Told My Car Was AWD When It Is RWD

Wallyt99 on 29/04/2023 - 20:51
Last edited 30/04/2023 - 10:02 by 1 other user

About 6 months ago I bought a new to me car at a dealership.

The advertisement didn't say whether it was RWD or AWD, and so I asked the dealer explaining to them I needed AWD, and the sales person told me it was AWD.

I subsequently bought the car, but now 6 months later I've found out the car is the RWD version.

I've spent significant coin on the car including new tyres, new brake pads, a new alternator, and done 10,000ks.

I'm really not sure what to do here though as I've clearly been ripped off. The AWD is worth at least $3000 more than RWD.

The dealer was a major auto company dealer and not a dodgy brothers yard.

Any advice?

Automotive Car Ford SUV

Comments

  • Jimothy Wongingtons on 29/04/2023 - 20:58
    +165

    You didn’t bother to check yourself? Or clarify against contract the model did indeed have the feature?

    Sounds like a he said she said issue unless you happen to have written communications regarding this…

  • SBOB on 29/04/2023 - 20:59
    +158

    explaining to them I needed AWD,
    and done 10,000ks

    Drove it for 6 months/10 thousand ks and didnt notice any difference…what 'need'?

      • Jimothy Wongingtons on 29/04/2023 - 22:52
        +6

        Got a point imo - and prob why this Tesla driver thought it would be a good idea to go beach driving with a model x (read AWD, assumed meant 4wd)

        • seannami on 30/04/2023 - 08:30
          +10

          I'm wondering who gets off calling a Tesla X an SUV? That thing looks like a Prius and NOONE is 'sport utilitying' in that sucker

          • Jimothy Wongingtons on 30/04/2023 - 08:33
            +3

            @seannami: Probably ‘lost in translation’

            • seannami on 30/04/2023 - 08:39
              +1

              @Jimothy Wongingtons: True, there does also seem to be a fashion for calling anything that is not obviously a sedan an SUV

          • ShiKu on 30/04/2023 - 16:15
            +3

            @seannami: These days I read SUV as Suburban Utility

            • serpserpserp on 30/04/2023 - 21:29

              @ShiKu: SUV these days according to EV makers are cars that have bigger cabin and boot space than a Camry.

          • iDroid on 30/04/2023 - 20:23

            @seannami:

            I'm wondering who gets off calling a Tesla X an SUV?

            What are 'the' features that define an SUV?

            • seannami on 30/04/2023 - 20:37

              @iDroid: I see your point- but if I think of the prototypical SUV, I get something more like a CX-60, Outlander or a Rav 4- high clearance, long bonnet, squared off back and large- almost 4WD form factor. I think they are also built for slightly more rugged work (rural roads, camping).

              That's what I think of as an SUV, but I'd imagine like most categories there is wiggle.

              • iDroid on 30/04/2023 - 20:39

                @seannami: But in reality, they're an AWD sedan with a higher wheel base and a hatch - the rest is cosmetic dressing.

            • 01011010 on 02/05/2023 - 09:43
              +1

              @iDroid: i thought SUV was just a marketing term allowing the car wash places to charge more.

        • Tomcruise on 30/04/2023 - 09:27
          +1

          Transfer case is the difference. Automatic Amaroks do very well without one, PS: The Tesla if dual motor etc would have the capability (tyres permitting) to have more travtion than a 4WD.

          PS: AWD on beach
          https://youtu.be/bDtgY3s29jE

          • brendanm on 30/04/2023 - 13:35
            -2

            @Tomcruise: Amaroks have a transfer case.

            • brendanm on 30/04/2023 - 17:02

              @brendanm: Haha, I'd love for the people negging to tell me how power gets to the front wheels without a transfer case (Hot tip, it uses a transfer case)(another hot tip, "transfer case" doesn't mean "low range", which is what you actually meant).

            • Tomcruise on 02/05/2023 - 17:39

              @brendanm: Mine doesn't.
              It has a PTO controlled by Fluid.

              For this subject, most people consider Transfer case means LOW Range. I'm fine with that.

              • brendanm on 02/05/2023 - 18:03
                +1

                @Tomcruise:

                It has a PTO controlled by Fluid.

                What car is this?

                For this subject, most people consider Transfer case means LOW Range

                It doesn't though.

        • trapper on 01/05/2023 - 11:15

          I've driven 2wd on the beach many times, just stay on the hard sand and it's all good.

