Hi all i have had my avondale 18months now and only just discovered the problem.
Avondale offered me a repair but I will not accsept this. new pannels only has any body any idea how i stand legally.
Glossop also stated that this would take some 10 to 12 weeks to get new pannels and have them fitted. I started this in Febuary and still no new pannels in June
thanks
Dave
also bought a van from glossop in 2004,avondale golden osprey and this has also developed a stress fracture on the off side corner of the back panel.only come to light this year when i took it for 2006 service.they advised me of it and said it would need a new panel.
i was gutted but knew of the problems avondale were having,but it was supposed to be confined to 2 makes only and i know the argente was one,can't remember the other.well it had to be done so resigned myself to the fact it had to go in when i could take it to have a new panel fitted.some 3 weeks later glossop caravans phoned and said avondale would not agree to change the panel as they said it was repairable.tried to get them to change panel but were adamant it was repairable and thats all they would do.i have stated to glossop that as long as the repair is warranted and at anytime the stress fracture appears again a new panel must be fitted.to give them their due they have said anything that happens after the repair will be remedied one way or another.lets hope all is ok
------------- its nice to be nice,if you cant be nice, don't be nasty
Has anybody herd of the "sales of goods act 1979" and that you can sue them for having a product that is not "fit for purpose" for up to 6 years after the sale/collection date. Sorry but i would want the caravan replacing or a refund under the sale of goods act. If that panel has cracked it WILL let water in and you WILL end up with a damp van.
------------- "common sence is not so common"...Voltaire
People would need to check how they stand with the trading standard people really. As far as I know, once you allow the dealer to try to repair something you accept a repair. The only way is to reject the goods & demand replacement. Subject to having confirmed your rights of course.
We had this with the front panel on our Compass along with the laminate coming off inside, we allowed the dealer to repair it & the van was never right. Given my time over, I'd have seeked advice & pushed for my full entitlement. We purchase in good faith & should be treated as such.
If you look under Avondale Argente or cracked panels you will find many caravanners with similar experiences, us included, it has taken us 3 years to get our problems sorted, we foolishly went down the path,advised by the dealer, of allowing Avondale to take the van back and repair it, we waited 5 months the first time and when it came back it had more damage and the repairs were of a very poor standard. It had to go back for the repairs and the damage that was caused to be repaired again, this time it took 6 months! We accepted a repair to the crack in the front panel, it was a poor repair that was highly noticeable and the crack reappeared after a few months, and more cracks appeared all around the edges where the front panel joins the sides and the posts between the windows by this time we were not even using the fan because the cracks had appeared whilst it was standing still!
If you do not have legal cover on your policies, you will find a local solicitor who offers a £50.00 fixed fee appt. We found a very nice local solicitor who gave us excellent advice and eventually we have got some money back from the dealer. Persistence pays off - dont give in!
We got a fair trade in price from another dealer, who will be doing all the repairs himself, together with the money from the original dealer, we now have a Sterling.
Just one question I would like to ask, has anybody had new panels fitted and then had no probs. with cracks? My van is 20 months old and I dont want to be left with a caravan out of warranty with this problem. I love the van and dont really want to change it.
Or does anybody know of a layout the same as the Argente 650-6
I will have to have a look tomorrow, you have exceeded your bandwidth, which under the circumstances is a good thing as it means lots of people are seeing what you get with Avondale. Good luck.
Just caught up with all these posts. I have always been under the impression that abs panels cannot be repaired succesfully, at all, especially when it is very thin ie in caravan panels!
Hi I am new to this forum but I am finding it very interesting, I am just about to P/EX my van which is an Avondal Rialto 640/6 - same as Argente with diff name. I have just noticed two crack in the top of the rear panel. I am worried that when I take it in as they give you a value without seeing it, that they may not take it as a P/ex and I will loose my large deposit which is non refundable.
What I would like details of is the memo that grumpy01 states in his replies.
Very worried as I, like most, cannot afford to loose a large sum of mony if the dealer decides not to take my van as the P/ex.
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Topic: stress fracture on new avondale argente
