Bitterly disappointed.

I purchased a 2.0l 2012 Scirocco from Imperial Select 5 weeks ago. Car drove fine for the first two weeks. Thereafter, the check coolant and check oil lights came on. I chalked this up to a shoddy service job at first, because in the first couple days of owning the car I had to replace all the windscreen wipers. However, every few days the coolant light would come on. Upon further inspection, I noticed a coolant leak under the car. The oil leak was attributed to a faulty dip stick clip, which was somewhat easily rectified.

I got into contact with the dealership on the 13th of March, to notify them of the issue. At which point, they begrudgingly directed me to an automotive store in Midrand (DDK auto and performance). I went to the workshop, and was quite unpleased with their complete lack of service and overall apathetic attitude towards customers as I sat in a vacant reception for 20 minutes, unhelped, twiddling my thumbs. I called imperial Select and let them know of my dissatisfaction with their suggestion, and instead, I decided to get the radiator pressure tested at Silverton Radiators, at which point I was informed of a hole in the radiator. On the 15th of March, I took the car into Silverton Radiators Randburg to have the hole fixed at a cost of R3000. I notified imperial select of this, to which they responded that they would cover the cost of the repairs. Upon repairing the hole, Silverton Radiators notified me that the water pump/thermostat housing was broken.

I immediately called imperial select yet again, where I spoke to the used car sales manager who said they would take the car and fix it at no cost to myself, being assured I would have the vehicle back by Tuesday the 19th . Fast forward to Wednesday the 20th of March, I received a call from M-Sure, asking me to authorize a warranty claim for the Water Pump/Thermostat housing at none other than DDK auto and performance.

I decided it was not worth the effort to voice my displeasure that an agreement was broken, and that I was technically covering the costs of damage Imperial Select failed to address upon receipt of the car.

On Friday the 22nd of March, in the afternoon, I decided to get into contact with DDK Auto and Imperial Select to find out what on earth was happening with the car that I supposedly own. DDK informed me that they were still waiting on the claim to go through and that the car, despite standing idle in their workshop for a week, had not been repaired and the parts had not been ordered. I asked how much the repairs would cost if the warranty did not go through and was told it amounted to R8700. I gave Imperial Select yet another call, to be informed that if the claim did not go through by today (Saturday the 23rd of March) they would cover the cost of the repairs and that I would receive the vehicle today.

I just gave DDK a call at 14h00 on Saturday the 23rd of March. I was met with the same apathetic attitude, being told that they are closed but they have ordered the parts.

As I sit here, I have not had a car for 8 days of the 35 I have owned it. I have been made countless promises that have not been honoured.

Now here is my dilemma. I love the car. Honestly, it is my favourite part of my day to drive it. I was initially very pleased with Imperial Select during the process of attaining the car, they were efficient, incredibly communicative and insanely helpful. The pre-sale service was astounding but the post-sale service is disgusting. And my paranoia is beginning to peak. My cooldown period ends on the first of April. Are imperial select waiting out the cooldown period so I am forced to own a car damaged by their own negligence? At this point, I am at wits end. Do I even still want the car? I drive 33km one way to work a day. Not having a car has crippled me beyond comprehension. My business is suffering, and the cost of getting to work every day has mounted to a point where I cannot sustain them.

Now, we go into yet another week of no communication or persistent miscommunication as I sit in a void not knowing if I will receive the car, and if I do, what condition it will be in.