          • Hearthstone on 02/05/2023 - 16:01

            @trapper: how you going to get to hard sand without first drive over soft sand ?

            • trapper on 02/05/2023 - 18:39

              @Hearthstone: Depends on the beach.

              One I went to often had some flat rock that you could drive over to access the hard sand.

              Also you can just blast across a small distance of soft sand as long as you have enough speed.

            • Euphemistic on 02/05/2023 - 18:40

              @Hearthstone: Just send it. Momentum will get you a lot of places.

        • ass3ts on 02/05/2023 - 14:05

          Obviously driving on sealed roads with some light snow (most scenarios in Australia) is completely different to going off-roading on the beach. Electric motors react to slippery roads much quicker and more effectively than any systems on internal combustion vehicles. Been going up and down the snow for many years with dozens of different cars to compare.

      • CMH on 30/04/2023 - 03:08
        +3

        I go to the snow every season and I drive a FWD car. I even drove it up and down every week throughout the last season.

        Who says you need AWD/4WD to go to the snow?

        • mapax on 30/04/2023 - 08:13

          I’m guessing you just stick to the resorts?
          Because you likely wouldn’t be getting far outside of there unless you’re a skilled driver.

          Source - I used to be a privileged type that went to non-resort snow and constantly had to pull 2wd and AWD vehicles back on to the dirt tracks.

          Also, towboarding is heaps of fun if you haven’t tried it.

        • [Deactivated] on 30/04/2023 - 09:33
          +3

          FWD is actually pretty good and even better than RWD in snow, but once you get off the beaten track and need clearance you're screwed.

          • Serapis on 01/05/2023 - 20:11

            @[Deactivated]: I would go AWD / 4WD all the time if just to avoid having to put on snow chains

            • [Deactivated] on 01/05/2023 - 20:13

              @Serapis: Oh yeh no doubt, my point was just that FWD is no slouch in icy conditions

        • mauricem on 30/04/2023 - 10:25
          +2

          If you don't mind the hassle of fitting chains, the slow travel and the risk of them damaging your car then no you don't need AWD.
          Although when I do NZ ski trips I can't justify the extra $100 per day for AWD so usually get the smallest car that will fit 180mm skis inside. The hire ladder chains are a pain to fit compared to the current types.

          • holdenmg on 30/04/2023 - 10:42
            +4

            @mauricem: 180mm is tiny.

          • CMH on 30/04/2023 - 17:30
            +1

            @mauricem: Not sure what you mean by slow travel. When traction is an issue and chains are required, AWD isn't going to allow you to drive any faster.

            Or is this the reason why AWD/4wd keep blocking the roads in "accidents" on the great alpine road?

            • mauricem on 30/04/2023 - 20:24

              @CMH: Chain fitting is often required well before they're actually needed where it's perfectly safe to do 60km/hr rather than the 40 max recommended with chains. Also its often only small parts of the road that need chains but you must leave them on for the duration. Most annoying thing is getting stuck behind someone with obviously limited snow driving experience and poorly fitted chains terrified to exceed 20km/hr .Anyway as I said it's not that big a deal, especially if you can share the chain fitting duties with passengers.

              • nuttapillar on 30/04/2023 - 22:10

                @mauricem: I went to the mountains in October with my fwd Mazda 6. No chains required as apparently no snow. But when we got up the mountain near Thredbo, there was deep snow all over the road. There was freak snow overnight. It hadn't been plowed, so I was driving in ruts. It went okay, except for the bad sound of my car scraping the snow. And it started ripping off the plastic guard panel on the bottom of my car lol
                I drove past someone who had just slid off the road. But I took it slow and careful. It was also my first time driving in snow.

              • CMH on 01/05/2023 - 02:07

                @mauricem:

                Chain fitting is often required well before they're actually needed

                As someone who goes up a lot (resorts only) I am well aware of this. However that's due to where fitting bays are, and there's numerous dotted around, which means it's not as far as you make it seem before they're required.

                The other issue is that most drivers won't be able to tell exactly when they are required; until it's too late that is. I see it all the time: sign says "ALL VEHICLES MUST HAVE CHAINS" with no exceptions, and you get AWD and 4WDs passing without using chains. When there's no exceptions you know the road is BAD. I've spoken to staff that manage those roads and it can be as bad as non-stop vehicles crashing one after another at various sections on the road. As soon as they clear one spot, another call comes in.

                The record I've been told so far is 44 crashes in an 8 hour shift. The vast majority by AWD/4WD and it was one of those days. Btw these guys only find out of a crash if help is needed, so no minor bumps included in count. Was a great day to be skiing the next day tho.

