Stonacre Group Hyde (Manchester) The worst dealership

[Pookster]

Hi guys,

I would like to warn you all about Stoneacre Hyde, so far im not impressed one bit. I have paid for my car and everything seemed fine, on the test drive I noted the car was pulling left and marks on the body, the bodywork for the mostpart has been fixed, but it's still pulling to the left.

The car went in for it's first MOT "SCARY" and it passed however the tyres I was told are just within the legal limit, I went to stoneacre to tell them and aparrently they wont change them because there still within the legal limit. Im not happy as we all know tyres on a Stilo Abarth are not cheap especially when you are fitting P7000's.

On top of that, the front shocks are sqeeking now and the service due light is flagging up. I was told that the car was serviced in september 2006. However, when I agreed to purchase the car I was told it would have a full service from when I got it, which obviously it did not, aparrently it's Stoneacre's company policy to not service the car if it's been serviced within a year and done less than 12,000 miles, so this means I have to pay for a service in 6 months time which I said was not acceptable and was not what we agreed on.

Also its got loads of faults which im still unhappy about. I could have spent a grand more and got a brand new punto and avoided all of this so im not impressed at all. I am considering calling Fiat Customer Services and reporting them. They didn't seem to care that our family have been customers of the fiat motor group for over 30 years ranging all the way from a fiat 127 up to our current stilo and about 20 other fiats during that time. I am very dissapointed and will let you know how everything goes.

When I threatened to return the car they seemed more than happy for me to do that rarther than carry out the work, looks like they dont want me the pain in the ass customer.

If anyone has any advice to give on how I can get more out of my dealer who IMO are a load of rubbish, please let me know .

Also is it possible to move to a different dealer if it's within the same group? e.g. Stoneacre Liverpool. As they did the MOT and seemed much happier to help me with my problems.

Im so dissapointed though with the car, I was expecting it to at least be able to drive in a str8 line.

My dad who is a retired mechanic suspects that the reason it's pulling is because the tyre treads on all 4 tyres are different and worn down which is a saftey issue.

How they can get away with saying there a Fiat Approved Used Car dealer I dont know, I have been horrified that the group has even allowed them to be sellers.

So any help would be gr8, thanks again guys for posting repsonses to the Gordon Brown post, made for most interesting reading

 

[dave]

tyres on on the out side of car, every one should be able to see what they are like before buying

 

[custard]

as said tyres are down to you to check.
if they are legal then they are sold 'as is' on the car.
squeaky suspension is a known issue,seems to be down to the prings.
you will find plenty of info in the stilo section.
as for the service issue well i would be speaking to the sales rep i agreed the sale with on that one.

 

[antsuno2]

I had an interview there last week and think iv'e got the job as panel beater, its a very busy dealership, I would go straight to the top ie manager, any extra expenses comes out of their bonus so expect a fight no matter which dealership! good luck Ant!

 

[Pookster]

Thanks guys,

I am annoyed about the tyres because, I mentioned that I wansn't happy about them and wanted somthing to be done, e.g. them changed, so I did mention it and the sales guy said he would sort everything out, with reguards to the bodywork, they have done a good job, but the scratch on the front wing is still there and so it the mark on the top of the door, so not too impressed with that one.

Also the tyres are road worthy but just according to stoneacre fiat liverpool, I have got my own tyre measurment tool which I got form halfords which shows 1.0mm which is below the legal limit on 3 cars so even there MOT inspector is bent, so I want new tyres god dammit lol.

I am really not impressed with this dealer though, spoke to customer services and gave them a peice of my mind, the sales manager was meant to call me and suprise suprise did not, after I called over 8 times to speak to him, im not impressed with this one bit and am considering going around the dealer and speaking to fiat customer services direct to complain about the level of service I have had.

I also found out new info which also worried me. Aparrently the car was serviced by Stoneacre Aqua a different devision "Sounds as dodgy as Tesco Purple in the caymans", it was done in September 2006, the date I purchased it was March 17th, but as you can imagine that was 6 months ago, and therefore the car will need another service, this service was not docmented with the history of the car nor was it in the service history book, so as I see it, it hasn't been done. On top of that the brake fluid level is low, which is odd considering it's apprrently been serviced wouldn't you say. On top of that aparrently I will have to pay for the service of the car in 6 months time, even though I was assured the vechile would be serviced before I collected it.

