Jesters Tear
New Member
- Joined
- Jan 12, 2005
- Messages
- 19
My first proper post, after a month of lurking - I am 'digital cameraless' at this moment and am unable to post any pictures of our latest car, our first ever Merc, a W203 Avantgarde with Sport Pack.
This particular car is an ex demo, registered in September. Effectively, buying it meant that we could get a 200K with parktronic and Tracker for more or less the same price as a brand new 180K without. The car had done 4200 miles when I took it away two weeks ago yesterday.
Last Saturday I cleaned it for the first time. Sadly, a proper clean unveiled the paintwork to be in desperate condition, something I had just not noticed when viewing the car on grey January days, and collecting it under artificial light. Every panel is scratched, the roof, bonnet, bootlid - the alloys under close scrutiny appear to have been cleaned with a brillo pad. There is a small crack in the rear bumper, and sign of scuffage where something has tapped it.
I think the panel scratching is attributable to an automated car wash - only guessing mind you but the marks seem straight and uniform - vertical.
I returned to the dealer last night, spoke with the Sales Manager who implied that it was possible the bumper had been damaged whilst the vehicle was in my possession (he did not come straight out with it but tried the typical 'our word against yours' scenario), and further tried to convince me that the valeters may have damaged the paint with their plastic squeegee....(shakes head sadly).
Their bodyshop guy is coming to my office today to take a look. I am not convinced that this car will respond to mopping, I just think there are too many scratches, and some are too deep. I am angry with myself for not looking closely enough at purchase/pre delivery. There is a lesson to be learnt here - look very closely at the paintwork before taking the car away, if you are not happy, leave it.
I have the ability to reject the car and exchange it for another but the way I feel right now I might try and push for my money back. I cant see the dealer being very enthusiastic to find a like for like replacement, and I dont reckon there will be another instantly available with a similar specification - the terms of the exchange states that the dealer is not obliged to find one exactly the same - and now of course the prospect of downgrading is not palatable either. Another few hundred pounds wasted include a number plate transfer, Tracker subscription - the dealer is not responsible for these costs it seems.
I will post back progress but my first experience of Mercedes is not quite what I expected. Car looks and drives nice though.
This particular car is an ex demo, registered in September. Effectively, buying it meant that we could get a 200K with parktronic and Tracker for more or less the same price as a brand new 180K without. The car had done 4200 miles when I took it away two weeks ago yesterday.
Last Saturday I cleaned it for the first time. Sadly, a proper clean unveiled the paintwork to be in desperate condition, something I had just not noticed when viewing the car on grey January days, and collecting it under artificial light. Every panel is scratched, the roof, bonnet, bootlid - the alloys under close scrutiny appear to have been cleaned with a brillo pad. There is a small crack in the rear bumper, and sign of scuffage where something has tapped it.
I think the panel scratching is attributable to an automated car wash - only guessing mind you but the marks seem straight and uniform - vertical.
I returned to the dealer last night, spoke with the Sales Manager who implied that it was possible the bumper had been damaged whilst the vehicle was in my possession (he did not come straight out with it but tried the typical 'our word against yours' scenario), and further tried to convince me that the valeters may have damaged the paint with their plastic squeegee....(shakes head sadly).
Their bodyshop guy is coming to my office today to take a look. I am not convinced that this car will respond to mopping, I just think there are too many scratches, and some are too deep. I am angry with myself for not looking closely enough at purchase/pre delivery. There is a lesson to be learnt here - look very closely at the paintwork before taking the car away, if you are not happy, leave it.
I have the ability to reject the car and exchange it for another but the way I feel right now I might try and push for my money back. I cant see the dealer being very enthusiastic to find a like for like replacement, and I dont reckon there will be another instantly available with a similar specification - the terms of the exchange states that the dealer is not obliged to find one exactly the same - and now of course the prospect of downgrading is not palatable either. Another few hundred pounds wasted include a number plate transfer, Tracker subscription - the dealer is not responsible for these costs it seems.
I will post back progress but my first experience of Mercedes is not quite what I expected. Car looks and drives nice though.