A wheelchair-bound man has accused a car dealership of milking him dry.
Carlo Klink bought his 2012 VW Golf 6 GTi from BNA Motors in Goodwood in July last year but has barely driven it.
Carlo, 32, said he hoped owning a lekker ride would simplify his life as he needs to travel to college.
He says the car cost over R230 000 and his monthly instalment is R4700.
“I purchased a motor vehicle from BNA Motors. Unfortunately the vehicle has been giving problems,” he explains.
“On 6 July 2020, the vehicle stopped working while I was driving, it showed EPC on the dashboard.
“I contacted the dealership and they told me to bring the car in so that they can replace everything.
“On 20 July, they said they fixed everything and the vehicle is working perfectly.
“But then in the first week of September 2020, the vehicle went into the workshop again and since then it has been in and out of the workshop.
“The vehicle was by me for only one month and after that it was in the workshop for more than five months.”
The Macassar man says all he gets is empty promises and this has put a strain on him as he Ubers to college where he is studying IT.
“They refuse to give me a courtesy car, now I have to Uber to college. I have to travel to Bellville every day.
“I can’t cope anymore financially. It is even worse that I have to pay for a car that’s standing still, it is ridiculous and unfair.”
Speaking on behalf of the dealership, a man only identifying himself as Andy said they were aware of “Mr Klink’s issue” and have been trying to help him.
He says they even spent over R50 000 on replacing the engine.
“We advised him that we would fix the car even though we only found out about the problem after six months, which is beyond the Consumer Protection Act period,” says Andy.
“We then changed the whole engine for him, but the problem is he keeps taking the car to different mechanics and we cannot accept liability for work done by others.
“He has been in contact with us and we’ve never turned our backs on him.”
Carlo said following the Daily Voice query, BNA mechanics came to fetch his car last Thursday to fix it again and he is still waiting to get it back.