    • johnno07 on 30/04/2023 - 15:47
      +7

      I wonder if the OP also thought that it had 8 seats for their 6 inherited children.
      Then only noticed after 6 months that it in fact only had 7 seats, and they left a kid behind at the car yard.

  • bobbified on 29/04/2023 - 21:01
    +14

    It would be nice if could you tell us the make and model of the car.

    The paperwork should have the model/variant. (Depending on what car, a particular variant might be AWD and others may not be). If it doesn't match the actual car you've got, then you can probably make a claim easily. But if all the paperwork is in order, it'll be a case of your word against the salesman's. Unless you had a very honest salesman, it'll be very difficult to prove what was said.

    • John Kimble on 29/04/2023 - 21:33
      +65

      honest salesman

      What is this? I've not heard of this term before?

      • bobbified on 29/04/2023 - 21:34

        That's exactly what I was thinking as I was typing! 🤷‍♂️

      • spackbace on 30/04/2023 - 19:54
        +3

        Hey!

        /s

      • iDroid on 30/04/2023 - 20:25

        It's a salesman that will lie "only just enough" to get a sale through, and no more.

        Those who lie more are dishonest.

    • Jackamo on 30/04/2023 - 20:49

      I suspect it's an Abarth, great for the snow as it's easily carried if need be.

  • Ghost47 on 29/04/2023 - 21:03
    +78

    You forgot rule #1 about being alive: Never trust a car salesman or real estate agent.

    • Jimothy Wongingtons on 29/04/2023 - 22:53
      +10

      I always say don’t trust anyone, especially yourself.

      • garetz on 30/04/2023 - 00:07
        +3

        Only if you are stupid, the only person you should ever trust is yourself. If you don't trust yourself then why are you even alive.

        • lew380 on 30/04/2023 - 07:46
          +13

          You trust yourself? How's the diet and workout plan going?

        • Jimothy Wongingtons on 30/04/2023 - 14:09

          why are you even alive.

          Well to be fair I do think I should KMS at least once a week

      • Pelicannn on 30/04/2023 - 01:12
        +2

        Amen.

        https://imgur.com/a/hIIkSFF

  • Bafranz on 29/04/2023 - 21:05
    +6

    Better to drift with though..

    • Bargainitis on 29/04/2023 - 22:01

      Haha indeed

    • iDroid on 30/04/2023 - 20:27

      Can vouch - I owned the car prior.

      Man that thing would ring its tits off and hardly blow any smoke (from the exhaust) - but heaps from the wheels!

  • 7ekn00 on 29/04/2023 - 21:06
    +15

    Um, consider it a lesson in life: A salesperson will say whatever you want to hear to make a sale (it's even in the job title!!)

    When buying big ticket items:

    DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH

    It's so easy to do in this day and age with the internet on your phone :/

      • thrillhouse on 30/04/2023 - 08:07
        +22

        At worst case the dealer deliberately deceived you. At best, neither of you knew what you were doing.
        The onus is on you as the buyer to understand what you're spending your money on, and not leaving it up to someone else.

        As you say yourself, no one is absolutely perfect in everything they do, and that works for the dealer, too.

        This is your fault, I'm sorry.

        • Assburg on 30/04/2023 - 20:55

          You may be not familiar with the sales of good act

          • resisting the urge on 01/05/2023 - 16:28

            @Assburg: Maybe you mean the Trade Practices Act?

            • Assburg on 01/05/2023 - 18:18

              @resisting the urge: Nah there's a sale of goods act which is a state act, but every state has some very similar variation of it. It's a very old act, brought over from England. Often overlooked by laypersons but an ace held in the sleeve of many effective commercial lawyers.

              Consistently there is a section that will put the onus on salespersons to properly represent the product if they are someone who specialises in it.

              Particularly, if you've expressed the purpose of the good you're purchasing to the salesperson (e.g. off-roading in the snow) and they sell you a FWD car… They've sold you something not fit for the purpose you bought it for, and they are liable for damages/you can return the good.

              • resisting the urge on 04/05/2023 - 08:56

                @Assburg: I am glad to see the States are good for something. And that in trade this can include matters where the federal TPA falls short.

                But it might be long bow to draw- suggesting the purchased product is unfit when AWD has so little to do with off-road purposes. The claim to suggest it was unfit would have trouble establishing the need that a FWD does not fulfil (at least reasonably well).