Piece of mind my arse, this is more like how much money can we flease the customer for. I am very annoyed by this and aparrently it is a stoneacre company policy. My reply was, I was not made aware so until now, so therefore you have to do it or you can have the dammed car back, and I want a full refund and then some compensation for selling me somthing which is defective, with illegal tyres and providing me with a bent engineers report about the tyres. I am not impressed one bit with the way I have been treated.

Fiat's I have owned are:

Stilo
Chinq Sporting
Uno Turbo i.e.
Tempra sx 1.6
Panda 1000 super


So it's not as if I haven't been a loyal customer to fiat since passing my test in 2000.

I feel abused and ripped off by them well and truly. I did mention i wasn't happy about the tyres and nothing has been done. Also due to the tread patterns all being different the car pulls to the left, which I see as a driving hazzard, it veers even more when I am braking, I took it to a tyre centre in Warrington they said the pulling over was due to the tyres all being odd and not a single one having the same level of wear causing it to pull to one side.

That dealer is a complete sham.

Congrats to the guy who got the job working there, but to be fair I would feel sorry for anyone there who has to deal with me because I feel like I have been ripped off and cheated in so many ways it's untrue. I could have bought a car in similar condition from a motor auctions for alot less, but wanted the comeback of the warranty and what not. Now im just dissapointed and wish I would have done the auction room, the car would have probably been better too.

Anyways enough of my rants and raves for now, if anyone has any advise on how I can resolve this problem or had any difficulties with fiat main agents and found a better solution please let me know. I wish I would have got the car from Calidonia in warrington now. Sadly they didn't have the Abarth I wanted

Thanks for the responses so far.

Warren

 

[custard]

i dont see tread causing pulling to the left.
if it pulls more under breaking i would look at suspension components such as ball joints for wear.
did you have the tracking checked?

 

[T14086]

so even there MOT inspector is bent

Thats a rather serious accusation,where was the 1mm of thread in the middle?

 

[Pookster]

Yup the 1mm was towards the center of the tyre, im going to take the car to ATS tomorrow to find out if the tyres are road worthy or not and get a written engineers report, today when I went shopping in asda, I got a message saying low oil pressure, it gets more and more fun this blinkin car. On top of that my rear brakes are starting to sound like they have gone metal to metal.

Odd considering it should have had a full service, dont you think, my dad took the rear wheels off (he's a retired mechanic and used to restore classic cars so he knows what he's doing) and aparrently the pads are almost metal to metal. According to stoneacre they serviced the car in September 2006, but the computer was saying service due, and the last logged service was at 17,000 miles and was performed by Picadilly motors of Wakefield, so it would not suprise me if that was it's last service, that was done in December 2005.

I am going to contract fiat customer services, make them aware of what is going on, and if the MOT is bent I will be contacting my solicitors and also fiat customer services to see if i can transfer to a different dealership, because I dont want to trade with stoneacre before. Also the rear suspension is now starting to make funny creeking. Im thinking this car might be a pup and maybe I should take it back and get a refund.

I mean, ok my cinq had done 144k but it started, stopped and could drive in a str8 line.

Does anyone know if it's normal when you press the cluch to bring the car out of second gear if it should make a crunch and shudder?

Any advise on these problems would be gr8.

Ohhh I totally forgot as well, Stoneacre gave me a 1000 mile warranty or 1 month, and I wanted to take out the extended warranty and pay over the phone for it and they said they couldn't take payments over the phone, they know I live 60 miles away which makes it awkward so it makes me suspect they know this car is a hunk of junk and are trying to con me. I spoke to the liverpool branch who told me it was a load of old rubbish.

With reguards to the question about the car being tracked, according to stoneacre it has been done twice, but I dont belive them, all they have done so far is get rid of some scratches which appear to hid a multiude of sins, my bonnet I noticed tonight under the orange glow of the street light has got a pannel imperfection that runs accross the front of the bonnet.

So guys what do I do, try and get it sorted, return it for a full refund, or try and get it sorted, and if I find the MOT is bent sue them? I dont know if the MOT is bent yet and im not pointing the finger, but the fact that the brakes are almost metal to metal makes me suspect it might be.

Look forward to hearing your replies, Im so depressed about my new car I can't even describe it. On top of that the stress with dealing with Stoneacre has brought my glands up and given me a headache, there service representative was supposed to call me back and suprise suprise they didn't.

