“I'll share my experience and leave it to the readers to decide whether they should ever step foot into Vertu Honda Mansfield, or any Bristol Street Motors dealership for that matter.
I was sold a vehicle with faulty brakes, a faulty windscreen and a defective exhaust heat shield which came off (and was just resting on the exhaust) only days after I purchased the car. It's worth mentioning that the vehicle miraculously passed it's MOT (at the dealer's inhouse MOT centre) with flying colours about 3 days before it was sold to me. After 3 weeks of calls and emails back and forth with the dealership representatives, during which I had to take time off work or interrupt my work tasks which caused friction with my employer, I compromised and offered to support the fitting costs of the faulty parts as long as they provide the original manufacturer (Lexus) parts. All said and done, parts sent out in the post and surprise surprise upon arrival: the cheapest brake parts the Internet has ever seen for me to fit (again, at my own cost) on my recently purchased Lexus. On the same day, after realising that the windscreen needs to be replaced I was told that there is no way they would fit a Lexus glass and that the parts they have sent are OEM spec (phrasing sneakily blended in one of the emails), that this is what they would normally do and would not prep a vehicle to the buyer's expectations, but to their own. It seems that they were expecting a car with no visibility through the windscreen, faulty brakes and that could catch fire while running.
The General Manager of the branch, who was keen to point out that they would not make any money off this vehicle sale by providing the parts, even said that their customers have no idea what parts they fit onto their cars and that most customers would have not been able to identify these faults as they're not mechanics by trade as I am. My understanding of the conversation was that they would normally get away with things like this with no consequences.
Given the circumstances, after feeling forced to drive an unsafe vehicle for weeks and their refusal to put this right in a reasonable manner (I was sparing them the fitting cost which is £70-£100/hour) I booked the vehicle in for another MOT in an independent garage - needless to say that the vehicle failed due to multiple safety reasons. I also filed complaints with the DVSA, financing company and The Motor Ombudsman. At the moment I am paying for a vehicle held in storage which is unroadworthy and accruing daily costs and the only reply I got from the dealership was that the case is with their legal team and they will not change their position until advised otherwise by their company solicitor.”
“Daughter bought a car, after electric fault on top of another talk to theses people about the car who would but the car back at book price although they are getting another car from them. The car is still under a three months warranty but they would exchange the car at what they paid for it now a young couple with three young children two of which are disabled now has to borrow more money to get a car. Obviously there 3 months warranty and supplying a reliable car isn’t there priority.”
“Dishonesty and discrimination resonates from this garage/mechanical side to the main office.
Money stolen from my car during servicing, to complete deciept in the office.
Was lied to enquiring about courtesy car, was told they do not do this anymore, only to find on the next service the lady infront of me was picking up her courtesy car.
I do 50,000 miles per year/4 services per year, (lots of money) and not offered a courtesy car or lift home?
Also a week before going to Bristol Street ford Stroud, I asked them do do the CV boot on my driver's side, when I returned it hadn't been done, they said the wrong one turned up?
I had the car in at 07.30, I would of thought being such a big company they could of ordered another and fitted in the same day, but No? They said book it back in(another day of work)
This place is a shambles.
Avoid at all cost.”
