wow I need to vent! sorry long read...
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"I purchased my Sonic Blue 2005 Mustang GT around October/November of 2007. They were asking 19k for the car which had a clean carfax and a little under 40k miles, seemed like an ok deal. After driving around 2 hours and checking out the car, we decided to try and get it. After our trade in, the financing went through and me and the wife had a nice 2005 Mustang GT. Being young and just married, we were very happy to own such a nice vehicle! "
Did I miss something? It said it was a clean carfax in the orginal post. (I just saw his subsequent post about the carfax) Although I agree with you in principal, I love how people make assumptions. The shoddy paintwork was unacceptable. A lot of local dealerships are going under and it sounds like this is the root of the problem. This is/was a very respected dealership. I am not defending anything but the dealership owners are true enthusiasts who were involved in every transaction. Either way bs is up the creek although I can point you in the direction of a great body shop. You would be suprised what is not reported on carfax reports.
Did I miss something? It said it was a clean carfax in the orginal post. (I just saw his subsequent post about the carfax) Although I agree with you in principal, I love how people make assumptions. The shoddy paintwork was unacceptable. A lot of local dealerships are going under and it sounds like this is the root of the problem. This is/was a very respected dealership. I am not defending anything but the dealership owners are true enthusiasts who were involved in every transaction. Either way bs is up the creek although I can point you in the direction of a great body shop. You would be suprised what is not reported on carfax reports.
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That is very true about Carfax. But, it's also a cheap way to identify *almost* anything that has a branded title, accident significant enough to require a police report, TMU odometers, and vehicles with an excessive number of owners.
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I never assumed it was clean, I believed the persons who you are defending that told me it was clean. They are stand up guys, like them alot, so I trusted them. We all make mistakes, they made one, and obviously so did I. I was nice enough to hide the dealership Name in this thread until recent, I am respectul to them.
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From: Oregon
If he insists on phone conversation, ask "Do you mind if I record the conversation?" When he consents, RECORD IT, including him stating in the recording that he is aware and OK with it. If he refuses.
Dont have to tell them anything when on the phone. Only time you have to advise the conversation is being recorded, is in person.
I see a few people on here talking about how great of a dealership this place was/is. Sounds like total BS to me. if they are that great, they wouldn't be running their a$$ off to shut the place down. All cars at the auction. Im surprised the phone still works.
BBB is a good call, but you need to call an ATTORNEY. NOW before this place disappears. I dont care what other people think about them.
If you dont, then your just telling me that its acceptable for them to do this to someone else.
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I absolutely think this situation is terrible and would never wish this on anyone else. I know if im gonna do something its gotta be fast.... Is there a specific type of attorney I should speak with?
Bullitt Member
Joined: July 29, 2006
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most citys have a bar referral service that can get you headed in the right direction, I recently went through an issue and needed some advice, got to set down with an attorney for 60 bucks to make sure of what I needed to do, it was worth every penny
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From: Oregon
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Thats not what I meant bs, I was talking about people like colby who talk out of their a%% about things/people they know nothing about. As I said before the small dealerships in Orlando are closing their doors. Again I sympathize with bs and stated he is getting a bum wrap but it sounds like its because they are having to close their doors. (no excuse). That dealership has been doing business with mustangs for over 10 years and have been very involved in the local mustang community. I knew something was up when they were selling their personal Saleen's
Roger
Roger
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Thats not what I meant bs, I was talking about people like colby who talk out of their a%% about things/people they know nothing about. As I said before the small dealerships in Orlando are closing their doors. Again I sympathize with bs and stated he is getting a bum wrap but it sounds like its because they are having to close their doors. (no excuse). That dealership has been doing business with mustangs for over 10 years and have been very involved in the local mustang community. I knew something was up when they were selling their personal Saleen's
Roger
Roger
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From: Oregon
Thats not what I meant bs, I was talking about people like colby who talk out of their a%% about things/people they know nothing about. As I said before the small dealerships in Orlando are closing their doors. Again I sympathize with bs and stated he is getting a bum wrap but it sounds like its because they are having to close their doors. (no excuse). That dealership has been doing business with mustangs for over 10 years and have been very involved in the local mustang community. I knew something was up when they were selling their personal Saleen's
Roger
Roger
Roger. Maybe you should shut the hell up. I dont need to know them personally to come up with an impression of how their business is run. The thread starter is stating his conversations as well as the work or lack there of, that they did. It's a joke that they handed him back something like that. Then they basically tell him to pack sand because there on some break.