For the guy whos applied for a job there, I hope everything is ok, and I hope to god that all my suspisions arn't correct but sadly I think they might be.

 

[T14086]

Techs can only report the problems,its management and/or sales department that authorise the repairs which is why so many techs get p*ssed off with unfair reputation.

 

[Pookster]

T14086,

I know what your saying but I am just so horrified that I have bought an approved used car and it's ended up being worse than somthing I could have bought in auction I've basically ended up paying 7 grand for 3 grand's worth of car and im not happy about it.


I will keep you all posted on the developments that occur tomorrow also I was looking at the fiat approved used car website and they have the following promises

No Nasty Surprises
Your Fiat Approved dealer will make sure the history and mileage of every Fiat Approved Used Car is thoroughly checked by an authorised independent specialist and that the appropriate certificates are issued to prove it.

If it doesn't pass our quality tests, we don't sell it
Every car gets a multi-point inspection by Fiat trained staff and any work required is carried out.

12 Months Warranty, including breakdown and recovery
Every car has at least 12 months warranty, plus a comprehensive package of other benefits which includes 12 months AA cover, to ensure complete peace of mind.


So far lots of Nasty Suprises, the car hasn't passed there quality tests, if it has why can i not unlock the car from the inside with the unlock button, and why does it wander to the left constantly and I have to drive with steering wheel at 15 degree angle.

12 months warranty, I was told I would have to pay extra for this and the car only came with a 1 months warranty or 1000 miles whichever comes first so that's confused me, I was instructed I would have to pay £395 for the warranty for the year is this a load of old codswallop?

Will keep you all posted on how I get on, if I dont get satisfaction im going to exchange it for another 04 Stilo abarth, have seen one on the used car dealer search looks the same as my current one

Ohh on another note, the car had a milage disclaimer on it, which concerned me, Stoneacre said the milage was gaurenteed and that it was just a formality of trading standards, but im not so sure, is it another lie, have they thought that just because im 24 they can take the **** it does worry me.

 

[Pookster]

Well just took the car to an indipendant tyre company for a check,

Aparrently the off side front is in perfect condition and the rest of the tyres have got 0.02mm left on them before there illegal, not what you would expect from a used approved car. On top of that, all the tyres are different brands and have different tread patterns, aparrently the reason why it's pulling over is because one of the tyres is new, wheel balance and alignment were also checked and found to be fine, so it looks like it's down to the tyres.

Have called them today after they didn't call me back and have got nowhere fast, aparrently services is closed, which is fine, they still wont take my warranty payment and im beginning to think the reason for that is because they dont want to warranty a car that they know is gonna byte them in the ass, and if that's the case I dont want it.

 

[oilrag]

Just return it and get your money back as I dont think you are going to be happy with this car.
Next time if you put even half the effort into checking the car, that you have put into
these posts you will be fine IMHO.

Its just that tyres are so visible to check before you buy and then to get the renewals
written into the contract.............

You sound to know how to check it out but..................... didnt?

As for your comments about the MOT guy, I would really consider editing that as it could be actionable in law.
Regards

 

[dave]

take it back, there i a shuey at colchester car auctions that never meets its reserve so is entered every week, go buy that

edit dont buy this, it takes to boster packs to start it, 1 normaly enough to start a truck

 

[Pookster]

I was just suspect because of the state of the tyres, I said I suspected it, not that it is in fact a fraudlent MOT which it is not.

I was informed that the tyres I was not happy with at the time of purchase would be changed and now there humming and harring about it, so it's not as if I didn't try.

I have spoken to another dealership within the group about it and they have said that if anything on an approved used car is worn out more than 45% then it will get changed. But Hydes policy is different and I wasn't made aware of this.

I am going to keep on going though because im just so fed up with the whole saga I can't be bothered. I just want my car to be able to drive in a str8 line and be safe and with the current ware on the tyres I feel that it isn't and also because of the wandering.

With reguards to the service, I am going to contact Stoneacre Aqua about it after all they performed the service to find out whats been done, because I find it odd that the rear pads of metal to metal if it has had a full service.

I have been assured that the Hyde dealership is perfectly fine, so im starting to feel a little more confident. I am having the warranty honored by a different dealership but still within the stoneacre group, because if hydes methods with reguards to selling me the car are anything to go by god help me if anything went wrong and I had to take it back for repair.

