Finally getting my car back

**24vElite** · 25th August 2005, 22:20

Got the phone call today that I've been waiting for. The local dealer rang to say that Vauxhall had just returned my Vectra from their technical centre in Luton.
Has taken them 17, thats right seventeen weeks to finally fix the car.
Went in to the dealers straight after May Day bank holiday to have a problem with coolant loss fixed. Told that it was possible leak from cylinder heads (Z32SE) and that they would be removed, skimmed and refitted.
Once this was done the car developed a misfire that the dealer could not fix. Ended up refitting cylinder heads three times, then replaced the heads, also replaced coil pack, inlet manifold, underhood engine wiring loom and cat, before admitting defeat and forcing Vauxhall to return vehicle to their Technical Centre.
They retraced all the dealer work, stripped the engine and replaced the oil pump!! Couldn't resolve problem so finally fitted a new replacement engine.
Picking car up tomorrow pm and then start discussing "goodwill gestures".

**denzo** · 25th August 2005, 22:56

Good luck .... sounds like Vx technical may have sorted the issue for you ...

**Duncan** · 25th August 2005, 23:49

Blimey, what a fiasco - but at least Vx were on the case and hopefully all sorted. Now you can sorting sorting out those 'goodwill gestures'!

BTW - was that replacement engine as in new, or reconditioned?

D

**24vElite** · 26th August 2005, 00:02

Engine was new replacement direct from GM.
List of 'goodwill gestures' is growing as I have been told "we don't want to offer something that is insulting bearing in mind the length of time the vehicle has been off the road". Thinking extended warranty, Irmscher bits etc. Start high and work back down!

**Duncan** · 26th August 2005, 00:07

Excellent - brand new engine!

Damn right - start high (very high!!) and then 'maybe' work back down!

D

**Jamie** · 26th August 2005, 09:28

I think a full set of Irmscher toys would keep me from going to the motoring press!!!!! Walk in, sit down in front of the service manager, with a copy of the Irmscher brochure, throw it down on his desk and say "Make it look like that.... your paying!!!!"

**wrightgj** · 26th August 2005, 09:33

Coo. You lucky thing.

Mine was in for 6 weeks (had new head/ piston rings etc etc)
When I got it back, it still had the problem, so they turned around and said its 'normal' for a 2.2 to smoke!!!

I got a 'free' service, which still cost me over 150 quid after they added on the extra bits. They kindly changed the rear wiper and charged me an arm and a leg....

Suffice to say, I am currently 'In dispute' with them!

G

**Duncan** · 26th August 2005, 09:37

Originally Posted by Jamie1979

I think a full set of Irmscher toys would keep me from going to the motoring press!!!!! Walk in, sit down in front of the service manager, with a copy of the Irmscher brochure, throw it down on his desk and say "Make it look like that.... your paying!!!!"

Absolutely!!

D

**Maverick** · 26th August 2005, 09:45

My advice to you, and this is from personal experience, is really play the nice guy and thank your dealer for the extreme hard work they have done to try to solve your problems. Also thank Vauxhall for sorting it out.

I did this with our first Zafira GSi, basically it was ****, and after 3 months of sorting the porblems, it still was not right, nothing major, all silly niggly things.

But after having the car from new for 6 months, Vauxhall agreed to exchange the car for a new one, when the new replacement turned up with the DVD missing, and damage to the roof, (I paid the extra for the DVD) they had to order another new car.

So I took the advantage of ordering atmy expense the following on top of the full leather and roof rails I already had :-

DVD System £1250
Climate Control £400
Parking Sensors £350
Winter Pack £300

When the car arrived 5 months later, Vauxhall phoned me to apologise for the delay in getting the '2nd' replacement car and as a good will gesture covered the cost of ALL the extra's I specified. During all thins I still had my original GSi!!!!!

So in March 2002 I paid £19100 for my original GSi with Full Leather and Roof Rails, and in March 2003, I drove my car into my dealer, gave them the keys, signed the vehicle return form, and took away our new GSi worth £24600 without paying a penny.

From this experience, I will never fault Vauxhall's customer service. My dealer told me the reason I was treated so well is because I never threw my toys out the pram and tried to help Vauxhall to help me, if you know what I mean.

**Jamie** · 26th August 2005, 09:54

I agree with you in principal Matt... you should never get angry and start shouting the odds, it will make it like a challenge to the dealer to give you as little as possible, my previous point was partially in jest.

You should make it clear to them that you are not happy with the situation, and make it clear just how much it has inconvenienced you (and destroyed your confidence in the brand). Don't play it too softly though, or you wont get a thing..... its a fine balance.