Sounds to me like they are your pals and your trying to cover their tails. I could care less what your doing. Your the only one talking out of your a$$ by making it seem as if its okay just because they are closing the doors. If they are able to have a lot full of expensive cars, then they should have enough capitol to fix what's wrong.
Either way, if they were a good dealership, then he wouldnt have to get an attorney.
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Ok j/a%% I am not their friend, and Dave himself has vouched for their reputation in the community. They were activley looking for a gt500 for me. We used to do lending for them so I can tell you from a position of authority we hadn't run accross this before. Beyond that there were many events they participated in and donations they made to local mustang charities. Everything from LLS to memorial car shows. Not to mention all of the free dyno days etc they hosted. I have personally met with the owners and know a lot of people in my club that I run who bought multiple cars from them with no issues. So for you to come into the thread and make comments like"I see a few people on here talking about how great of a dealership this place was/is. Sounds like total BS to me. if they are that great, they wouldn't be running their a$$ off to shut the place down. All cars at the auction. Im surprised the phone still works." is totally unappropriate and a reflection of your ignorance. Like I said, I manage the indirect lending department for the largest Credit Union in Central Florida and I can tell you with authority a lot of small dealerships are closing. What they are doing in Dave's situation is crappy and I think I have repeatedly stated that. Check yourself before you make off the handle remarks about people you know nothing about. BTW your impression is just that, an impression.
Roger
Roger
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From: Merritt Island, FL
In 1975 I bought a brand new Firebird, then In 1983 I bought a new GMC Jimmy followed by a new Bronco in 1987 and finally my new Mustang in 2007. The other twelve vehicles I have owned since 1962 have all been purchased used. Here is what I have learned when buying a used car.
1 Carfax: It is a good reference but only goes so far. Don't trust the printout a dealer shows you, spring for a one month subscription and check out the VINs yourself. At a minimum it should list every registration renewal and title transfer. If it is sitting on a dealer's lot and the last entry in Carfax is over a year old and doesn't show the dealer purchase then walk away as something is amiss. If you back your car into a tree and then go have it fixed at a body shop on your own dime without going through insurance, that won't show up in Carfax. Check where the car has been; if it has been out in the midwest during the recent floods and then pops up on a dealers lot thousands of miles away, AVOID.
2. Dealerships: Most new car dealerships will have a time limit and won't hold a trade-in that is older than 3 to 5 years. Everything else goes to auction including anything with repair work. This is your safest bet for a used car other than a private owner but again run a Carfax report. Usually you will pay more here but try to get them down to a few hundred over what they are going to get at auction. Don't buy into dealer expenses. This little add on has only been around for about 15 or 20 years and has been a big profit item for them. If they won't budge then have them mark down the price to cover their expenses.
3. Mom & Pop Used car lots: These lots get their inventory from dealerships and auctions. Sometimes the owners buy on a whim so I avoid them and have only purchased one vehicle from this type of dealership only because he didn't know what he had or what it was worth.
4. Private Owners: A private owner usually doesn't have the resources or the inclination to fix and HIDE major damage that would show up on a Carfax report. With that said there may be one or two owners out there that have a lemon and will go to great lengths to hide that fact. You should be able to spot any problems. You'll find that most private owners will let you know if it's been wrecked or had major problems. The key here is to ask as some people will not provide that information until asked directly.
