ARNOLD CLARK IMPORTANT CUSTOMER INFORMATION. Worth a click?

I have also had an experience with Arnold Clark. I bought a three year old VW Golf a few years back. I had only taken ownership of the car for two weeks when I started having problems. I was driving along one night when I heard a very loud grinding sound. I was pretty near a railway bridge at the time and I thought that a train must be drawing near. There was no train though, it was mearly that my front brake pads were down to the metal and were grinding on the metal brake surface. Th back brakes were also knackered. I also needed a new clutch and gearbox within a year.

As far as I can tell, Arnold Clark mearly buy these cars from an auction, clean them up then bung them on the forecourt. My advice to anyone is to cut out the middle man, dear old Arnold, and go to the auctions yourself. It cant be any more of a lottery than buying from Arnold Clark.

We bought a brand new micra from their store in Edinburgh,

after a few months we got a dent in the bumper, before I went to them

I got a panel beater friend to look at it for me, he said it was easily fixed

and all it would cost would be around £100 from any garage.

I got a quote from them saying I would need a new bumper, new bumper pins

and wait for it, a new bonnet{????} .All coming to a grand total of £450.

Add to this warranty problems with side windows {wear and tear indeed}

and yes, they sure do suck

I wish I had read some of your site's content prior to buying our car from

Arnold Clark (Fiat) in Aberdeen. I might have thought twice...

Car sold with the following:

1) sprayed-over rust inside wheel arches

2) worn ball joints (enough to need to be replaced at my expense)

3) minor dents i had asked to be removed as condition of sale - not even

4) lied to me that new oil filter had been fitted

5) lied to me that new wiper blades had been fitted

6) i had to valet the car myself - when I picked it up it hadn't been

cleaned inside - salesman refused to answer or return calls

7) sales people at the Volvo showroom extremely rude (where I had to take

the car - myself - to get a bumper sidelight replaced - strangely it passed

the MOT that AC had given the car with this defect. BTW I had to foot the

bill for this, having been assured it was under their warranty.)

Three or four weeks later I get a mail shot from AC asking me if I wish to

insure with them against defects in the car I just bought from them...I

almost found it funny.

Still - taking something positive from all of this - I use every opportunity

to advise people against using AC for any purpose whatsoever. 3.12.2003

I NEARLY BOUGHT A 3 YR OLD CAR WITH 50,000 MILES ON THE CLOCK AFTER CHOCKING ON THE INSULTING TRADE IN PRICE OFFERED, I ASKED ABOUT WARRANTY THE CAR WAS AN ALFA BEING SOLD BY AN ALFA MAIN DEALER. I WAS SHOCKED TO FIND THAT IT OR ANY OF THEIR OTHER USED STOCK WAS ONLY COVERED BY A 1 MONTH WARRANTY. IF ANY OF YOU WISH TO LOOK AT ALFA'S OWN WEBSITE YOU CAN SEE THAT APPROVED USED CARS LESS THAN 5YRS OLD/80,000 MILES ARE COVERED BY A 12 MONTH WARRANTY INCLUDING EUROPEAN AA COVER FOR THE YEAR SURELY ARNOLD CLARKS USED ALFA'S BEING MAIN DEALER SHOULD BE APPROVED.

WHEN CHALLENGED ON THIS ISSUE THE SALESMAN HAD NO ANSWER AND SEEMED TO BE OBLIVIOUS TO THE CAR WORLD OUTSIDE OF A.C.

