VX acclaim: Problem with a dealer PLS help

crucible82 · #1 27-03-2008, 08:20 PM

Hi im not sure where to post this qs hence decided to post this here..

i recently bought a holden commodore from a dealer off paramatta rd in nsw... was initially told it was an 01 VX executive.. since it was from a dealer, i didnt think of checking with RTA..after picking it up..i realized that the boot of the car seems to look odd. After some research, i realized that the boot belong to that of the VT series(red garnish) as VX series II executives only had plain boot without the red bit. (basically the boot is that of the VT series commodores)

Called up RTA and had a check with the car's VN number, engine no and rego plates and was told the car was infact an 01 VX II acclaim. Now, i know there wasnt much difference btwn the acclaim and executive and i thot well nvm.. then my gf realized that there was this BERLINA tag on the boot of the car which i stopidly failed to notice and i was like WHAT... went on to check under the bonnet and the VN no and engine no were still the same numbers which RTA said belonged to a VX II acclaim.. hence, im thinking something must have happened to the back of the car such that the car has been in a accident and the dealer or previous owner had the boot changed and when they couldnt get an original acclaim boot, they just replaced it with a berlina boot...

Moreover, when i took the car yesterday, i was told the car was in good condition and brake pads were fine.. was driving home on the car and the airbag lights came on... brought it to a mechanic and was told the brakes pad were only gud for another 800km, battery was bad and to fix the airbags i had to bring it into holden...

The dealer is also unable to produce any log books n kept insisting that the car is accident free.. im skeptical abt this since its a registered acclaim but why is there a berlina boot.

Now, i have an apparent 01 VX II acclaim when i rem being told it was an executive with a BERLINA boot. Im having suspicision that the car isnt a 01 model acclaim but RTA confirmation of the VN, engine n rego number say it is an 01 acclaim..

Moreover with so many problems with the car when im told its in good condition, im thinking shld i keep it.. but getting a refund from a dealer would be hard... they have offered to fix the airbag and brakes for free but im still worried as im still not sure why the bonnet belongs to a berlina when the plates and engine number all say its an acclaim..

What can i do? Shld i keep the car or shld i insist on a refund and complain to fair trading nsw?

I bought it for 8000 with 11mths rego with 175,000km on it...

Feel free to drop ur advice.

Isaac

Hot-Rod · #2 27-03-2008, 08:48 PM

Bit price ee for the KM's. How could you miss the badge on the rear haha. You get warranty with dealers 3 months min i think. If car has issues probably been involved in a rear ender collision due to different boot. Which car dealership you go to? the one's in Homebush area? If you are satisfied with the condition of the car keep it, if your not fight for a refund and return it.

Good luck.

crucible82 · #3 27-03-2008, 08:53 PM

i went to this dealer called hands on auto on paramatta rd in granville.. i oso dont know how i missed the badge.. seriously thot it was an executive... the dealer himself seem not sure of the car's history.. sigh.. feeling kinda fxxx now.. wondering if i shld make him give me a refund.. the car drives all rite.. its just the feeling of being jerked ard which is making me so ****ed off and wanting a refund...

acarmody · #4 28-03-2008, 02:37 AM

I understand that being jerked around like this is damn annoying, but I don't see any problem. You paid for an 'Executive', found out it is an Acclaim which is better, and it has a Berlina boot which has that big red plastic piece on it which I think looks better. So really all I would do is take off the Berlina badge stick on an Acclaim badge, get a mechanic to do a complete check of the car. Get every little problem fixed by holden, and then try and hit them up for cheap servicing or something for jerking ya around.

-Adrian

accentstencil · #5 28-03-2008, 06:28 AM

I agree with acarmody the Acclaim does have more features than the Executive, it has extra safety features. Just make sure that they fix everything that is covered by the 3 month warranty. Good luck with it.

Not_An_Abba_Fan · #6 28-03-2008, 10:47 AM

Maybe the previous owner had a spoiler on the boot and rather than repairing the holes, just put another boot on it.

I agree with the above as well, you have an Acclaim when you thought you bought an executive.

sircruisealotVS · #7 28-03-2008, 12:09 PM

what does it say on the dash?? surely the badging there right infront of you (well, right infront of your passenger i s'pose) would have tipped you off as to its true model.
if overall your happy with the car, then i dont see what the problem is. as for it having a different boot, its a 7-8yr old car so its quite possible its has a little bingle and needed some body repairs somewhere along the line - either that or a previous owner may have just changed the boot because they prefered it, which is actually a common thing with VT-VX's although its usually only the garnish which is changed.

chargedvx6 · #8 28-03-2008, 01:13 PM

If you were happy with an exec for $8000 you have now got the safety pack for free virtually. You did agree to purchase the car as is and the dealers make sure we sign this legally. When you negotiate repairs that would have been your chance to say, put the right boot on it thanks.

Not_An_Abba_Fan · #9 28-03-2008, 03:35 PM

The boot doesn't render the car unroadworthy so the dealer does not have to replace it.

GMMAD · #10 28-03-2008, 07:22 PM

I dont under stand what you are worried about you got a acclaim when you payed for a exec and you got a calais/berlina boot garnish with it which is better then the standard one its a win win situation
if you got it from a dealer it has 3 month warranty so get them to fix any problems

PS if you want a plan boot garnish i will swap you for mine

crucible82 · #11 28-03-2008, 10:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GMMAD

I dont under stand what you are worried about you got a acclaim when you payed for a exec and you got a calais/berlina boot garnish with it which is better then the standard one its a win win situation
if you got it from a dealer it has 3 month warranty so get them to fix any problems

PS if you want a plan boot garnish i will swap you for mine

Haha.. i seriously wun mind swaping if ur got a green colour boot... i actually prefer the clear boot with the red part

Well what im more worried is the history of the car as the fact that its without the original boot means there could/may be an accident history...the dealer was abit dodgy in a sense that they didnt really seem to actually know the car very well and couldnt produce its log books.. when i questioned them whether was it a executive, they told me it was a berlina.. when i said there wasnt a 01 berlina, they then said it shld be an acclaim then.. thats why made me feel v insecure... i dont know much abt holdens thats why i thot the executive one was better than the acclaim.. since reading all the suggestions, seems like the acclaim is actually better...

This is my first holden car and auto car thats why im abit worried thats all.. got the dealer to fix up all the brakes and airbag issues todae so no problems with that anymore..

guess ire stick with it..

now another qs is since its a pretty 'old' car with 175k mileage on the clock, i dont know if i shld mod and drop 4k to do it up(lower it, exhaust, body kit and CAI) as im wondering how long it would last me and how worth it is to mod it up...... i actually bought this car to drive around easier ard the city as i have another 05 mod up wrx which is a pain in the ass to drive in nsw... but then buying a stock car makes me want to mod it.. hahaha.. which is a delimna.. hahaha

pablo · #12 28-03-2008, 11:58 PM

I also can't see what it is that you are getting your 'knickers in a knot' about! I don't think the dealer would have to take it back just because you didn't do your homework before you purchased it.
Are not the used car dealers, in NSW, required by law to tell any intending buyer the previous registered owners name? Even if the books are not with the vehicle, the dealer obviously must know where the car was obtained.

My old girl has done the same K's, and I am sure it is good for the same again plus some more.
Hang in there!

Pablo