RAC
Bad advice writing off ca

Yost72
10-19-2010
126

Our VW Touran (reg 56, cost £8.5k 18 months ago) started making a horrendous noise on a dual carriageway a few weeks ago so we stopped the car and called the RAC. We were towed back home as the RAC man said he thought the turbo was about to go.

The next morning, another RAC person came to tow us to the nearest garage. He did not believe the turbo was about to go and believed it was just a loose pipe. He said it was fine to drive to the garage and he would follow behind. We did so, and halfway there the car seized up. We ended up being towed the rest of the way.

The garage advised that the car should never have been driven and that the RAC man was wrong to tell us to do so. Firstly, they said that as oil would have been draining from the engine due to the turbo problem, there was a real possibility of the car catching fire and secondly, as a result of it being driven there was also the possibility of long-term engine damage to the car.

6 weeks after having the new turbo fitted, we started hearing funny noises again, and we took it back to the garage who said that there is a problem with the engine, causing the turbo to keep breaking. The engine would need to be completely stripped to find the problem and the cost is prohibitive and they said we would be better off getting rid of the car now if we can.

They also said that there is a strong possibility this is linked to the fact that we were told to drive the car to the garage with the turbo problem.

Therefore, the questions I have are, a/ does all of the above sound correct from a technical perspective and b/ are we in a position to take any action against the RAC as we basically now have a car which is useless?

I know we cannot prove the direct link, but it is irrefutable that the RAC man gave us incorrect advice, so surely they at least have a case to answer?

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated. Thanks