SENT FOR SERVICE AT ARUN CARS

[painter]

Good to hear that the main issue has been resolved. Even if the car did not require a new engine prior to Arun's input. it must have been a pleasant drive - even in heavy traffic. The XK8s are beginning to thin out. I drove from near Lands End to Cambridge and back the other week and saw just one XK8 (in Cornwall !). Your P&J with very low mileage and a new engine will now be a very desirable car.

[daveji]

Hi Vinnie
I'm sure we are all pleased you have got your car back all sorted.
From what I know Arun have been a problem to many customers for years,and no
problem at all to others.
May I suggest you contact our senior JEC officers and discuss with them how to
proceed...... should you wish to take things further.
I'm sure you will want to do what you can to protect any other member from
the treatment you had to put up with.
I would contact Graham Searle and Nigel Thorley and see what they suggest.
Best regards

[robv12]

always difficult to comment on issues like this, but clearly a huge problem for one of our members, but now hopefully all sorted to satisfaction

how do we as a club proceed, well, without trying to be controversial here, the problem in this case is between vendor and purchaser and not a JEC issue, although we have been aware of it from the beginning, and will do everything we can to help, as has been demonstrated in this thread from the various well known posters

With regard to Arun and their advertising in the magazine, why should we bar them??, they will sell many many cars, they have been in business for many years, sadly it occasionally all goes wrong right from the start and just gets worse as the problem grows, but in general the customer will be or have been satisfied we never hear about these cars, just the ones where there is a problem as in this case

I am not defending or criticising any one here, just looking at it as an outsider with regard to the deal and as club official, I'm quite happy to chat it through if you wish to call me

Rob Jenner

[vinniexkr]

Hi

Thanks to you all for the responses and comments so far with this thread.

I would like to respond to Robs last post.
I do not think you have addressed this properly.
I can understand your points about there being many customers who have been totally happy with their cars, and some who have had problems with their cars.
The point that is, most important in all this is this.

I did not have a problem with my car until they caused the problem, then, when they realised what they had done, THEY, made up web of lies and deceit and tried to trick me into believing that there was a problem with my car when I bought it to them, hoping that I would believe their lies and pay for the damage they had caused.
If they had just put their hands up and admitted what they had done it would be a different story, but they didn't.
If they had been honest, yes, I would have still been bloody furious, but if they had offered to put hing right then I could have dealt with that.
They did not !! they lied and lied, even after two trips down to them to sort things out they still lied, only after me saying I was going to get a independent engineer down did they change their story. Sorry, but they were completely dishonest and basically tried to commit fraud against me.

Regards
Vince

[robv12]

I think then in that case if you feels so strongly about the service or lack of it in this case at Arun Cars, then you as an individual must take it further, trading standards, or, if you feel fraud has been committed as an offence, then there are steps you can take here as well

As some one who was not involved in the initial problem, it is very very difficult to "take sides", clearly you have had a VERY serious issue, there is no denying that, which has at last and thankfully be resolved, yes with stress and cost involved to yourself, something we can all do without, but I would like to hear Arun's side of the argument and why they did what they did and then followed it up with the subsequent actions, the term "hole and digging deeper" springs to mind instead of "fessing up" at the outset, but, as I said I was not involved in these conversations nor were the JEC so we do really have to take a balanced view on this, as I have said previously, happy to chat through at any time

[vinniexkr]

Hi

Thanks for your response Rob, I do understand where your at.

I am leaning towards selling my XKR as it seems to have put a bit of a downer on the car for me now.
I love the car and driving the car, but the spark seems to have left it.
I think with all the problems caused it may be a good idea to make a clean break of it all and put the whole episode behind me, if that means selling the car then I may well do just that.
The next question of course is,"whats it worth"?
2002 XkR Convertible in phoenix red with 42000 miles on the clock with a brand new engine,
colour coded torneu covers all in A+ condition.

[oldtimer]

I have followed this thread and have concluded that you are not the first or the last to have experienced this sort of unfortunate event. Regrettably from time to time people do make mistakes and it is subsequently badly handled as in your case. Having worked in the Warranty Department I have seen both sides of such cases which have ended in court.

Perhaps now is time the time to put a big smile on your face and think your self lucky that you have a great car with a brand new engine fitted - what more can you ask for.

My take is, don't get bitter and twisted over it and agonise about compensation for personal hurt, life is too short for that. Go for a good long drive while the good weather last.

Oldtimer

[Brakebuster]

wise words


and take comfort that your fellow JEC members know the troubles you have had, and will act accordingly with regard to this ' garage'


time to fall in love with your car agin , as it wasn't its fault this happened.......