5. Inspect the vehicle: Do your own inspection and don't impulse buy. If a car is sitting on a lot with 20K miles and all new rubber then something is wrong. Check the tires for even wear, uneven wear indicates problems. Inspect body weld points both fore and aft. Pop the hood or open the trunk and inspect where the body panels are welded together. A robot makes the initial welds and they are evenly spaced and uniform. A body shop has to drill out all of these welds to remove and replace the panel. Even the best body shops cannot reproduce the exact symmetry of a robot. Look for rust in areas that are normally not exposed to moisture, this is an indication that the vehicle has spent some time under water. Unfortunately not every dealership in a flooded out area has the insurance to write off their entire inventory, and those vehicles do get dried out and sent to auction.
There are exceptions to the above list but I have found that I don't go wrong when I do my homework on a vehicle I'm going to purchase be it new or used. Sorry to hear of your problems.
B
B
Semper Fi
1 Carfax: It is a good reference but only goes so far. Don't trust the printout a dealer shows you, spring for a one month subscription and check out the VINs yourself. At a minimum it should list every registration renewal and title transfer. If it is sitting on a dealer's lot and the last entry in Carfax is over a year old and doesn't show the dealer purchase then walk away as something is amiss. If you back your car into a tree and then go have it fixed at a body shop on your own dime without going through insurance, that won't show up in Carfax. Check where the car has been; if it has been out in the midwest during the recent floods and then pops up on a dealers lot thousands of miles away, AVOID.
2. Dealerships: Most new car dealerships will have a time limit and won't hold a trade-in that is older than 3 to 5 years. Everything else goes to auction including anything with repair work. This is your safest bet for a used car other than a private owner but again run a Carfax report. Usually you will pay more here but try to get them down to a few hundred over what they are going to get at auction. Don't buy into dealer expenses. This little add on has only been around for about 15 or 20 years and has been a big profit item for them. If they won't budge then have them mark down the price to cover their expenses.
3. Mom & Pop Used car lots: These lots get their inventory from dealerships and auctions. Sometimes the owners buy on a whim so I avoid them and have only purchased one vehicle from this type of dealership only because he didn't know what he had or what it was worth.
4. Private Owners: A private owner usually doesn't have the resources or the inclination to fix and HIDE major damage that would show up on a Carfax report. With that said there may be one or two owners out there that have a lemon and will go to great lengths to hide that fact. You should be able to spot any problems. You'll find that most private owners will let you know if it's been wrecked or had major problems. The key here is to ask as some people will not provide that information until asked directly.
5. Inspect the vehicle: Do your own inspection and don't impulse buy. If a car is sitting on a lot with 20K miles and all new rubber then something is wrong. Check the tires for even wear, uneven wear indicates problems. Inspect body weld points both fore and aft. Pop the hood or open the trunk and inspect where the body panels are welded together. A robot makes the initial welds and they are evenly spaced and uniform. A body shop has to drill out all of these welds to remove and replace the panel. Even the best body shops cannot reproduce the exact symmetry of a robot. Look for rust in areas that are normally not exposed to moisture, this is an indication that the vehicle has spent some time under water. Unfortunately not every dealership in a flooded out area has the insurance to write off their entire inventory, and those vehicles do get dried out and sent to auction.
There are exceptions to the above list but I have found that I don't go wrong when I do my homework on a vehicle I'm going to purchase be it new or used. Sorry to hear of your problems.
B
BSemper Fi
Last edited by Centurion96; Oct 30, 2008 at 11:56 AM.
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From: Oregon
last post here, because Roger your a F#$#$#$ tool. I think I understand from everyone also saying that they were/are stand up people and did all sorts of great things. Soooooooo that means there allowed to jack someone around???? Oh its okay Dave, I know your car is a piece of S#$@, but look what we have done in the past.
Tell ya what. Keep your little ol desk job where you crunch your numbers. Lemme know when you hit reality. You have someone else to say??? Do it in private, where I can tell you exactly how I feel.
Had you not had been so foolish and started using such language, this thread wouldn't of been hi-jacked. You probably got picked last in school for everything huh?
Tell ya what. Keep your little ol desk job where you crunch your numbers. Lemme know when you hit reality. You have someone else to say??? Do it in private, where I can tell you exactly how I feel.
