We arrived in Canada 2 weeks ago our first mission was to buy a car. We looked at everything and decided to go for the new LR2 (landrover) .
We used a main dealer and explained our situation very carefully, how we had a higher car and needed a car more or less straight away. We were told and assured that a delivery was due on the 2nd and ordered our car. Before we paid our deposit we had it confirmed by the manager that our car would be in on Friday the 2nd. So we paid a deposit. $5000. we made arrangements for the car to be collected by us on 6 November as the dealer is a good 5 hour drive away in Vancouver. We called on Friday and was told that the car was in and just had to be unloaded. We arranged our funds. A day off work and return of our higher car. Unfortunately the dealer now says the car is not at his dealer ship and they do not know when it will arrive. We have tried to call several times today but they just say they will call us back and you guessed it they don't. We now need a car desperately and have to return the hire car tomorrow as we simply cannot afford to keep on renting.

Can anyone tell us how we stand please. We feel really cheated and would like our deposit back. They absolutely promised this would not happen.

Any information would be really welcome.

Car shipments are pretty much always late, I've never heard of someone getting a new car on the date they were originally told. I've only bought new ones that were actually on site before, so haven't had the problem.

PS - Hire!
PPS - I bet if you moan at them enough they will give you the deposit back, or some more money off if you specifically said about needing it for that date.

I'd have thought a Land Rover dealership would have offered you a loaner under the circumstances? I looked at LR3s and RR Sports and they fell over themselves (but failed) to get my custom with offers like that and long weekend test drives.

I'm also struggling with the concept of forking out $5000 deposit but then I've always bought cars out of stock. I'd shout and scream at the Stealership until they give you a loaner if I were you.

I agree that the dealership should cough up a loaner but if you can't afford rental car for a few days, can you really afford an L2?

A higher car than a landy? Whats that, a Hummer?


At the very least they should have offered you a loaner. Without having to be asked!

5 hours to the dealership! that will be convenient for warranty servicing wont it! And I wont consider getting a Nissan cos I dont want the hassle of driving an hour to Kingston or Cobourg

You have $5000 deposit for a $45k vehicle, but cant find $30 a day to hire a Compact car for a few more days?

Actually, you'll find it's "rent". If you hire a car in Canada, I'm led to believe that's more akin to obtaining the services of a chauffeur. Although that could explain why it's costing them so much.

If you paid the deposit on credit card, you might be covered by some kind of breach of contract thing with them. They may be able to lend some weight to your argument?

Just a thought5 - good luck

You don't say what you want. Do you want to cancel the order and get a refund? If you signed a contract of purchase when the deposit was paid, check the terms of contract.

Fax the dealer and ask your questions. Speak to the dealership owner, if you don't get satisfaction maybe contact LR direct.

Are they a member of the Better Business Bureau?

We were assured the car was in Vancouver at a depot and just had to be moved. Sorry we have rented a car now for 2 weeks which I consider to be a complete waste of money. The fact is they lied and we would like our deposit back.

Any chance

What does the contract say? Is there a firm delivery date, or some coverall clause in the small print.

I suspect the later, in which case you have no chance. But they should provide a loaner if they missed the date they promised in my opinion, even as a courtesy.

It sucks that you are then faced with another trip to the dealer when it does arrive...but thats why normal people dont buy a car from a dealer 5 hours from home.

Maybe they will compensate you for your extra rental, rather than have you tie up a loaner. Talk to them, not us It all seems like a storm in a teacup to me. Car dealers words are worth no more here than they are in the UK, but this should be simply and reasonably resolved.

Storm in a tea cup to you a huge chunk of money to me.

We all make mistakes and hind sight is a wonderful thing.

Excuse us for trying to help then. Have you spoken to the dealer and asked them for compensation / loaner / your money back?

Hey , I would be spending $5k on the whole "new to me" car, not just the deposit. I wouldnt dream of sinking $45+k into something that will be nothing but rust in 15 years time. Its not my intention to trivialise the amount , I just dont understand what you want. In two weeks or whatever, you will have the car you ordered, thats why its a storm in a teacup in my mind.

Do you want to NOT take the car now? In that case you probably lose the deposit, after all thats what the whole point of a deposit is. Its not there to protect your side of the deal, its entirely there to protect the dealers interest, and the form you signed will be watertight in that respect.

If you still want the car, do you expect them to take $5k off the total cost because they missed the expected delivery date? Thats not going to happen.

I dont understand what you are expecting to happen. The car will still cost the same amount regardless of when they can deliver it. If they agree to take money off the deposit, that dollar amount will still have to be paid at some other point

At this point its really a discussion of

A: Will they pay for the extra rental period you have now incurred, or;

B: Will they give you a loaner in the interim period (although that involves an additional 5 hr each way trip and another day off work for you)

C: Will they compensate you in some way for jerking you around regarding the delivery.

Land Rover ownership usually becomes problematic after taking delivery. Seems you're taking a hit early.