'Dealers advice was bad'.

CAR dealers may deserve their reputation for dodgy dealing.

Researchers from consumer magazine Which? were offered misleading and unclear advice during 26 visits to dealerships in England.

Some dealers were suspected of using so-called "bait and switch" selling where they advertise a car they do not have in stock in order to sell another model.

In one case, a Peugeot dealer told a researcher over the phone he had a certain model of car but when they visited the showroom they were told it was not in stock and were offered a different model.

Researchers also reported cases of pressure selling where salesmen create false deadlines for buyers to qualify for discounts or claim stocks of a certain model are low.

Of the 26 dealers visited, 12 made dubious or vague claims, and four could have broken new rules established last May to protect consumers.

Editor of Which? Car Richard Headland said: "The ghost of Arthur Daley is alive and kicking unfortunately. Dealers have had ample time to get used to the new rules but toomany still let car buyers down.

"If dealers want to win the confidence of consumers, especially in these tough times, they need to play by the rules."