Hi All,
I am looking for some advice on how to assist my father with his VW California, the car is four weeks old, on a 60 plate. He went to use it for the first time this week, as a camper van, not just a means of transport and discovered a problem with the elavating roof. When elavated, the passeneger side would then slowly sink back into the vehicle, the mechanical support on the side was not holding up and the roof was lop sided and sinking. He put the roof down, took it back to the supplying VW dealer in Cardiff. The dealer has now stated that the mechanism on the one side is faulty and they will replace it, BUT, the roof itself has been damaged, bulging on the side that sank, necessitating a whole new roof!
I rang my father and told him to reject it, not fit for purpose under the sale of goods act etc. The dealer then stated it was his human error when he collapsed it, as they believe he followed an incorrect procedure, by not opening a sun roof like vent above the drivers seat. My father told them straight that he did exactly as he had been told, the vent was always left open. My father also pointed out he is still awaiting the hand book clearly showing the procedure. Now the salesman has stated he actually witnessed my father completing procedure incorrectly when he collected it from the showroom, but the salesman never corrected or informed my father! My father is adamant he never did what they state, he is adamant he acted correctly which I witnessed first hand this week.
I have told my father to get legal advice as VW Cardiff are essentially stating he was negligant and by implication dishonest, which he adamantly denies, the faults are unrelated in their opinion.I believe my father was using the correct procedure, its just the roof was not collapsing correctly which has caused the roof problem. The car needs an entire new roof, and obviously a respray. I feel this is unacceptable on a £42,500 camper only attempted to be used as a camper once. I feel he has a good case for rejection, an undeniable fault which makes it unusable as a camper, no hand book giving direction, a salesman not pointing out an alleged error my father made in his presence, my fathers insistence he used the correct procedure, the cost of the camper and length of ownership.
Any thoughts and feelings everyone? Am I getting my father to bark up the wrong tree? The roof itself is a big repair job, VW Cardiff have admitted they have never done one, so we know it will be off the road for some considerable time.
Thanks, Neil