servicing/MOT for £300+ when i got my present car(and a great price for the car itself) excellent value. as another Arnie once said(schwarzenegger NOT the recently deceased Arnie) .....i'l be back. :agree:

[lord bunberry]

Wow. Had nothing but great service from them.

The guy in charge of sales is an irish guy called Garret. When we bought our first car off him, he was just starting as a salesman maybe 15 years ago, but every time we're in he remembers us and has time for a chat and catch up. Every issue we have had has been sorted out without any problems.

He's really passionate about AC, and he's always been really reasonable with us, so maybe worth asking for him if you have any issues
I went in there to get a key cut as I needed another one. I waited a week before they phoned me to come and collect it. When I got there the guy came out with me to try the new key, it didn’t fit and he asked me if I’d had the ignition barrel changed. The vehicle was only five months old, it took a further 2 weeks to get the key. I’ve never been back, I started going to Evans Halshaw up at sighthill after that.

[Alfiembra]

I had a bad servicing experience with AC at Sighthill. I'm a diy mechanic been fixing cars and motorbikes for decades so when they told me my brakes on my 6 month old Audi were 90% worn and need replaced immediately I knew straight off they were at it. Called the service manager out infront of a busy waiting room and told him his staff had lied to me, he didn't offer any apology only that he would have to check into it and he trusted his employees. They asked if they could inspect the car again and agreed that the brakes were not 90% worn but never offered any other explanation or apology. For that reason alone I'll never go back to them.

[mvteng]

I went in there to get a key cut as I needed another one. I waited a week before they phoned me to come and collect it. When I got there the guy came out with me to try the new key, it didn’t fit and he asked me if I’d had the ignition barrel changed. The vehicle was only five months old, it took a further 2 weeks to get the key. I’ve never been back, I started going to Evans Halshaw up at sighthill after that.

I totally get that things wind us up, but to me, that wouldnt particularly bother me. They found a problem , and they fixed it.

[Hermit Crab]

I've had a bad experience where I was blatantly lied to over the phone and to my face about paper driving licences. Their website says they are permitted but the cow in the salesroom argued that I was wrong.

Resulted in a refund for the van I hired and an apology from the manager. Arnold Shark. Avoid.

[Scouse Hibee]

Never had a problem with Arnold Clark at Seafield and done plenty of business with them. Have also hired cars from Arnold Clark for over 20 years, superb service with many brand new couple of miles on the clock cars from them.
Free upgrades, choices of cars on arrival to hire and never pay a deposit, can’t fault them. Most of my hires have been from Gorgie Road then Sighthill when Gorgie road closed.

[Wilson]

I have bought my last 2 cars from arnold Clark and never had an issue. The wife bought her car from the Audi garage in stirling and had loads of hassles with them so I suppose they are pretty much all the same

Wives or garages?

[lord bunberry]

I totally get that things wind us up, but to me, that wouldnt particularly bother me. They found a problem , and they fixed it.
That was just one of the issues I had. The vehicle I bought had a problem with the flywheel going quite quickly, it was a well known fault, but they kept trying to say it was the clutch which wasn’t covered by the warranty. I took it up to sighthill and the guy there booked it in without even asking any questions.

[Allant1981]

Wives or garages?

Less hassle with the garage believe me!!

[Peevemor]

A bit off topic, but I had a weird experience last week. We were across for a weeks holiday and I hired a car from Sixt at the airport - a Vauxhall Crossland, £205 for the week with unlimited mileage - a pretty good deal.

When we went to collect the car, the woman at the desk explained that the car might not suit our needs as it only had a 1 litre engine (I told her that I didn't think they did Crosslands with 1l engines). However, she kindly offered me an upgrade to some 1.6l automatic for a special price of only £180 extra for the week, explaining that we'd get this money back with what we saved on petrol.

I declined this very kind offer, while asking her what sort of mileage she thought we were going to do in a week to save £180 on petrol?

When she came back with the key, she said that we were in luck. She'd found us a Crossland 1.2l that "wasn't in the computer system".

I asked my wife to check the back of my head for buttons but she never found any, so I'm not sure how Sixt think that this sort of BS would work.

[Hermit Crab]

A bit off topic, but I had a weird experience last week. We were across for a weeks holiday and I hired a car from Sixt at the airport - a Vauxhall Crossland, £205 for the week with unlimited mileage - a pretty good deal.

When we went to collect the car, the woman at the desk explained that the car might not suit our needs as it only had a 1 litre engine (I told her that I didn't think they did Crosslands with 1l engines). However, she kindly offered me an upgrade to some 1.6l automatic for a special price of only £180 extra for the week, explaining that we'd get this money back with what we saved on petrol.

I declined this very kind offer, while asking her what sort of mileage she thought we were going to do in a week to save £180 on petrol?

When she came back with the key, she said that we were in luck. She'd found us a Crossland 1.2l that "wasn't in the computer system".