 

[Pookster]

Well good news,

It looks like all my moaning has paid off and my pesistant pestering, they have agreed to fix everything that is wrong with the car and also change the front shocks and all 3 defective tyres.

They were nice as pie to me after I explained that the tyres had less than 400th of a mm left before they were illegal.

So everythings looking better, they have requested the car for 3 days and are going to provide a hire car, so it's looking slightly better. I still think it's dreadful the way in which I have had to behave in order to get my own way. But so far so good. If everything is done I will be a very happy customer and will create a new post call Stonacre Group Hyde, (Good stuff but needs a bit of a prod to get it sorted).

So it's all good and im feeling very much relieved.

Thanks to everyone for putting up with me, and also to the poor person who works in customer service as I feel that I was truly horrible and have appologised three times now but still feel bad for being so obnoxious.

will let you know how I get on.

 

[dave]

check it for scratches when you get it back

 

[T14086]

Thanks to everyone for putting up with me, and also to the poor person who works in customer service as I feel that I was truly horrible and have appologised three times now but still feel bad for being so obnoxious.

LOL I feel same way when I have to phone BT,SKY & more recently AOL.You do have to take a firm stance sometimes which as you said you dont want to but you have too.

 

[sumplug]

When buying a car, ALWAYS get the company to write out what you agree on what work is required before the car is handed over. This way, you then have a legal contract for all defects/servicing to be done.
On signing the used car sale document, it will have [proberly on the back], the contract terms. These terms will mention the warranty etc. If its Fiats policy to give 12months warranty, it will say there.
Never pick the car up when dark. Always inspect the car before you leave the garage. Always when dropping the car in for a service, get the service rep/manager to inspect the car to confirm any known scratches etc. On pickup, you then have redress if any damage has been done to your car. I also recommend you mark the service items and nuts/ bolts with ultraviolet marker. this will tell you if the things have been undone and replaced!! Very easy to tell if the rear wheels have been off!! Just take a small torch with you when picking the car up.

Andy.

 

[oilrag]

also to the poor person who works in customer service as I feel that I was truly horrible and have appologised three times now but still feel bad for being so obnoxious.
.

Lets hope they don`t spit in the ashtray

Glad you got it sorted.

 

[Pookster]

Hi again guys,

Well things are starting to look up, dropped the car off today and have been given a nice Fiat Idea 1.4 Active, seems to be a fairly decent service car so all is good.

Have been given a list of everything they are going to fix and im finally happy, so pestering works. I think I was right in that they assumed me to be some young lad who would just take it all lying down so heres the list of things:

Bodywork:

Front wing: laq damage and scrach
Drivers door: rubbing strip chips and deep scratch extending into back pannel

Mechanics:

Full Serivce
New brake pads
New Socks all round (Front & Back)
4 Brand new Tyres
new central locking internal door switch
interior lights re-wired
full track and balance
steering wheel re-centered

So yup everything I wanted to be fixed is now being fixed so im very happy.

I am missing my Abarth's ability to fly down the motorway and enjoy the country lanes in deepest darkest cheshire, sadly the Idea (total utility car) isn't so hot, but im impressed how well it handels, my dearest mother has considered getting one seeing as there cheap as chips and because of some nasty evil person over the road her Seicento Sporting has 1200 quids worth of side impact damage, shes considering one for a change. I suppose they can be seen as a very "mum friendly car".

I will let you know how the car is returned and hopfully this time they will get it all right. I gave the ultermatum if it's not right I dont want it back until it is or I want a full refund, so hopfully the managment wont bugger up.

I took out the extended AA assurance warranty today on the car, aparrently they nocked off £150 from the bill to make it £395 the same price as the Stoneacre platnium warranty I was originally getting, but we will have to see. I was suspect when I was signing the agreement when it said the assurance warranty only cost £399.95 and I was paying £395 for it. Aparrently I can use it at any VAT garage, by the looks of it they dont ever want me to come back, but worry not I will be hehehe, but that just the sadistic side of me.

So I will be creating a new post if everything works out, if not I'll be very annoyed and go buy the Stilo Abarth Mangoletsi holdings have got instead hehe.

Will keep you posted getting my pride and joy back on tuesday with a little luck.

The cinq is coming on well as well, helped dad fit rear bumper and sprayed up front bumper, so it's coming back from the grave after being butt f**ked in manchester and a brake line failure and a kissing session with a Pug 207.

Will post some pics when were finished.