It all started with my happy day in September of 2008, when I drove my new E Class Mercedes out of the showroom. I loved it and my family loved it. Nice car. The sales team were very happy of course - no doubt because they had just sold a £42,000 car.
It was OK - there are some negative aspects of the model - but it was good overall.
After 3 years - I had the decision to buy the car for the PCP balloon payment or hand the car back and get something else. With the recession kicking in from late 2008, expensive vehicle prices reduced on the market - and stayed that way until now (because we still have a poor economy). The PCP balloon payment of £19,000 plus was too expensive. I would have had the car - but I could buy the same car for £16,000 or so - so I decided to hand the car back (after trying to negotiate along these lines with Mercedes Finance - they were intransigent).
I know you, as reader, cannot know who I am or vouch for my honesty. All I can say is that this car was in very acceptable condition for a 3 year old car. And, I know enough about greedy finance companies to know that they will gouge for money even where there is no basis for it.
So I started to get the car into the condition that they needed. From the start, I knew they needed good alloys, the right tires, MOT (even though it only needed that after my contract elapsed, but it sailed through). A couple of minor dents were sorted out, etc. This car was in good condition. Not new condition - but certainly good condition for a three year old car. The tyres alone cost £800 - a whole new set. The alloys cost me £220 to spruce up, and a couple of light cosmetics - and an MOT.
On Sept 1st it gets picked up by a couple of guys on behalf of Jet Logistics - they look over the car and take it back. A week later - the letter comes through... next post..