BB

[RichT]

I have followed this post with great interest and think a very valid point has been raised with regards to suppliers featured in the club magazine

I have had several experiences with suppliers and recomended marque specialists with rubbish dangerous parts and poor advice but I would guess that if all of us collectively reported these issues and it was dealt with by exclusion from the club magazine each issue would be several pages thinner as a result.

In my experience the Internet is a powerful tool and this post certainly does not look good for Arun and others will now beware.

The club can never be regarded as offering impartial advice when it is taking advertising revenue but by the same token the forums are not censured so useful purpose is served

The take home message for us all may be make up your own mind. Don't trust inclusion in the club magazine as either advertiser or expert is a guarantee of quality of parts, service or advice. asking the question on this forum always seems a good start.

This is cold comfort with regards to this case but who's going to buy a car or service there now.. Not me for sure! And the Internet has a long memory


Be careful out there folks

[vinniexkr]

Hi

I must thank you all for your wise words and advice on this matter, I have read all your posts and do agree with most of what has been said, and I certanley will not let my self get all bitter and twisted over this.
I will put in a claim for my own expenses, ie: having the car moved to XJK, two trips down to Arun Cars (wasted journey's !!) train up to XJK to pick up the car and that's it.

Like you say, "the internet is a good tool and has a long memory"

I thought I would add a picture of my car to add a bit of tangibility to it all.

[painter]

Quite right, walk away from the cr*p, and take the best of this episode with you. (a beautiful looking XKR convertible with a new engine). Hope you enjoy it for many years to come.

[daveji]

Much wisdom here......I would add my voice to those who urge you to put as much as you can behind you and keep enjoying your car now you have it back.
For what its worth I agree it would be a terrible shame to go through all this hassle only to dispose of what is surely a lovely car,which many of us would be proud to own.
Never the less you are not the first to suffer as a result of Arun Cars business practices and surely not the last.
The used car trade is notorious for ...... lets say "variable standards of business ethics" ....and competence............ the trade in Jaguars is no different to that in any other make.
Put simply......a pond full of sharks, with different size teeth !
There are honest people...running honest businesses out there,the problem is finding them.
In this case your words in a previous post sum this issue up really well:-
"I did not have a problem with my car until they caused the problem, then, when they realised what they had done, THEY, made up web of lies and deceit and tried to trick me into believing that there was a problem with my car when I bought it to them, hoping that I would believe their lies and pay for the damage they had caused"........etc
If JEC is anything more than just a talking shop it surely exists to provide support to its members and the means to help the members support each other.
You have done us all a great service by taking the time and trouble to post your thoughts and experience on the BB but it really should be written up in the Magazine so it reaches all the members.
To that end I urge you to contact Nigel and seek his advice and help.
Best wishes

[vinniexkr]

Hi

Graham Searle has called me to say he is writing to Arun Cars about this and asking for their side of the story as a balanced view is needed, which of course in the correct thing to do.

He is writing to them as a representative of a member of JEC who has made a complaint against them. Because this is a serious matter it needs to be done in a fair and professional way, (unlike Arun!!)
It will be interesting to see what they have to say to Graham / JEC.

[vinniexkr]

Hi

Just when I thought it was all over with the car a letter turns up from Arun, after two months I have received a letter of apology from them. Considering the car has been fixed and the matter is already in the hands of the insurance company it makes you wonder what the hell is going on there.

I have posted the letter and my reply for you all to have a read if you wish.

[painter]

Well, a form of apology at least - although the big issue is unresolved. Anybody can make a mistake, and the measure of a company is how they rectify the matter.
The mechanic owned up: A poor mechanic but not a bad lad.
(I wouldn't want him working on my car). Now the owner has returned he is faced with a probable cost of £8000.00. Taking an assessment of 7.5% profit on their working rate they would need to do in excess of £106,000.00 of work with no profit to pay for the engine, although still covering their overheads - not an attractive proposition, although they may build in 15% profit. Obviously they carry insurance and in this case it would be the best solution for them provided their insurers do not quote negligence. If they pursue the insurance route I can't see why they should haggle between 2nd hand v new. (go for new = happy customer = good outcome).
The dark patch in this really is the initial response of denial, and it is this that would stop me using them even if they were nearby. If somebody at Arun concocted a story that the engine had a fault when received, knowing this to be untrue, then they should be following the mechanic out of the door. We see enough lies and deceit nowadays, we don't need to pay for it. At least you have the best outcome (notwithstanding the paperwork), but Arun's outcome is not looking good at present.