I asked my wife to check the back of my head for buttons but she never found any, so I'm not sure how Sixt think that this sort of BS would work.


It would if it was someone who knows bugger all about cars.

[Killiehibbie]

I've had a bad experience where I was blatantly lied to over the phone and to my face about paper driving licences. Their website says they are permitted but the cow in the salesroom argued that I was wrong.

Resulted in a refund for the van I hired and an apology from the manager. Arnold Shark. Avoid.

Was she getting mixed up between old style paper licence and paper counterpart?

[Northernhibee]

A bit off topic, but I had a weird experience last week. We were across for a weeks holiday and I hired a car from Sixt at the airport - a Vauxhall Crossland, £205 for the week with unlimited mileage - a pretty good deal.

When we went to collect the car, the woman at the desk explained that the car might not suit our needs as it only had a 1 litre engine (I told her that I didn't think they did Crosslands with 1l engines). However, she kindly offered me an upgrade to some 1.6l automatic for a special price of only £180 extra for the week, explaining that we'd get this money back with what we saved on petrol.

I declined this very kind offer, while asking her what sort of mileage she thought we were going to do in a week to save £180 on petrol?

When she came back with the key, she said that we were in luck. She'd found us a Crossland 1.2l that "wasn't in the computer system".

I asked my wife to check the back of my head for buttons but she never found any, so I'm not sure how Sixt think that this sort of BS would work.

Really sadly common. I lasted ten months in car hire before leaving. Not willing to sell by any means necessary.

[Peevemor]

Really sadly common. I lasted ten months in car hire before leaving. Not willing to sell by any means necessary.She obviously realised that I wasn't taken in at all and asked me to say what we thought of her on the customer satisfaction survey and not the stuff about engine sizes which "comes from the company".

[Northernhibee]

She obviously realised that I wasn't taken in at all and asked me to say what we thought of her on the customer satisfaction survey and not the stuff about engine sizes which "comes from the company".

I remember getting a scathing review when I refused to deliver a car to someone who was completely snowed in and couldn’t come to collect it. They flew off the handle when I pointed out that if they can’t get out, I similarly couldn’t get in 😂

It was the combination of constantly taking flak from customers and management in equal measures. Totally miserable.

[Killiehibbie]

A bit off topic, but I had a weird experience last week. We were across for a weeks holiday and I hired a car from Sixt at the airport - a Vauxhall Crossland, £205 for the week with unlimited mileage - a pretty good deal.

When we went to collect the car, the woman at the desk explained that the car might not suit our needs as it only had a 1 litre engine (I told her that I didn't think they did Crosslands with 1l engines). However, she kindly offered me an upgrade to some 1.6l automatic for a special price of only £180 extra for the week, explaining that we'd get this money back with what we saved on petrol.

I declined this very kind offer, while asking her what sort of mileage she thought we were going to do in a week to save £180 on petrol?

When she came back with the key, she said that we were in luck. She'd found us a Crossland 1.2l that "wasn't in the computer system".

I asked my wife to check the back of my head for buttons but she never found any, so I'm not sure how Sixt think that this sort of BS would work.

They must've dug out the worst car in Spain when i declined to upgrade from a Fiesta at Malaga Airport, when i enquired about the body work i was told take it or pay for an upgrade. I've seen stock cars in better condition.

[RyeSloan]

A bit off topic, but I had a weird experience last week. We were across for a weeks holiday and I hired a car from Sixt at the airport - a Vauxhall Crossland, £205 for the week with unlimited mileage - a pretty good deal.

When we went to collect the car, the woman at the desk explained that the car might not suit our needs as it only had a 1 litre engine (I told her that I didn't think they did Crosslands with 1l engines). However, she kindly offered me an upgrade to some 1.6l automatic for a special price of only £180 extra for the week, explaining that we'd get this money back with what we saved on petrol.

I declined this very kind offer, while asking her what sort of mileage she thought we were going to do in a week to save £180 on petrol?

When she came back with the key, she said that we were in luck. She'd found us a Crossland 1.2l that "wasn't in the computer system".

I asked my wife to check the back of my head for buttons but she never found any, so I'm not sure how Sixt think that this sort of BS would work.

That always gets me with these types of companies.

If they had actually offered you a half decent upgrade that they had a better margin on but tempted you there and then because it was bigger/better/fancier/didn’t seem that much more etc they could probably up sell quite easily.

But no. Let’s try and rip the p by telling you a load of crock and in the process trying to fleece you for almost 100% more dough as part of a ‘special offer’.

It’s just rude.

[Alfiembra]

Yeah they came this afternoon and took it to their garage. They've phoned and said their gonna fix it and it will ready for collection tomorrow night. I've said we should get our money back and get a different car but my daughter has fallen in love with this one and is wanting to keep it. Trying to explain stuff to her is proving difficult and having none of it. My wife isn't helping the situation as she's siding with my daughter and saying "let her keep the car". Seriously, could scream sometimes lol.

