EvilBevel

OK, I'll put this in other marques because it doesn't involve a Scooby.

I bought one of them fancy Opel Speedsters (none of that silly VX220 stuff ) in December 2001.

Since then, the car has had a full respray twice (under warrenty). Paint would chip, bubble, fall off or use rude words even when standing still. One of those cars that get lighter the more you drive it

It's now bubbling all over the place again, and although I'm not an expert, I believe that is due to the specifics of the chassis materials/base paint underlayer. I also believe the Lotus Elise MK1 (from the same factory) had the same problems.

Dealer now sticks head in sand and refuses to take any further action, apart from "well, we could respray it again"

Do I have any legal rights here (things just get worse & worse) or should I have it stolen or something ?

I realize the law might be different in Belgium, but how would a UK dealer/customer/attorney/consumer organization react ?

I can't sell the car as I would make the next owner pretty unhappy, I don't want to get worked up *again* by this rather unhelpful dealer (well, he just doesn't know what to do), but what do I do ? Am I just SOL ?

Any pointers would be appreciated.

Old_Fart

Hey Theo. Can't help but will point you towards www.vx220.org.uk anyway...someone there may have seen same problems.
Rgds
Chuck

EvilBevel

Thanks Chuck . I've been there before though, and it was very much a case of "they all don't do that sir"

"Must be your color" etc...

Funny, as when I talked to a mechanic that used to work for Opel (now for Subaru) he said the paint would fall off if you just sneezed near it LOL

Even the pristine showroom models had some paint chipping around the rear light clusters.

I am not a difficult customer, but I paid this car in cash of my own hard earned, and I can't think of anyone wanting to buy it now.

I just wished I had gone for the MX-5 back then

I'll try vx220 org again just to be sure if the tone has changed.

Neil Smalley

The UK is notoriously poor for consumer rights when it comes to cars (e.g we've no lemon laws)

I believe that if this were a UK car, the dealer would do the same as yours did and offer a respray and say take it or leave it [img]images/smilies/mad.gif[/img] . You're savvy enough to ensure the dealer did the respray right, so apart from taking it elsewhere to be done i'm not sure what else to suggest that you've not already thought of


I'm sure you've done a search, but here's a list of other speedster forums
http://www.oilypages.com/links.asp?page=vx220&

Hopefully these will help you get more ammo to fire back at the dealer.





[Edited by Neil Smalley - 6/24/2003 5:14:53 PM]

MarkCSC

Have you tried speaking to Opel/GM head office direct? They might do something as a good will gesture. You never know.

[Edited by Mark Champion - 6/24/2003 5:56:15 PM]

Old_Fart

I've seen loads of guys complaining about the paint going around the exhaust on the bumper.
I really wanted to want a VX220, they really are a bargain here now, and I prefer the looks and package as a whole to the Elise. But they appear far too 'kit car' for me to take a chance with, especially as the local dealers seem pathetic...if I bought one I'd have to trek a few hours roundtrip each time the rear lights fogged/door started rattling/ steering column disintegrated/lights shorted LOL. Gave up on the idea and bought a motorbike instead.
Good luck Theo bloke. Get em to repaint it and armourfend the entire car!
Chuck

mutant_matt

Theo,

YHM m8

Matt

GTI

Reject the car and get a solicitor, reject for being of poor quality and threaten court action if the car is not taken back and a refund is given in full or to the value the car would be if it had been in perfect condition.

GTI

Also seems like Vauxhall might be getting the awful reputation back that they once had for there cars rusting faster than anything else on the road and having cr@p paint

EvilBevel

Thanks for the comments.

Rejecting will not work after 18 months I think, and I dread to think about long lasting lawsuits etc.

Asked the dealer yesterday to make me a generous offer and take it back.

Funny to walk into a dealership and see everyone suddenly having to go do something urgent in the backoffice

His reaction was: "Uh, so are you gonna buy another Opel then ?"

I really missed my smiley in that showroom ...

MX-5 it will be I guess...

Old_Fart

What about the MR2? Too small? Sounds like s##t in French? (Mmm-aree-duex)LOL
Chuckles

Brendan Hughes

MR2s in France are called the MR - bad luck Chuckster!

Old_Fart

HEHEH I know, I've just been desperate to type that out...they are marketed under different name specifically because MR2 = merde LOL
Chucky

EvilBevel

LOL, yeah, good choice the emmerdeur

It's for "her indoors", and she fancies the MX for quite a while now. We almost went for one but then saw the orange thing in the showroom (it still had paint on )... big mistake.

I'm not saying they are bad cars, they drive really well (not that I ever have driven it 1 meter... can't get in), but the hassles are finally getting to us.

Won't be able to drive the MX either, but at least I would be able to move it off or on the driveway (no chance with the VX)