Confusion reigns after late change of mind

By Julie Sinclair

30th June 2008

Our advice has been consistent if you’ve put down a deposit on a car then changed your mind. Unless it’s a refundable payment, the chances of getting anything back at all are slim.

When Glen Hunt traded in his BMW 1-Series for a used Toyota Corolla, he was told the £484 he was putting down could be returned if he changed his mind about buying it. With his wife expecting their first child, he didn’t think that would happen – but a further change in circumstances meant it did.

“I work as a radio presenter in Liverpool,” he told us. “Two days before I was due to swap cars, I found out another local dealer wanted to offer me a sponsored vehicle.”

Keen not to look a gift horse in the mouth, Glen accepted a new SEAT Leon covered in graphics promoting the radio station and vehicle franchise.

But when he told Vantage Toyota in York he didn’t want the Corolla after all, Glen was told the deposit was non-refundable. “Apparently it was because the sales staff had been a bit too enthusiastic, and had sorted out the vehicle owner documents before I had signed anything myself,” he said.

Glen got another surprise when he contacted BMW Finance to get a settlement value for the outstanding amount before he could sell the 1-Series privately. He explained: “Vantage Toyota had already paid it off – nearly £9,000!

“They must have thought I was a dead-cert sale. It seemed I was penalised for somebody’s over-zealous mistake.”

He E-mailed the dealer principal and firm’s managing director explaining the barmy situation – and was impressed to get an answer from Japan, where the MD was on business!

Vantage told Auto Express it learned of Glen’s cancellation less than 24 hours before he was due to collect the Toyota. But it agreed that he should have his deposit refunded.

“We went to some lengths to ensure the situation was resolved to the satisfaction of both parties,” said a representative. “We thank Mr Hunt for his patience.”

What should I do if my car breaks fail?

Most modern cars have two hydraulic brake circuits, so if one fails, the other will still give the driver a degree of stopping power. But if the brakes have packed up, here’s what to do...

Select a lower gear. The friction from the engine can be used to slow the vehicle down. Apply the handbrake gently. It is often connected to the rear brakes by cable and should still work. However if you pull it too hard, the car is likely to spin, so be careful!

Depending on the situation, you might be able to use your surroundings to your advantage. For example, authorities in Germany recommend brushing your car against the Armco to scrub off speed. And if there’s an escape lane, use it.

How does a CVT gearbox work?

A continuously variable transmission (CVT) does away with traditional gear wheels. In its most common form, it uses two pulleys that work together to optimise the car’s gearing.

Each pulley is made up of two facing cones – linked by a V-shaped belt – which are squeezed together to alter the size of the central spindle.

The gearing is changed when the two cones on the input pulley are pushed together. This forces the belt to go round a bigger area. As the belt length and pulley locations are fixed, the belt forces the cones in the output pulley apart, so it can spin more quickly. This process changes continuously, which in theory means the vehicle is always in the correct ‘gear’.