Stay away!!

I bought a Renault 2.0T GT 2008 model from Wheels4u in Zambezi Drive Pretoria on 25-05-2018

The day me and my wife went to view the vehicle we were satisfied with what we saw except for the following these problems,

1. I noticed that there was NO spare wheel in the car and enquired about the spare wheel, the salesman said that the spare wheel is in the “storeroom” and they will find it. In the meantime I went with the salesman and my wife to the bank to make the EFT in the branch by request of the salesman, the ordinary EFT method was apparently not sufficient as the proof of payment needed to reflect the recipient bank account number, this was not possible by our bank, however I then decided to leave the car and shop elsewhere, but the salesman said that the proof of payment by the bank will be accepted. (Only because I said I will go and shop elsewhere.) 2. Once we returned to the dealership (A used car dealership), the salesman immediately started preparing paperwork and proof of purchase as well as a copy of the vehicle’s registration documents (We could only collect the originals once the funds reflected in Wheels4u’s bank account) 3. Once all paperwork was done, I yet again asked for the spare wheel, and the sales man rudely said “The car has no spare wheel” 4. Further to the above, I have not received the radio code for the radio I was promised to get the following Monday. 5. During the test drive of the vehicle by myself, my wife and the salesman himself I was quite impressed with the vehicle, however upon arriving back at the dealership I opened the bonnet again and noticed that the car was quite warm (hot), and asked the salesman why the car is “overheating” and his direct word was “Any car boils under pressure” 6. The car was provided without a roadworthy certificate and also without a “data dot certificate” this entails that the dealership NEVER took this vehicle for roadworthy at all, and if so I would like the dealership to provide me proof of such. Is it not required by law that the dealership provides a valid roadworthy certificate when selling a vehicle? 7. The vehicle starts be means of “Card Key” and the key does not always work as the vehicle presents “Key not detected” on the display, this occurrence became more evident and left me stranded one time for almost 40 minutes trying to start the vehicle. 8. Today 19 June 2018, the vehicle overheats and a white/brown creamy mucus material blows out of the water bottle when opened. (See attached photos) This presents oil/water mixture from the engine, however the engine oil on the “dip stick” seems to be clean, the vehicle does not present loss of performance, and there is no smoke coming from the vehicle at all. 9. It took me more than 3 hours to take a drive from my home at Bon Accord to Voortrekker road, then Pretoria North and back, I had to stop several times, refill the water, and every time the boiling water that sprays out of the water bottle, the creamy/oily mucus material is presented. (This after only three weeks after buying the car from Wheels4u)

I then contacted Wheels4U’s owner by Whatsapp, and send him the videos I took as well as photos, he did not respond to my Whatsapp messages, and therefore I afforded a phone call to Wikus of Wheels4U.

I basically explain starting with the spare wheel, and radio problem, from the day I purchased the vehicle. Then proceeded to the “overheating” problem, and explained the creamy oily mucus from the engine and Wikus immediately interrupted me with “Let us start from the beginning, and that I had to understand one thing very clearly, and that is that the vehicle is sold “Voetstoots” and “As Is”, there was no offer to resolve the any of the issues I have brought to his attention.

Further to the “Voetstoots” term I have obtained the following information: (presented by the Consumer Protection Act) - https://www.iol.co.za/motoring/how-cpa-protects-used-car-buyers- ********** 1. Under the CPA an official car dealer may not sell a vehicle “voetstoots”, irrespective of whether they disclose what is wrong with it. 2. In order for a car to be sold voetstoots, a full list of all known car defects has to be provided. 3. As part of the sale agreement, the buyer, would then have to sign and acknowledge the presence of these defects. (There was no such list or disclosure) 4. If any new defects are discovered within six months of the sale, you have the right to insist on repair, replacement or a refund.