Hippo Motor Group - www.hippomotorgroup.co.uk

Avoid at all costs. Purchased a jaguar f pace at the end of June and power steering failed in August. I have tried to reject the vehicle with hippo and the finance company and over 8 weeks later I am still without a resolution or car and now referring to the ombudsman. I also took out the platinum warranty and this has proved to be useless as I have had to pay for the diagnostics and transport.

If I could give zero stars I would! Please do not buy from these people! I’ve had two cars from them. First one gearbox went within a day but they did actually repair that at no cost to me so gave them another chance. This car has turned up, aircon doesn’t work fans don’t work on handover. When I got it into the garage the brake resevoir had a dangerous amount of fluid in it. Within 10 weeks it had broken down and the gearbox had failed (both auto cars). Even though I took out a platinum warranty I’ve already paid over £1000 in garage fees not covered by the warranty and offered no help with covering these costs just said it was my problem. Car has been in the garage almost the same time that I’ve had it, aircon and fans are still broken and it’s cost me so much in repairs so far I can’t take it back in the garage and use the warranty again as I have to pay all diagnostic fees and the car has left me skint not to mention alternative travel in the meantime while I’ve had no car. Have complained and I’m just told these things can happen, but they shouldn’t when you pay that much for a car and take out a platinum warranty and all this happens within 3 months.

My experience with Hippo was truly awful. The salesperson I dealt with was Caine, he was rude, unhelpful, sexist, uncommunicative and generally unpleasant. I paid over £10k for my car and had it delivered, it came with no V5C form, no service history and no manual. The delivery guy (from another company) was astounded at how little information I had been provided. Hippo admitted they never sent the V5C form off to DVLA for 2 weeks. I dealt with an  agent about the issues with my car, she was helpful at first but then stopped replying, possibly assuming I'd go away. Issues still unresolved over a month later. Do not buy a car from here, as soon as you pay they treat you awfully

I don’t know where to start, I got my car in February 2023. After a few months I had to get the clutch and flywheel replaced for £1300.

I’ve had issues with the wiring on the lights as well as with the electrics on the windows.

Last month I spent £5200 on the engine which damn near bankrupted me. I’m past being angry and just feel defeated as I’m stuck paying this money pit off for 3 more years.

It’s appalling how they sold such a shoddy and broken car.

I purchased a car from Hippo.

The car stinks of foul milk, the passenger window switch doesn't work, stop/start doesn't work, there are stains in the upholstery, engine temperature gauge not working. The total of their input is an aircon bomb and a go get it diagnosed.

6 months later it fails the MOT on badly perished tyres and there's an advisory about a cracked timing belt, which according to Hippo is my problem.

Terrible and uninterested is what I would sum them up as.

Avoid this awful company

This is what I've had to submit to the Ombudsman and BVRLA:

I received the car on 13/11/24. As soon as I turned on the ignition, a warning light came up about the battery. It turned out that the battery was faulty and they did replace it. Recently though, in mid to late February, a knocking sound started. Because I was working nights I wasn't able to contact them for a couple of weeks. I also initially thought it was something rolling around in the boot of my car. I then ended up calling them on the 04/03/24 to tell them about my concerns. By this time I'd only had the car for 3.5 months. I was first asked to take the car to Halfords on 08/04/24 almost a month later. They were unable to find the issue, so I was then directed to take the car to Mercedes 15/04/24. They assessed that because the brake pads were not good enough, this caused the brake discs to erode and the knocking sound was because the pads were loose. I said this to Hippo and they told me that I wasn't covered because brakes come under "wear and tear". I am now left with a bill of hundreds of pounds after only having the car for 3.5 months when I raised the issue. Today I got my car back, but had to pay for a mandatory health check which cost me £222. I've still been using the car as I have to for work, but thankfully it's only for short journeys, but the sound is terrible.. I worked out that the mileage of the car when I got it, to the mileage Mercedes has put down today means I've only driven the car for 1677 miles. Bearing in mind I'm 5 months into this lease, where is the fair "wear and tear"? When you take into account I raised the problem after 3,5 months after getting the car, but it was actually 3 months when the issue started, I've worked out that I would have driven about 1000 miles when the problem started. The worst thing is that I'm a returning loyal customer, but they are too short sighted and self destructive to realise they've lost me, because they have acted in such bad faith.

This has got to be the worst company to purchase a car from. I wish I had read the reviews before I got involved with them. Every review I have now read, has detailed the exact same issues that I experienced with them.

I purchased a car which broke down exactly 14 days after taking possession. I had a message flashing on the screen indicating a brake system failure which resulted in me and car being flatbedded home at midnight. The warranty sold by Hippo is not worth the paper it’s written on and the way they keep pushing it at you at the point of purchase (in hindsight) tells me that they are aware that the car will breakdown and you will need the warranty which in the end is useless anyway! I immediately informed them of the situation and they told me that they couldn’t do anything as this had happened on day 15 and therefore outside of my cooling down period. Their customer service or after sales team is useless, to say the least and keep fobbing you off with ridiculous policies and procedures and don’t care that their incompetence and rogue practices are adversely affecting their customers. It took them a week to get the car to a garage and 4 weeks to get the car collected from the garage because I didn’t want it back meanwhile I had to hire a car to go to work as I needed to be mobile for work and they couldn’t give a monkeys about how the whole debacle is affecting your life. I eventually had to drive the 3 hours to their offices to get my money back which is unacceptable to say the least. I’m £900 out of pocket because of this company and after following up on the issues with the car, I find out that I was sold a car that could have killed me and/ or other people if I had been on the motorway or at the very least permanently disabled me to which one of the managers said to me that it was a minor problem!! You sell me a car that is not road worthy and then tell me it was a ‘minor issue’?….as you put my life at risk? I had just previously been in a car accident hence why I was purchasing a new car and the PTSD was subsequently triggered by finding myself driving a car that was not roadworthy and which could potentially cause a serious accident.

The refusal to refund my money was at one point likened to the purchase of a microwave and the procedures needed for a refund to happen….unbelievable!! The stupidity of the people working at Hippo Motor Group is astounding and unparalleled. They had assured me that all inspections had been carried out and the car was in excellent condition….they lied and kept lying throughout the whole process. They are quick to take your money but conveniently forgot how to return it just as quickly as they took it!!

If you are reading this before you engage with Hippo Motor Group, please DO NOT USE THIS COMPANY EVER!!

Purchased a vehicle that was delivered with the EML on. I was told to accept the car and take it to a local garage so that it could be rectified. That I did and the garage said the vehicle - a 3 year old vehicle is not fit for purpose and should not be on the road. I informed Hippo and they did not accept the garage findings so they sent an independent expert to inspect the vehicle. 2 weeks I had to wait and that happened yesterday. He told me that the car is a hazard and must not be driven. Surprise surprise I’ve not heard from Hippo since and numerous phone calls have not been returned. The customer service is shocking. Not only did I purchase the vehicle I purchased extra service plans and insurances yet conveniently nothing I have helps me. I’ve lost 2 weeks of work already because I’ve not got a car and forked out on taxis to get my children to and from school and after school activities.

Special mention to the team manager. She’s the one I spoke to on the 7th December and I’ve not heard from her since. Absolutely shocking customer service from one of the worst companies around.

Pre sales were great but it all went downhill when my car was delivered with a handful of problems but not Hippo Motors are completely uncontactable and fully ignoring me.

Sold me a car with full service history which it doesn't have!

ROBBERS!

Car broke down after 2 months, left with no car for 4 weeks. Whole new engine rebuild costing over £4000. Refused to pay out for over 4 weeks. Left me with no hire car. I lost out of 10 days of work. Appointment for my disabilitied son have missed. I have problem with walking and my back and they have left my family with nothing.

They took my money but when it comes to help they are definitely not helpful at all and left me is so much distressed.

Please never get a car from here.