My partner has just found out his car is an 8v not a 16v as stated?

Question

Forgive me for not being able to be too specific but basically my partner brought a Vauxhall astra diesel 16v about 3 years ago Its had a few probs lately and went into garage They ordered a new cam belt and it wouldnt fit After trying a few more they didnt fit either. They then discovered that the car is actually an 8v single cam isuzu engine that was not used after 2001 (the car is a 54 plate) Where does he stand legally as the car has clearly been mis-sold?

Answer 1

Something is wrong here: The garage would know as soon as they opened the bonnet that it's an 8v as opposed to a 16v, so I don't understand them ordering the wrong belts.

Can you mail me the exact make, model & year (Vauxhall, I assume), and I'll check the specs.

Answer 2

After 3 years I doubt if you would get any joy.  Incidentally the 8v Isuzu Diesel is reputed to be a VERY reliable and long lived engine and far better than the two GM diesels on offer at the same time period.  Are you sure the car is not an import?  

I really think that after 3 years your partner may have some difficulty - to say the least - in proving it was stated to be a 16v engine at the time of sale.

Answer 3

As you have had the car for 3 years after discovering the car has a different engine I would say that there is noting you can do. However the original engine may have failed and been replaced by the original owner, who said nothing when he sold it.