Legal advice: missing car features set right

The Emissions Scandle was a good clue!

It would have to have been an Alfa I suppose!

It’s nice to get a bespoke car, but I didn’t like any of the wheel options when we bought a new Audi some years ago and the ones we chose [the plainest available] proved to be the devil to clean. There was something missing from our spec on delivery that had to be retro-fitted but I cannot recall what it was now.

I agree Sally. Here is a Conversation about this problem: https://conversation.which.co.uk/motoring/car-puncture-repair-kits-tyre-spare-wheel/#cpage-5

Yes, many don’t even have a well for the wheel. But my Lexus 600h has five identical wheels and a reasonable tool kit. Very traditional but quite old (11 years) but when I looked at a new one in the showroom and turned it down because it didn’t have a proper spare the salesman was astonished!

Runflats are a partial solution but they have limited range when punctured, are not usually repairable and fairly expensive. My estate car came with runflats and no spare of course so I bought a matching wheel and tyre and keep it in the back. I have used it once. It gets swapped onto the car when the tyres are worn so partly pays for itself.

To get the issue into perspective it would be interesting to know what the incidence of punctures is these days; my impression is they are quite rare but that might be an incorrect perception. I wonder if anyone invented self-sealing tyres – war usually prompts such innovations, like self-sealing fuel tanks.

There are few cars with full-size spare wheels these days but it is still possible to buy ones with space-saver wheels. When I chose my present car I said to the salesman that I would not consider a car without a spare wheel. After discussion about different models he encouraged me to buy a model that stopped the engine in traffic. Fortunately I asked if it came with a spare wheel and no it did not, even though one without the stop-start feature did.

I understand that if you specify a requirement then that becomes part of the contract and if the product does not meet the specification you would have had protection under the Consumer Rights Act, though it might be useful to have evidence of your requirements in writing.

Surely this is a Health & Safety issue! Without a Spare you are vulnerable. You may need Breakdown Services during Bank Holidays or Getaway periods, or on The Continent, when these services are stretched leaving you & your passengers exposed & stranded. Who’s ever had a puncture at a convienient time at a convienient location away from home? What does Which? think about inherent danger within vehicles without Spare Wheels?

Good result, John.

I wonder how often the dealers get away with charging extra in those circumstances.

Now John is trying to fit five people in a Fiat Panda.

Dave — You have the right to cancel your order because the vehicle when delivered will no longer be as described at the time you placed your order.

Presumably the company are not proposing to charge you the same original price for the reduced specification, but even if they are reducing the price they cannot force you to proceed with the purchase as they have made a material change in the contract and it no longer meets your requirements.

Dave — I think that is a pragmatic way forward whereby you get the car you want, albeit without a desirable but non-essential feature, and the dealership gets the sale. There’s something in it for both sides if both sides act reasonably.

Dave, when I bought my new car I did not opt to pay for automatic folding mirrors and have never missed the feature. I think sticking with the car and getting a price reduction is a good strategy.
Some mirrors turn down when reversing to show the kerb; that is, I think, a useful feature (if you don’t have cameras).

Dave – You can obviously negotiate the price with the dealer but please don’t cancel without being sure that you can buy the car you want elsewhere at a sensible price. There is a waiting time of more than six months for some models and even some secondhand cars are in short supply.

Thanks everybody. Yes I wouldn’t cancel the order now as I have waited some time and did a lot of research that this was the hybrid model I wanted. I might not tell them that but even if I didn’t get some compensation for the mirrors I would probably still go ahead – no point in spiting your nose to cut your face as my mum used to say!