Advantages: Selection of cars
Disadvantages: Don't want to know you if you've got problems

...I bought a one year old car from Arnold Clark in Edinburgh in 2006. The salesman lied about it having side air bags & locking wheel nuts (though he did produce the latter after I complained). I pointed out the door handle was scuffed, he said he'd have it fixed. Collected the car - the handle was still scuffed and he disappeared for a few minutes, came back with some black stuff painted on handle, told me it would "fade to match" (it never has). I discovered it was an ex rental car. I found out there was no service history and after weeks of chasing him, he eventually stamped a replacement book to make it look as if Arnold Clark had serviced it at a given mileage, whereas they hadn't (it was the previous owners who had done it at Kwik Fit in England at a different time). I started getting suspicious. Within 3 weeks I found my... Read review

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Advantages: Help you to avoid
Disadvantages: You may be ripped off as well

...My Husband purchased a Vauxhall Omega in June 2005 from Arnold Clarks Newcastle Stoke-on-Trent, After 16 days my husband had to take the car back as the engine management light had come on, they had the car for 1 week, and told us that it was now fine. It was fine until February 2006 when again the engine management light came on and the car (It is Auto) went into what they call get you home mode, whereby the gearbox sticks in high gear meaning the car has to be driven manually. It was taken to a Vauxhall garage of Arnold Clarks, and was there for 3 days. We were told that they had changed the Cam Belt and Water Pump, Why we do not know as it had nothing what so ever to do with the problem. The problem had not been resolved at all. We took the car back as the problem was getting worse, they had the car for 4 days and we were told... Read review

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Advantages: None
Disadvantages: Appalling

...Arnold clark appalling! Accrington branch Arnold Clark - Accrington DO NOT BUY A CAR OR GET INVOLVED WITH THESE PEOPLE WELL TODAY WE HAVE AN UPDATE - STILL HEARD NOTHING FROM ARNOLD CLARK SO 7 DAYS IS UP. I SURFED THE NET AND FOUND A LADY IN THE PRESS OFFICE AT A.C - HER NAME WAS LUCY FULLER AND COULDNT HAVE BEEN MORE HELPFUL - WITHIN TEN MINUTES I HAVE HAD A CHEQUE IN THE POST AND AN APOLOGY FROM HER SHE WAS ABSOLUTELY GREAT - AND YES I EMAILED TO TELL HER THAT AS WHEN SOMEONE IS GOOD I TELL THEM.......IF ANY OF YOU NEED HELP ID RECOMMEND HER - EMAIL LUCY.FULLER@ARNOLD.CLARK.CO.UK - P.S I DID SAY I WOULD BE GOING TO THE NATIONAL PRESS TODAY Have today gone to trading standards about this outfit. A week ago i put £100 down on a car that was on their website in scotland - the £100 was to secure them bringing it down... Read review

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Advantages: None
Disadvantages: Everthing

...Bought car from Arnold Clark Leyland on 12 October 2007 - faults were identified on the car from an early stage and it took 5 months for them to even look at it - ignoring 5 months of communication from me. These faults were relatively minor (window seal / SRS Light fault / missing bumper clips) but the refused to fix them / and ignore dthe fact that they needed fixed for 5 months - When they did eventually take my car in they cracked my bumper in two places - and then tried to hide the damage from me. It is now 8 months on and car currently sits outside my house immobilised due to an intermittent alarm fault - Being Arnold Clark they have yet to forward my paperwork!!! Oh and it still has a cracked bumper! I cannot state strongly enough that you should think twice before giving these people your money - they just do... Read review

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Advantages: NONE
Disadvantages: Too many to list here

...as car seems ok now, and cant be bothered with them. Second story, my bosses car: she bought her matiz new 3 years ago, and for no reason it failed to start numerous times, arnold failed to find fault.But thats not the main one, recently her clutch cable snapped and took it to them to fix £70, next day less than 5 miles since fixed snapped again, took it back and they said bearings in gear box damaged and clutch plate damaged, quoted £360 for repairs. She shopped around luckily enough, and another garage told her that the original repair substandard and he could only know that the other things had to be repaired if he took out the engine and gearbox to check, as it happens the independant garage were able to fix it without taking it all out but said it would need to be replaced in 6 months time at a cost of £180. She... Read review

