A friend went to view a car in a local car sales garage and after finding one she liked, was advised by the garage owner too leave a £100 deposit, and return to test drive the car this week, as she knows nothing about cars m boyfriend took her bak to the garage and after a test drive he realised that something was not quite right. He had a look at the car, and is convinced the head gasket was broken, therefore my friend decided not too buy the car. The garage owner has now refused to refund her money as he see's that the car has othing wrong with it, and as my boyfriend is not a trained mechanic he 'doesn't know what he's talking about!!! '. Where does she stand, can she demand her money back??

Hi --- When a deposit is paid towards a cash purchase on a car, it is not an automatic right to demand your money back unless you could prove that there is a fault with the car, which could be costly.

Why does your friend not compromise and tell the dealer she will go ahead with the purchase, only if the dealer provides her with a full written guarantee free of charge against any defects or problems arising with the car for at least Six months, this will at least show a degree of goodwill..... that the dealer stands by his word that the car has not got a blown gasket or is not developing a head gasket problem to his knowledge.

I can't really see him trying to sell it in that condition as it would all come back to haunt him anyway, if he sold a car in that condition.

PS -- general cylinder head gasket problems are usually more obvious by a sluggish lumpy response, lack of power and White smoke coming from the exhaust.

hi, thankyou, i will suggest this too her, however i think she was unhappy with the car and they way it drove (issues such as noises and abnormally heavy stearing etc) prior too my boyfriend checking for other faults, so i think she is put off the car anyway. I have since found out that this car dealer is well known to trading standards and the police alike :(

Hi --- Well in that case if you suspect the car has all those faults then tell her to ask firmly for her deposit returning, if he refuses then inform him that subject to him providing an independent vehicle check by the RAC or AA at his expense.........

.........Providing only that the car checks out okay, she will proceed with the deal and reimburse the car examination fee, but if the car does not pass, then he returns all the deposit to your friend and stands the full cost of the inspection himself.