                • Assburg on 04/05/2023 - 17:01

                  @resisting the urge: Yeah absolutely long bow to be drawn, short of calling technical testimony from expert witnesses you'd need to look at the company's own advertisements/claims about what awd bests a fwd model in.

                  There is also a statute relating the mercantile quality of the goods. Worth having a read.

                  I feel bad for OP, because statutes in this act explicitly to protect buyers from this sort of conduct (i.e. you'd need to actually have some degree of technical knowledge to properly inspect the vehicle and know it's not AWD as explained by the salesman, and thus not up to the advertised quality, but it's just impossible to prove unless he has some written correspondence about it.

                  If OP has written correspondence about it, he actually has a very strong case and probably return the car for a full refund.

                  • resisting the urge on 07/05/2023 - 11:36

                    @Assburg: Yes certainly if in writing OP is ok as that makes it a matter of the supplied product not being the one represented/advertised. unless there are witnesses to the representations made that can establish this as material to the sale.

                    I'm sure that this happens to some extent, in a number of vehicle sales these days whenever there is a need to establish credentials for road safety in the mind of the customer- so very much in the context of FWD vehicles with taller centre of gravity

      • Protractor on 30/04/2023 - 09:55
        +2

        "It's like everyone on here thinks they are absolutely perfect in everything they do." And yet you came here for help? Very naive and for the 2nd time (at least).
        You know that thing in your gut called intuition?
        I think you have Buckley's chance of any form of recompense. You are not owed any.But test it in the real world with experts. Your state govt consumer advocates/depts. Or lawyer up. Pretty sure even if you arrived at mediation they would say ' due diligence' >>case dismissed.

      • 7ekn00 on 30/04/2023 - 10:06
        +28

        I did research extremely thoroughly.

        Did you check the paperwork read TS SZ MKII Auto AWD, because without the "AWD" it is the RWD model TS SZ MKII Auto - and that was less than 2 minutes googling - tell us again about this extremely thorough research?!?!

        The AWD version also has "AWD" badges, how did you miss these not being present when you inspected the vehicle? - tell us again about this extremely thorough research?!?!

        A salesperson will say anything for a sale:
        "Has this got AWD" - "Sure buddy, it's got everything"
        "Has this got a toaster" - "Yeah mate, you can plug one in"
        "Does this have a turbo" - "Sure, it's got plenty of power"

        The onus is on you to be familiar with what you are buying, no matter what a salesperson says :/

        • brendanm on 30/04/2023 - 13:36
          +4

          "Has this got a toaster" - "Yeah mate, you can plug one in"

          😂

        • serpserpserp on 30/04/2023 - 21:33
          +9

          Does this have AWD?

          "Yeah mate, it has all the wheels you need to drive".

        • blade1981 on 01/05/2023 - 13:11
          +3

          Thorough research - Bought a Territory. Definitely not adding up 😂

        • opt on 01/05/2023 - 14:07

          The AWD version also has "AWD" badges, how did you miss these not being present when you inspected the vehicle?

          +1

          Pretty much all cars with AWD (especially if the car also has non AWD variants) has a badge at the back indicating it. Some manufacturers use different names like 4Matic, xDrive, Quattro, 4Motion etc. but all of them do call it out one way or another. OP should have picked that up straightaway if they did any sort of research on the car or the brand e.g: looked at a few photos, read or watched a few reviews of the car.

          • resisting the urge on 01/05/2023 - 16:25
            -3

            @opt: LOL. May the list of exceptions to this 'suggested AWD badge standard' begin:

            GTR (any), WRX (many), Audi (any Quattro variant, at least), BMW X(many), Land/Range Rover (any), Merc G(any), Unimog, etc. VW Trakka, R (any), Volvo XC, Xxx, and at the other end of time and scale, Jensen Interceptor FF, Surely many others…

            What others have I missed?

            • 7ekn00 on 02/05/2023 - 19:31

              @resisting the urge: No Ford Territory on the list, which was the model purchased and does actually come with badges ;)

              But nice list of ignoramus rumblings :P

              Keep resisting the urge to actually read the thread ;)

              • resisting the urge on 04/05/2023 - 08:45

                @7ekn00: I mistakenly read 'new to me' instead as new, not 'Used', lol!

                So it seems the badges were missing, assuming the OP actually checked ;-)

                But perhaps abilities to read are only matched by our eagerness to post

        • Protractor on 02/05/2023 - 18:57

          Be thankful OP aint a doctor.
          He has the research skills of Murdoch journo.

      • pegaxs on 30/04/2023 - 10:41
        +3

        I did research extremely thoroughly.

        No you didn't. You didn't even get on your hands and knees and have a look under the car. Hell, just turning the wheels to full lock and looking for a driveshaft would have worked. Did you call Ford or a Ford dealership and confirm the VIN as being an AWD?

        • Cusack on 01/05/2023 - 16:35
          +1

          Hands and knees, wheels to full lock?? No regular person will know that. Just look for the badge. Simple

        • Muzeeb on 02/05/2023 - 00:46

          OP should have got down on all fours six.

      • Protractor on 30/04/2023 - 19:27

        You can't be "deceived inadvertently."
        Unless of course the definition is 'self-inflicted' , as in this case, aka " he's his own worst enemy" syndrome.

      • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 01/05/2023 - 14:06

        research extremely thoroughly.

        …but doesn't check the model number LOL

      • resisting the urge on 01/05/2023 - 16:32

        You mean you didn't go back and ask why would not do burn outs on either front wheel?

        Or that it got bogged when you took it off-road?

        So the salesperson could void your warranty, in either case?

        But seriously, what were you thinking after reading the manual it didn't mention anything about driving/operating the car with AWD?

    • ColtNoir on 30/04/2023 - 13:22
      +7

      It’s still against the law to lie in the process of a sale. It falls under misleading and deceptive conduct.

      OP will need to go fair trading/ACCC, and likely end up at tribunal. To start this they would need to have tried to deal with the dealership first. Go straight to management of the dealership, don’t bother with sales people directly.

      Note: ACCC will take a complaint and create a record but will not deal with individual complaints. If they get enough for a dealer/chain they will take a larger scale action.

    • Protractor on 30/04/2023 - 16:59
      +2

      Does part-research on Beemers too. Then when advised immediately below this>
      https://www.ozbargain.com.au/comment/10666706/redir

      deploys all advice 'ignore' chute. Still free falling

    • PuntyBrah on 02/05/2023 - 23:01

      jokes on you, I do my own research before buying a usb cable..

  • apsilon on 29/04/2023 - 21:10
    +1

    Just curious, what car is it? Most cars that have an AWD option the lower models are FWD, not RWD (and typically are only part time AWD as well).

    • mapax on 29/04/2023 - 21:16
      +3

      Territory had rwd modes and awd models, not sure of any others off the top of my head.

      • apsilon on 29/04/2023 - 21:21

        Oh yeah, that's probably it. I'd forgotten about those, don't see many of them on the road any more.

        • lateralus45 on 30/04/2023 - 08:50
          +3

          start looking out for territories and you will find you are crazily mistaken about not seeing them on the road anymore. they are everywhere.

          • serpserpserp on 30/04/2023 - 21:34
            +1

            @lateralus45: Exactly. Those cars pulled over on the side of the road with the bonnet up, usually Territories

        • JIMB0 on 30/04/2023 - 08:53
          +6

          Try looking to the side of the road.

        • [Deactivated] on 30/04/2023 - 09:36
          +3

          Keep an eye out for dangerously overloaded vehicles towing oversized caravans drifting all over the Hume Hwy

      • Leadfoot6 on 30/04/2023 - 21:35

        Holden Commodore Adventra wagon.

        As opposed to the standard RWD models.

        But still not as good as my 2004 TL AWD Magna.

    • cktftw on 30/04/2023 - 10:50

      Beemer M3s and M4s

      • fillit on 30/04/2023 - 18:38
        +1

        I’d imagine most people buying these models would know he difference.

        Also RWD is the way it should be for M cars anyway, I only see it as a positive :).

    • Dogsrule on 30/04/2023 - 16:59
      +1

      All of the ute based wagons are RWD/AWD as well - Fortuner, Pajero Sport, Everest and M-UX. Only the Pajero and M-UX are available as RWD only though.

  • DashCam AKA Rolts on 29/04/2023 - 21:10
    +13

    The advertisement didn't say whether it was RWD or AWD, and so I asked the dealer explaining to them I needed AWD, and the sales person told me it was AWD.
    I subsequently bought the car, but now 6 months later I've found out the car is the RWD version.

    You didn't check?
    You drove the car for 6 months, and still didn't notice?

    explaining to them I needed AWD

    Do you really need an AWD, if you haven't noticed or tried the vehicle in circumstance where AWD would be necessary after 6 months?

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