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Advantages: None
Disadvantages: Everything, Poor Customer Service, Poor Products, Poor After Sales Care

...I had heard of Arnold Clarke (AC) as their show rooms are local to where I live, and my research indicated they offered competitive finance deals. On arrival the staff were friendly and pleseant, and the show room seemed very professional. I chose to buy a used 03 peugeot 206 cc. After having the car for two days I noticed noises from the exhaust, brakes and the roof squeaked, I approached AC immediately regarding this, stating I was unhappy and wanted the car exchanged. At first they said they would repair any problems but I did not want any repairs undertaken, as my point was the car should have not been sold in that condition. They carried out repairs to the exhaust but the problem still remained. AC advised me if I wanted to swop the car I would have to trade the car back in at a considerably reduced price. The manager who... Read review

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Advantages: NONE
Disadvantages: Service staff

...I went to Arnold Clark to buy my first car and was very pleased with the service i recieved from the sales staff, i spoke to 4 different people and all were helpfull and friendly. I signed up for a used 55 reg Ford Focus, which i recieved a great deal including 6% finance including 12 months warrenty, 6months MOT and 12 months autocare mechanical warrenty (which i later found out i was paying for and they weren't free as i was lead to believe) I picked the car up on tuesday and drove it home and then found that the bonnet would not open, I phoned them up and was told i wouldn't be able to take it back until Saturday, my dad then phoned and i was told to take it back immediatley. I dealt with the servicing manager Ian (who you would assume would look after customers to his best ability.... wrong!) It then took until... Read review

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Advantages: Cheap
Disadvantages: Everything, rude staff, nasty bullies not worthy of 1p

...Well what can I say, I pretty much think all of the other reviews speak for themselves. I shall never ever use Arnold Clark for the rest of my days even if they were giving cars away. I purchased a 2006 car from the Newcastle-Under-Lyme branch in Nov 2006 and making the car to be only 7 months old. I sat down in the showroom after making my decision on the car with a new salesman, friendly enough, but not confident in what he was doing and spending most of the time running up and down the stairs to clear things with the 'boss'. We finally agreed on a price for me to 'change' my existing car and we shook hands, a deposit was left and arrangments made for me to return the following week. I was thrilled with the price and also excited about my new car. I returned on the said date and time first to be met by the fact the car had not yet been... Read review

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Advantages: Competative Prices
Disadvantages: Everything Else

...LEYLAND SITE LANCASHIRE - Purchased a 54 plate Audi A3 with 30K on the clock in very good condition on a part ex. After the usual salesman chat the figures were agreed and in the agreement an early MOT, full service and valet. Also purchased the additional service package on the premise that for two years I would get full service and MOT's. Bought the car part exchanged mine and got into my Audi with a poor valet, no service and no MOT. The explanation "IT DOESN'T NEED A SERVICE or MOT" I pointed out (raised voice and finger pointing) that the agreement was for service and MOT so I don't really care if you think it needs doing or not. Finally they relented and it was booked in. Got to the garage handed my car over and they said we don't do courtesy cars in the first 30 days. Long story short I got a courtesy car but had to pay... Read review

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Advantages: Good deals possible, special offers, extensive choice.
Disadvantages: Bad aftersales, rubbish part exchange valuations, staff not always very knowlegable.

...If you live in Scotland and have bought a car, the likelihood is that either you bought the car from Arnold Clark, or the car itself has been through one of their showrooms at some point in its past. The simply dominate the Scottish car market in new, pre-reg, and second had sales and have franchises covering practically every car you can think of. Overall they run over 120 different showrooms (including a couple in the North of England) ranging from Citroen and Ford up to Volvo and Lexus. At the ripe old age of 24yrs old, I have owned five cars, four of which were purchased at one of the said dealerships and therefore have had considerable experience dealing with the both pre and after-sale service. The Showroom ************ I have visited most of the showrooms in the Glasgow area and find them to be generally the same... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful