Do NOT trust Imperial Select!!

I purchased a vehicle from Imperial Select in Tableview last year April under false pretenses. They had informed me that the service history of the car was up to date and valid until August this year after which would be followed by an extended warranty for a further 2 years. I found out last month after extensive damage to the gasket needed repairs that there was in fact no manufactures warranty.

The car went in for a major service at the start of January this year and they reported that a rattling noise was the exhaust and they were not sure if it would be covered by the warranty but they would enquire and get back to me. Im still waiting on feedback on this.

On the morning of February 21st the temperature light came on, and I had to refill the water. I contacted Renault at the Imperial branch I had purchased the car from on the same day. After an inspection of 2 hours they told me there were no problems found, everything was fine and that it was probably an air bubble but I shouldn't worry. This was told to me directly from the Head Mechanic.

That night on my way home from work, the same thing happened and I had to stop at a garage and refill. On my way to drop my son at school the next morning, the same thing. I again immediately took the car to them and they then booked it in for assessment.

I was then contacted to say there was an internal leak and the gasket was faulty. These faults were apparently not picked up during the major service or the 2 hour assessment they did just a day before that. Also, I would need to be quoted as the manufacturers warranty had been cancelled. Apparently the previous owner had missed a service and other services were late. They were unable to arrange a loan car and requested I pay R1500 for a hired vehicle which they would obtain on my behalf. They also said the could arrange for my extended warranty to cover the cost but then I would lose out on what was supposed to cover the car for an additional two years after the manufacturers warranty expires.

I do not trust any work they are prepared to do because their technicians are clearly *********** and there would not have been that much damage IF a thorough check was done and the problem found on the initial reporting of the problem or major service.

I do not want this car back as I could have been given a car in MUCH better condition for the the money they obtained from my bank which I am still paying for. On indication of this the Sales Manager Luan Volschenk, I was told that my deal is not with them but with the bank.

So in other words, If I purchase something like an expensive tv or fridge on my credit card and its faulty and out of the 30 day or 90 day exchange period... My complaints should be directed at the bank because I am still paying it off?

I have found numerous complaints on hellopeter.com about other people who have had very similar experiences with Imperial Select WITHIN THE LAST YEAR and with regards to FALSIFIED WARRANTYS which clients only find out about when something goes wrong. Or even just leaks that are not detected by their technicians which leads to bigger problems.

It seems that ********* standards have been approved by this franchise in the pursuit of closing a sale. They are not client oriented but are rather sales focused. I suggested that this entity be investigated by the Motor Industry Ombudsman of South Africa

This is the biggest debt I have made on my own and decided that I would want to purchase a fairly new car from a reputable dealer as opposed to a private seller as I have had my fair share of issues with a previous private purchase. I had to take out a personal loan to get my last car fixed so I wanted to do this the right way this time - so much good its done for me.

My purchase from Imperial was finalised in less than a week and as a first time dealership buyer I feel I was taken advantage of as I was not told to come in or told I have options. I was desperate for a car and they helped me obtain the finance... but that's it.