[waynne]

Sorry to come in so late on this one. I really sympathise with your problem. I too have had similar issues with a garage and suspected that they had been hacking around in the car to test drive it after the work they had done. This is something that is really hard to prove. I agree that the mileage is rather low for a clutch change but the car may indeed have had a hard life and I suppose this could indicate a pre-existing problem.

On the subject of a new or second hand diff - betterment may come into it. You are getting a part that is newer than the old one so could be asked to pay a contribution but the car has done so few miles I don't think a garage could insist on a second hand one from a higher mileage car and I think there is an arguement against a betterment contribution.

You have every right to be hacked off with the garage but try to keep them onside. They should (if they care about their reputation) bend over backwards to keep you happy. Ask them to keep the parts they take off for inspection - this often deters over optimistic diagnoses.

Tell them that you only just got the car and need an engineers report to help you make a warantee claim - its better than going in there and saying I think you are all a bunch of liars and cheats I want a second opinion.