Roof Issue

[craig j]

Hello

I would appreciate some views and advice on a roof issue if possible please.

We have just returned from a 7 hour round trip to view a Cali SE showroom demo which we wanted to purchase. It ticks all the boxes for us including price, but as I completed my final checks, I raised the roof to check the canvas and noticed some small holes where the scissor mechanism had pinched and cut the canvas. A double check inside revealed daylight through the holes at which point my heart sank as up to then it was all going so well.

The dealer has offered to have the canvas repaired by a specialist with a patch on each side and told me this is a common issue which is likely to happen at one point or another anyway. I also pointed out that the roof panel now has a small bulge where I am guessing the mechanism has been jammed by the canvas and overloaded the panel. He has offered to have this repaired by a dent specialist too.

I have said that I would still buy the van if the roof was replaced and has hoped this could be done under warranty by the dealer. The dealer is going to check with VW on Monday, but I am not very confident that they will agree to do this at their cost. Therefore, I would like to get the views of others. I have struggled to find the exact spec van I want at a good price and thought I had finally found 'the one'. Am I being over fussy and is this a common issue that most California owners have come to deal with? Am I mad to purchase an SE with a patched roof and repaired roof panel?

Thanks for your help.
Craig

 

[WelshGas]

1. Not uncommon problem.
2. The aluminium roof can be damaged in this scenario BUT can be repaired fairly easily.
3. Nicks in the canvas are not unusual and once again can be repaired effectively.

VW will not repair under warranty as it is not a fault but user error, normally not having a door or window open downwind when lowering the roof and not carrying out a visual check as instructed by the Control Panel unit when lowering the roof.

This is a demo vehicle so probably the Numpty salesperson has not read the handbook.

A new Canvas is about £600 +\- to replace , so you have the option to let them repair AND I would suggest ask for goodwill gesture, extras or Free Services.

Get them to repair roof and replace canvas.

If it ticks all the other boxes then I would explore these other options with them before walking away.

 

[Martin]

I would want the whole canvas replaced, certainly would not want it patched! is it not a VW dealer?


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[GrannyJen]

I did read this right? It is a Demo vehicle? The canvas has been nicked and the roof buckled?

They did it, their responsibility, damaging the roof and bellows is not an unavoidable consequence of raising and lowering the roof, it is a consequence of their mishandling of a demonstrator.

Roof repaired and bellows replaced. It is in effect a brand new vehicle and should come to you in a brand new state.

 

[Hotel California]

Before we all give our thought we need to know:
Is this a original VW dealer?
Is this a used or new Cali ( demo can be new when not yet registred)
If it is a used , what year?

Then the quest for solutions can start....
Now we are all guessing things.....

 

[craig j]

Hi
Thanks for the replies.
It is a VW commercial dealer.
It has been used for couple of shows and is one of the last T5s pre-registered prior to the EU5 cut-off, so 15 plate.
Clearly someone in the dealer didn't read the handbook and was careless or just made a simple mistake.
They have another interested party who is likely to buy it if I don't. I'm guessing they probably haven't noticed or are buying without viewing first.
I'm guessing the dealer won't want to invest money if they can sell it with minimal cost for repair. I expect to get the call on Monday to say they won't replace the canvas and then I need to decide what I'm going to do.
As you can tell I'm a bit gutted. It's right in every other way and I'm struggling to stop letting my heart rule my head and regret it later.
Why is nothing ever straight forward!

 

[craig j]

Also, would the roof frame now be bent/damaged if the panel has bulged? It seemed to function well enough.

 

[Martin]

As this is a VW dealer I personally think they should really sort this whoever buys it, however if you can get them to knock £800 off and get the work done yourself ?


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[GrannyJen]

Craig

I feel almost gutted for you

Ok, heart over head time.

how big are the tears? I've got a couple in mine that are just visible, if you look hard enough, but of course once you know they are there then they assume the size of Elephants footprints. Small tears are easily repaired.

The dent repair is an easy job.

How good is the price? If you went for a similar spec T6 what would be the price difference? If you are getting s super-duper deal then for goodness sake, get it patched, get on the road, start enjoying life.

What is the mileage? General condition?

A t5 being sold this late in the day must have a nice big discount attached. If it ticks the boxes, makes amazing economic sense, will have you in tears if you can't have it and will ruin a week away that you have planned starting next weekend then go for it. Life is too short.

A totally idiotic post from me but then I'm a totally idiotic granny that let's heart overrule head to often .... but then I smile more than most

 

[Hotel California]

Like Martin said ....
That would my demand also , or they get it fixed before you buy ,
Or they lower the price so you can have the job done , but then i would go to another dealer , the fact they try to sell that Cali in that state is no-done for me.
They probaly have not much experience in Cali's
....and do check the rest of the Cali to the point!
If this Cali i used to give to possible buyers to give them the last push , it may wel be abused in many ways.
There are some here who had given a Cali for a weeks try-out before singning the deal , i would not have one of those...

Don't wanne scare you off to much though , maybe tell someone thru a PM the price they ask...
But not me as i'm not from the UK and not aware of the prices....
Maybe Martin can give a price indication?

 

[Meoncoast]

They should fix at their cost, or reduce the by about £800 -£900 if I was looking to buy

 

[Alan]

They should fix at their cost, or reduce the by about £800 -£900 if I was looking to buy

I agree to some extent but we don't know what the sale price is
Craig J has stated that it's going for a good price

Alan

 

[Skylark2.0]

There is always another buyer lurking in the wings. Whether they exist are not is anyone's guess.
I would not want a dodgy roof.
Reduce price and get it fixed somewhere trusted.

 

[craig j]

Offer price is 16% discount off the list price of an equivalent T5 or T6. I was all set to order a T6 through DTD but have decided I don't want to stretch quite that far and the lighter T5 suits me better.

Thanks for the responses and I appreciate its very much a 1st world problem, but I do value the input/help.

 

[Freeley]

I know how it is when you've got your heart set on something like this but if it was me I'd want it repaired properly ie canvas replaced not repaired or I'd walk away. I wouldn't want the hassle of having to get it repaired myself.
Ultimately the choice is yours of course

Sent from my Galaxy S6

 

[Borris]

Offer price is 16% discount off the list price of an equivalent T5 or T6. I was all set to order a T6 through DTD but have decided I don't want to stretch quite that far and the lighter T5 suits me better.

Thanks for the responses and I appreciate its very much a 1st world problem, but I do value the input/help.

Hi Craig,
You say that you discovered these holes and roof damage. Did the garage not know that they were there?
If the other potential purchaser exists, then I would now expect this VW garage to advise them about this issue and detail what course of action they propose to take to rectify it.
I know it is a very difficult decision if you have set your heart on it but for me, if its an expensive nearly new ex demo California sold by VW commercial then, without question, they should put any faults right before it is sold. In my opinion, a repair is a bodge job and is just not good enough. If they damaged it then they should replace it and return it to as new prior to sale.

 

[craig j]

It seems clear that I should only accept the Cali with a minimum of a new canvas. I know how good the dent repairers are so I would be happy if they fix the bulge in the roof panel. My only concern would be if the roof mech might have been damaged which caused the bulge but I'm not sure how I can check that.
I'm not sure what the dealer will do with the other customer or even if they exist (he did show me an email that came through while I was viewing). You would hope they would point it out even if they just patch it up, but then they are a car dealer

 

[LowMan]

Hi Craig

I have a lot of empathy with you over this. Once you become emotionally involved in the purchase decision, it's a real challenge to allow the head to rule the heart.

To be honest, without actually seeing the issue, it's difficult to advise. What some may call 'a small dent' maybe HUGE to someone else.

I think the only thing I'd say is to remember this.

You're now entering the 'Buyers' time of the year. October, November, December is when you're most likely to get the better deals in the market. So if you're not 100% happy.....walk away.

Only you can decide, but if you do say no, you will find another opportunity soon enough. Try not to fall for any emotional blackmail by the dealership.

Like others have said here though, everything you've described is repairable. So if you feel you're getting a good deal and the dealership will rectify everything, then again, go with it.

Ultimately though, don't get hung up over a few hundred quid here & there. You'll blow more than that in an instant as soon as you start accessorising

Good luck. I'm sure whatever you decide will work out.

 

[reserves]

I'd ask for a reasonable discount to cover costs for a new canvas (£500 ish) and roof repair (£100)

Then I'd be happy and use it until the canvas could do with replacing and get it done then.

Get the roof bulge repaired I then meantime, it's an easy repair in most cases.

 

[motacyclist]

Hi Craig

It's a pity the dealer didn't inform you of the defects before you embarked on the 7 hour round trip. Would you have made the journey if you had known? Probably not and he would have known that, so I would be wary of buying from them. I'm sure you will enjoy the vehicle, but depending on how well the repair is done it may affect the residual when you come to sell.

As another poster has said, there is always another buyer in the offing, so ignore that.

It's your call, so good luck in your decision.

 

[Borris]

Hi Craig

It's a pity the dealer didn't inform you of the defects before you embarked on the 7 hour round trip. Would you have made the journey if you had known? Probably not and he would have known that, so I would be wary of buying from them. I'm sure you will enjoy the vehicle, but depending on how well the repair is done it may affect the residual when you come to sell.

As another poster has said, there is always another buyer in the offing, so ignore that.

It's your call, so good luck in your decision.

I agree.

 

[craig j]

The salesman was very quick to suggest that it could be patched as if he had already dealt with the issue before or knew about it. I'll give him the benefit of the doubt, but what I do next all comes down to their response tomorrow. The head is firmly ruling today and that has been helped by the feedback and responses. 90% sure I will walk and only a new roof likely to change my mind. As suggested, it should be like new.

We stopped to have a look at another Cali on the way home. It didn't have the same issues and was also ideal for us, but substantially more expensive (3-4k) The dealer was unable to move enough on price which was a shame, but far too close to T6 money in my opinion.

The search continues....

 

[Borris]

Thanks for your help.
Craig[/QUOTE]

The salesman was very quick to suggest that it could be patched as if he had already dealt with the issue before or knew about it. I'll give him the benefit of the doubt, but what I do next all comes down to their response tomorrow. The head is firmly ruling today and that has been helped by the feedback and responses. 90% sure I will walk and only a new roof likely to change my mind. As suggested, it should be like new.

We stopped to have a look at another Cali on the way home. It didn't have the same issues and was also ideal for us, but substantially more expensive (3-4k) The dealer was unable to move enough on price which was a shame, but far too close to T6 money in my opinion.

The search continues....

Hi Craig,
You have probably already done this but just in case you haven't, if you really like the second one, make them an offer that you would be happy with. You have nothing to loose. Its a buyers market at present and the dealers know this. I would be surprised if you don't see some movement.
I have just bought an ex demonstrator and the dealer was quite simply superb. The salesman also took the time to explain all of the weaknesses in the Cali design and how to avoid problems. When I collected it, I too gave ours a thorough check over and couldn't fault their preparation and attention to detail. They even filled the fuel tank to brimming. I have never experienced that before!
What ever you decide to do, good luck.
Paul

 

[craig j]

Well I got my response from the dealer this afternoon. As mentioned by others VW do not accept as a warranty claim. The dealer is going to patch the roof, repair the bulge and sell it to the other customer in this condition. When questioned he said that he would be informing them as part of the sale....

Disappointing experience, but the positive is that I spent my Saturday finding a dealer that I don't need to consider buying a car from.