Had you not had been so foolish and started using such language, this thread wouldn't of been hi-jacked. You probably got picked last in school for everything huh?
Mach 1 Member
Joined: October 22, 2004
Posts: 819
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From: Niantic CT
Dave you sound like a real nice guy, but this story is one of the saddest I have ever read in these forums. I don't know what to say - the story is just devastating. I really hope everything turns out well for you, and I'll be watching this thread with interest.
I don't have much advice to offer, other than to say that time heals all wounds. When I was 18 I bought a year-old 1974 Camaro Z28 that had 4,000 miles on it, and I was like a celebrity with that car. Every kid in town drooled over it, and I was treated like a king. It was my prized possession, and I practically lived in that car. Less than 3,000 miles later, I wrecked it. Flipped it over onto its roof and totalled it. Most importantly, and miraculously, neither my passenger or me was hurt at all. When it finally sunk in that the car was gone, I literally cried. I thought I would never get over it. I lost my license for six months, and rightfully so. The funny thing is, it wasn't long before I was laughing about it. Eventually I grew up, learned to treat cars with the respect they deserve, and rarely think about that car anymore. The only thing I really still think about in regard to that car is how lucky I was to live.
Good luck, and I will be rooting for you all the way in this one.
I don't have much advice to offer, other than to say that time heals all wounds. When I was 18 I bought a year-old 1974 Camaro Z28 that had 4,000 miles on it, and I was like a celebrity with that car. Every kid in town drooled over it, and I was treated like a king. It was my prized possession, and I practically lived in that car. Less than 3,000 miles later, I wrecked it. Flipped it over onto its roof and totalled it. Most importantly, and miraculously, neither my passenger or me was hurt at all. When it finally sunk in that the car was gone, I literally cried. I thought I would never get over it. I lost my license for six months, and rightfully so. The funny thing is, it wasn't long before I was laughing about it. Eventually I grew up, learned to treat cars with the respect they deserve, and rarely think about that car anymore. The only thing I really still think about in regard to that car is how lucky I was to live.
Good luck, and I will be rooting for you all the way in this one.
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Colby,
I wrote you a lengthy response but the site went down right when I sent it. Its not worth typing again. I think all of our posts are in support of Dave and wish him the best. I will just add you to my ignore list and I would appreciate if you would do the same. I think your posts speak volumes and I don't need to say anything else. Happy Halloween, I will enjoy my cushy job which I earned and leave early to take my two year old trick or treating. Dave, as I said before if your in the area again look me up and we can have a beer, I do hope it gets resolved with out too much legal lag time as you have to look at the car every day and feel disappointed.
Roger
I wrote you a lengthy response but the site went down right when I sent it. Its not worth typing again. I think all of our posts are in support of Dave and wish him the best. I will just add you to my ignore list and I would appreciate if you would do the same. I think your posts speak volumes and I don't need to say anything else. Happy Halloween, I will enjoy my cushy job which I earned and leave early to take my two year old trick or treating. Dave, as I said before if your in the area again look me up and we can have a beer, I do hope it gets resolved with out too much legal lag time as you have to look at the car every day and feel disappointed.
Roger
Last edited by mach1fever; Oct 31, 2008 at 09:19 AM.
Thread Starter
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Thanks guys for all the support and replies. Half the reason I didn't want to get involved in this case was because of the overwhelming support I'm sure the dealership would have. I know they have many satisfied customers, and I understand this, but it doesnt change the fact I had a bad experience.
I contacted the bar association today and they referred me to a great attorney. They have noted the situation and are currently reviewing it to let me know whether I have a solid case. I should be getting a call back either today or monday.
Worst case scenario is if I don't have a case I bug the dealership until they do a better job. I have made a decision to not give up. Thanks guys for giving me the push to get this taken care of.
I contacted the bar association today and they referred me to a great attorney. They have noted the situation and are currently reviewing it to let me know whether I have a solid case. I should be getting a call back either today or monday.
Worst case scenario is if I don't have a case I bug the dealership until they do a better job. I have made a decision to not give up. Thanks guys for giving me the push to get this taken care of.