Arnold Clark Sucks

READ HERE WHAT SOME PEOPLE HAVE TO SAY www.arnoldsucks.com Please update your bookmarks.
I bought a 1997 Fiat Punto 75slx in October 2001. The car had been serviced and MOT'd at AC since birth! The car was MOT'd for me post sale, on 23/10/01. On Jan 28 02, just 3 months from date of MOT my brakes completely failed when I was driving on the M8 (6 lanes of motorway!!), i was totally terrified but managed to stop the car safely and got towed to AC garage on Allison St. Waited a day for the report; excessive corrosion to the brake pipes (uh!)Of course i had my baby niece, my sister and my dad in the car with me the day before and it makes my skin crawl to think of the danger we were all in thanks to Arnold Clark and Fiat. I consented to them carrying out the work the next day and in the meantime i contacted the AC garage in Cumbernauld where i bought the car to make a complaint. They told me, amongst other things that i would need to get a hold of the brake pipes for evidence in order for my claim to be verified. I called the Allison st branch immediately. lo and behold they had chucked out the brake pipes and 'emptied' the bin!! AC accepted no responsibility at all and offered me a pitiful 'free mot and service' as compensation. Reluctantly (being skint) and having had no luck whatsoever in getting any satisfaction i felt that i would have to just accept their shit offer (oct 02) and I put my car in their very dodgy garage for the aforementioned compensation. It was during this visit that i found out about the 'BRAKE SAFETY RECALL'. The very same thing could have happened again had i not visited their garage on that day. After that i took up my complaint with Fiat as well, they also didn't give a toss. This complaint is still on-going. I will, obviously NEVER use any of them again, and will take every opportunity to publicise this fact. I HATE ARNOLD CLARK AND FIAT. 3.12.2003
I have also had an experience with Arnold Clark. I bought a three year old VW Golf a few years back. I had only taken ownership of the car for two weeks when I started having problems. I was driving along one night when I heard a very loud grinding sound. I was pretty near a railway bridge at the time and I thought that a train must be drawing near. There was no train though, it was mearly that my front brake pads were down to the metal and were grinding on the metal brake surface. Th back brakes were also knackered. I also needed a new clutch and gearbox within a year. As far as I can tell, Arnold Clark mearly buy these cars from an auction, clean them up then bung them on the forecourt. My advice to anyone is to cut out the middle man, dear old Arnold, and go to the auctions yourself. It cant be any more of a lottery than buying from Arnold Clark. 3.12.2003
We bought a brand new micra from their store in Edinburgh, after a few months we got a dent in the bumper, before I went to them I got a panel beater friend to look at it for me, he said it was easily fixed and all it would cost would be around £100 from any garage. I got a quote from them saying I would need a new bumper, new bumper pins and wait for it, a new bonnet{????} .All coming to a grand total of £450. Add to this warranty problems with side windows {wear and tear indeed} and yes, they sure do suck 3.12.2003
I wish I had read some of your site's content prior to buying our car from Arnold Clark (Fiat) in Aberdeen. I might have thought twice... Car sold with the following: 1) sprayed-over rust inside wheel arches 2) worn ball joints (enough to need to be replaced at my expense) 3) minor dents i had asked to be removed as condition of sale - not even touched 4) lied to me that new oil filter had been fitted 5) lied to me that new wiper blades had been fitted 6) i had to valet the car myself - when I picked it up it hadn't been cleaned inside - salesman refused to answer or return calls 7) sales people at the Volvo showroom extremely rude (where I had to take the car - myself - to get a bumper sidelight replaced - strangely it passed the MOT that AC had given the car with this defect. BTW I had to foot the bill for this, having been assured it was under their warranty.) Three or four weeks later I get a mail shot from AC asking me if I wish to insure with them against defects in the car I just bought from them...I almost found it funny. Still - taking something positive from all of this - I use every opportunity to advise people against using AC for any purpose whatsoever. 3.12.2003
Bought a Jaguar S-Type from old Arnold's Motherwell branch 6 months ago. I took the car to my car to my local garage only to discover there was around 20 faults with car, the most serious being a nut missing from every wheel. The car also started to splutter and cut out whenever I went over 45mph.I eventually got all problems sorted out after 2 months by going to their head office straight away as I was aware of their delaying tactics to get you beyond the 30 day guarantee period. As for their PDI inspection there was no water in the windscreen washers which raised suspicions straight away, and the most recent problem was the heating in the car was not functioning. After phoning my mechanic he suggested first thing to try was checking the water and coolant levels as this is what obviously heats the car (not technically gifted me). I discovered Had been driving about for 6 months with little to no water in engine and I had not checked due the air conditioning being on with our unexpected long summer. Some PDI check. I will try and find my long list of faults for your very useful website and keep up the good work. PS Nomination for top Scots company at business awards what a joke! 4.12.2003
I NEARLY BOUGHT A 3 YR OLD CAR WITH 50,000 MILES ON THE CLOCK AFTER CHOCKING ON THE INSULTING TRADE IN PRICE OFFERED, I ASKED ABOUT WARRANTY THE CAR WAS AN ALFA BEING SOLD BY AN ALFA MAIN DEALER. I WAS SHOCKED TO FIND THAT IT OR ANY OF THEIR OTHER USED STOCK WAS ONLY COVERED BY A 1 MONTH WARRANTY. IF ANY OF YOU WISH TO LOOK AT ALFA'S OWN WEBSITE YOU CAN SEE THAT APPROVED USED CARS LESS THAN 5YRS OLD/80,000 MILES ARE COVERED BY A 12 MONTH WARRANTY INCLUDING EUROPEAN AA COVER FOR THE YEAR SURELY ARNOLD CLARKS USED ALFA'S BEING MAIN DEALER SHOULD BE APPROVED. WHEN CHALLENGED ON THIS ISSUE THE SALESMAN HAD NO ANSWER AND SEEMED TO BE OBLIVIOUS TO THE CAR WORLD OUTSIDE OF A.C. 4.12.2003


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