Any update on the car? did it get fixed or replaced or refund?????

[DH1875]

Any update on the car? did it get fixed or replaced or refund?????

I lost out. They (wife & daughter) decided to keep the car. She's had it back for a week and fingers crossed, no problems yet. In saying that, car seemed to have a leak. Was water dripping from under the right hand side of the car, under the drivers seat. Went up to the garage to check it out as was water and not oil or petrol and they said it was due to the air condition (its a Fiat 500). Seems its a regular issue with them and its sorted its self out.

[Alfiembra]

I lost out. They (wife & daughter) decided to keep the car. She's had it back for a week and fingers crossed, no problems yet. In saying that, car seemed to have a leak. Was water dripping from under the right hand side of the car, under the drivers seat. Went up to the garage to check it out as was water and not oil or petrol and they said it was due to the air condition (its a Fiat 500). Seems its a regular issue with them and its sorted its self out.

Yep nothing to worry about quite normal with air con, it’s just condensate dripping out.

[Scouse Hibee]

I lost out. They (wife & daughter) decided to keep the car. She's had it back for a week and fingers crossed, no problems yet. In saying that, car seemed to have a leak. Was water dripping from under the right hand side of the car, under the drivers seat. Went up to the garage to check it out as was water and not oil or petrol and they said it was due to the air condition (its a Fiat 500). Seems its a regular issue with them and its sorted its self out.

Yeah that’s normal nothing to worry about

[EH6 Hibby]

I’m looking at cars just now. I’ve only ever had 3 cars, and all have been bought through Gumtree at the lower end of the market.

I’m looking at getting a newer one and have finance pretty much sorted, I’m a bit confused about pricing though. Looking at cars in my budget, and there seems to be a big difference between the age of cars at the same price. Some are 2010 and there’s a few that are 2014. The 2014 one I’m looking at, has decent mileage, but does that mean there’s something wrong with it for it to be the same price as a 2010 car with higher mileage?

[McD]

I’m looking at cars just now. I’ve only ever had 3 cars, and all have been bought through Gumtree at the lower end of the market.

I’m looking at getting a newer one and have finance pretty much sorted, I’m a bit confused about pricing though. Looking at cars in my budget, and there seems to be a big difference between the age of cars at the same price. Some are 2010 and there’s a few that are 2014. The 2014 one I’m looking at, has decent mileage, but does that mean there’s something wrong with it for it to be the same price as a 2010 car with higher mileage?


The brand of the car can make a big difference, the engine size, the spec, sometimes the toys and gadgets, the tax status of the car, etc

[blaikie]

A bit off topic, but I had a weird experience last week. We were across for a weeks holiday and I hired a car from Sixt at the airport - a Vauxhall Crossland, £205 for the week with unlimited mileage - a pretty good deal.

When we went to collect the car, the woman at the desk explained that the car might not suit our needs as it only had a 1 litre engine (I told her that I didn't think they did Crosslands with 1l engines). However, she kindly offered me an upgrade to some 1.6l automatic for a special price of only £180 extra for the week, explaining that we'd get this money back with what we saved on petrol.

I declined this very kind offer, while asking her what sort of mileage she thought we were going to do in a week to save £180 on petrol?

When she came back with the key, she said that we were in luck. She'd found us a Crossland 1.2l that "wasn't in the computer system".

I asked my wife to check the back of my head for buttons but she never found any, so I'm not sure how Sixt think that this sort of BS would work.

Typical Car Hire Company tactics! - All the big players like Hertz, Sixt, Enterprise, and Green Motion all do the same and try and get as much from you as possible via 'addons' and 'extras'.

When I return to the UK I always try and rent from somewhere that will not take a deposit or I can pay in cash. I've found Easirent to be particulary reasonable if you read the Terms and Conditions and take their top cover were no pre-authorization is required on your credit card and they accept cash!

To bring back on subject, Arnold Clark Rental are very good as well with low to zero deposit and a decent fleet of cars .. Paid for a Corsa and got a Ford Focus ST Line!

[Peevemor]

Typical Car Hire Company tactics! - All the big players like Hertz, Sixt, Enterprise, and Green Motion all do the same and try and get as much from you as possible via 'addons' and 'extras'.

When I return to the UK I always try and rent from somewhere that will not take a deposit or I can pay in cash. I've found Easirent to be particulary reasonable if you read the Terms and Conditions and take their top cover were no pre-authorization is required on your credit card and they accept cash!

To bring back on subject, Arnold Clark Rental are very good as well with low to zero deposit and a decent fleet of cars .. Paid for a Corsa and got a Ford Focus ST Line!

:agree: When I was booking online, Sixt also proposed the guarantee of having a sat-nav in the car for an extra £16 per day, ie. £112 for the week. You can buy one (or even 2) for that!

I obviously didn't take the option and there was one in the car anyway.