Damaged "New' Vehicle - Unlicensed Demo Car - No Service

It's a pity there isn't the option to give zero stars. "Mens kan nie kla oor die diens nie, want daar is nie diens nie" - This Afrikaans saying explains it all.

In Septemeber we decided to buy a new car. None of the dealers close to us had stock at the moment, therefore we decided to contact Group One Renault Stellenbosch (We have family in George and thought we'll just fly down and make a weekend/roadtrip of it).

They ensured us they have a vehicle available and it won't be a problem if we fly down the next Friday to come and collect it. On Tuesday they told us the car will be send from PE to Cape Town (What happened to the vehicle in stock??), but will arrive on Thursday and they will get everything ready by Friday afternoon. By Thursday they informed us the car is still on the way but will still be on time. Looking back now we should have told them to cancel the purchase - Since on Friday morning they called to inform us the car is not yet there (The truck has broken down) and it will most likely only arrive on Saturday, but that we shouldn't worry they will arrange a demo car to use until Saturday.

So we got on the flight, arrived in Cape Town, made arrangements to meet in George on Sunday (Since the car will only arrive late Saturday afternoon) and left for Swellendam. At 19:30 we were pulled over for a road block just outside Swellendam. The traffic officer noticed that the temporary plates on the demo car was expired and wrote us a R 1000 fine (Surely this is something the dealership should have checked??). We immediately notified the sales agent at Group One Renault Stellenbosch -Which ensured us that they will see to the matter first thing Monday morning.

On Sunday we received the "New" car. To our utter disappointment we noticed the front and back doors (Left Side) doesn't align. At Three Sisters we noticed cracks in the doors and places where the car has been repainted (In the doors). We could not believe our eyes. How can a new car be so damaged? How can a dealership sell a car that has obviously been in an accident or damaged otherwise as a NEW CAR?? Once again we notified the dealership and requested they arrange a new car to be send to Bloemfontein - This was done a week later. I have to mention the dealership did pay for our flights to Cape Town. However, the poor service did not stop there.

A month after receiving the new car from Stellenbosch, the finance manager emailed me requesting forms to be completed and demanding it should be send back by the next morning at 8:00 or the sales agent won't be able to receive his commission. Unfortunately I'm a medical professional, not always at the office ready to sign documents and reply emails. They had to wait.

Over the weekend (18 February 2018) we received a summons in the post - A Warrant for Arrest. The fine was never paid by Group One Renault Stellenbosch. Letters from the traffic department did not reach us indicating the court appearance request or that the fine is still outstanding. Once again we took the word of Group One Renualt Stellenbosch, thinking after all the bad service they will at least sort this out -We should have known better. Apparently they will sort it out now - Needless to say I don't have a lot of confidence in that.

BE WARNED - Do not assume anything. Check new cars for any damage. Don't go through the same trouble we did. Something that should have been an exciting experience, turned into a terrible experience.