Cambelt slipped and done damage

[springfields]

This is my first posting, so sorry if I have added it in the wrong place

Please can anyone give me some advice. I have put a deposit down on a Peugeot 206 convertible hdi 2006 with only 49,000 on the clock, one lady owner! Unfortunately the day before I was due to go to the garage and pick it up, the cambelt slipped and it has done some damage. The garage owner said he will get everything fixed and do a top engine rebuild for us, or we could pull out of the car and he would refund our deposit. He has kept us up to date with everything and seems a genuine person. He said the car would be like new once all the work had been done, and also would give us a longer warranty on the car.

My father-in-law said we should pull straight out, but as I said, if I bought another car from a garage, how would I know the history of that car? what do people think I should do, I am in a real dilemma about this, it is correct spec that I have been looking for

[battlestar]

i would pull out. unless you are confident that garage wont play you for a chump and back out on the warranty etc etc. and i would get them to specify the warranty on the contract etc, just to be sure.

but on the other hand, that sounds mighty dodgy, the belt slipped just ONE day before you were supposed to get it? Why was it being driven in a first place?

[springfields]

Battlestar, apparently he was driving the car to get the tax which we asked him to get for us. He said luckily it happened when he had the car, and not when we had it the next day, and to be fair he is getting all the work done, he has listed what he is doing, giving me 6 month's warranty, with a year's garage warranty on the cylinder head guaranteeing his workmanship I have also phoned the Peugeot garage in Plymouth and the mechanic said to me that if he does the work and replaces ALL valve heads and gives us both warranty's, we shouldn't have much to worry about.

God I am sooooo confused

[john_h]

as long as all the work is done and uses new parts, it is recorded as him doing the work etc you shouldnt have much to fear...it will all be good.

6 month warranty is a legal right for a car bought at a dealer. also any work carried out by a dealer also is legally covered for 1 year. so your not getting anything extra.

i would take the car out for an extended test drive, cover all driving...ie motorways, country and town...

if your getting finance, you will be more protected if anything major happens...just let them know.

[springfields]

Not getting finance John, was going to pay cash for the car Didn't really want to get tied up with finance again !!

So many people tell me it will be fine, especially if I have a year's garage parts on what they have done to the engine warranty, other's tell me to skiddaddle but as I have said before, how would I know the history of another car, if I bought another one.......still confused...........may be it's cause I am partly blonde thanks tho John for your advice, it is much appreciated

[tiptronic]

Well at least the dealer has been honest with you & is doing his best to keep you as a customer. As dealer said , good job cam slipped in his care & not after delivery. With all the new parts fitted & a good road test , I dont see why it shouldnt turn out to be a nice little car. A 12 months warranty & a re-built upper head should give you some peace of mind . ( Make sure warranty is in writing!! )

[springfields]

Thank you tiptronic I will definately make sure the warranty is in writing (for every part they have put in, especially the cylinder heads). They are still working on the car, so once they tell me it is ready, I will go up and take it for a good test drive, motorway, slow traffic etc. x

[john_h]

No worries. To find out the history of a car you could find service receipts with the car itself in the manual/service history book. You could also use the details on the V5C to contact previous owners and ask. But your best bet when buying a new car, is to get a full independant inspection by the aa, do a full HPI check and once bought a full service and cam belt change... Don't skimp out on the above otherwise you could be being a lemon

[clanless]

I was faced with the same dilema. The garage had the car in for the first couple of months after I bought it. I hummed and hared about whether I should get my money back - and ended up keeping the car.

I've now done 25k in it without any problems - as most of the car has been replaced with new bits to get the problem sorted.

I'd take the car, safe in the knowledge that the cam belt is new.

Sounds like a reasonable garage if they are willing to offer you your money back.