Awful Dealership Confrontation Read Options

[prompt]

About 2 weeks ago I bought a 1996 GSX . Looked perfect check outside of it and everyting. It was located in New Hampshire. I live in Maine..so it was a 1 hour drive. The guy gives me dealership plates since I bought the car "AS IS." Well I signed a paper with all of the others that stated they did a NH inspection. The slip showed what didnt pass inspection. Those were (front and rear brakes, ball joints, and moonroof tracking).

Well Today I go into a different mechanic for another opionion of an inspection in here in Maine. He puts the car up on the lift and tells me to come in. I come to find that the front of the car has been in a major accident. The frame is bent. The guy is almost crying telling me the story of how one of his best friends died due to thinking that straightining a bent frame will save the car. He also told me that the only thing that wasnt new on the the front of the car was 1 headlight and the motor.

So when I get home I call up the dealership and ask to talk to the manager. Before I mention anything to him. He says "Hi Jon, I would like my plates back by 5 today(I'm calling him at 4 p.m.) or I am calling your local police, and reporting that you stole my plates. So I think OK? Nice way to start a conversation. I tell him what the mechanic told me. So he says "Too ####ing bad. But I know I want my plates back."

Now from what I know...A bent frame of a car DOES NOT PASS INSPECTION ANYWHERE IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. I tell him I would like my money back, and he basically says again to #### off.

So tomorow morning I am calling up the the NH DMV and explaining about the situation. Which should basically have everything being brought to court. . But hey I got scammed $7,000 by some low life dealership.

Oh ya the name of the dealership is called PB's Auto Village ...located in Hampton Falls, New Hampshire. I strongly hope no one ever buys a car from there.


Looks like I am back to my celica. Thank god I didd't sell it yet. Kinda missed it anyways . Just wish it had AWD and 210hp stock like the GSX.

[Defgeph]

I think you have a couple of days to legally return the car. Look into local laws. When I worked at my old dealership I remember something like 24 or 48 hours after purchase.

Hope that helps
DEF

[prompt]

ya but it has been 1 week. I have had it sitting in my driveway waiting for an opening for someone up here to inspect it.

[orvillescelica]

every state has lemon laws that are suppose to pretect the comsumer against things like this. check out:

http://www.lemonlawamerica.com/

look up those for maine and for NH and see what they say. Either way, a registered dealership i think is required to report vehicle history like that.

[Uppitycracker]

That sucks man, Ive been there twice and it sucks, Im so nervous to buy my next car which is going to hopefully be a 6th gen celi. Im gonna be a nazi about it when it comes to looking at potential cars.

Just make sure you get on it, and only week days count for reporting something, so keep that in mind.

[prompt]

Already check the lemon law about this. It only covers new vechiles.

[Pali_playa]

thats y u carfax the car, gl on suein his ass

[Uppitycracker]

hows the car drive? is there any chance it'll be fine? because you may just ahve to count your losses and move on

This post has been edited by Uppitycracker: Oct 5, 2004 - 7:34 PM

[prompt]

I did carfax the car. It showed no major accidents for some reason. And no it doesn't drive fine. The alignment is off. And the shocks are almost gone( I wonder why ).

[Uppitycracker]

is there any way to fix this? maybe you can look for a gsx shell, transplant it over.

This post has been edited by Uppitycracker: Oct 5, 2004 - 7:39 PM

[prompt]

I already paid $7000 through a loan for this car. My mechanic said a body should would need it look if its even possible to fix first (taking 5 hours using a frame machine X $60 an hour of labor). Then there is the point you need to take apart the whole entire car just to fix that piece.

[drnovascotia]

I know one of my 240sx buddies worked there over the winter. Check the title, did it say normal or salvage ? I'm pretty sure if the frame is bent thats a salvaged title, and they need to let you know that. I'd definately call a lawyer and see what he thinks, he would know for sure.

Did you ask any specific questions like has it been in any accidents or such ? You'd need some proof he lied to you if the whole bent frame things falls through. I'm telling you though, a lawyer will save your ass.

Dr.

[prompt]

It says normal. Which is BS. Yes I asked for question if it had been in any accidents "at all." When I was there purchasing the car he told me it wasnt inspected because of the things I listed above. He also said to me, and 4 other family members who were there. "The car will pass inspection though."

[Pali_playa]

wait does the carfax say its got the buyback garuntee? cause then carfax will buy it back

[fastgt]

i say kick his ass....or...sue his ass...whichever works best

[DamDirtyApes]

if u asked the dealership has been in an accident and they say no... u can sue to ur hearts content

[boosted_K2]

obviously legal action is the only way to go, and dont wait to get things started either, do it tomorrow.

[shid]

Dude, u sound like you're taking it up the ass. Call a lawyer, sue him. Don't try and get him to take it back. Hire a lawyer, and sue him for your legal costs, the cost of the car, and interest on your loan, rental car.

[sinner96ST]

get a lawyer.

they were selling you a car which the title states is normal, when in fact, it's a salvage.

that's called fraud.

the dealership is liable to inspect / go over cars before they sell them, to prevent stuff like this from happening. stop what you're doing, call a lawyer, they will always do a free consult if they know you've got a solid case.

don't do anything by yourself, don't call anymore, leave everything as it is & call a lawyer.

in case you haven't been reading, call a lawyer.

[Digndoug]

[prompt]

Thank you very muchs guy for the help. I am calling a Criminal lawyer tomorrow!

[hs2g]

hey I just have a quick question since everyone was on the subject. Lets say I bought a car on saturday and found out it was bad when I took it home and didn;t want it. But the dealership is closed on sundays so could it be legal to return it on monday?

[97Celica]

Piss on his dealer plates and freeze them in the freezer....then after you sue him...give them back

[97Celica]

[hs2g]

Could I return the car now? My dad and I took it back to the dealership on monday because sunday was closed. The manager said there was no way in hell that I could return it. They gave me false information on the car. The clutch was bad, Bad front and rear brakes, and CV joints were bad. I got all those fixed out of my own pocket.

This post has been edited by hs2g: Oct 5, 2004 - 10:18 PM

[soltrain]

I swear, car dealers are some the worst kind of people on earth. I haven't met a good one yet. Gotta watch out with the 'as is', I believe once you sign it, you've voided any lemon law you had....

Did you get a second opinion on the car? If it is truly messed up, a second opinion would help your case.

This post has been edited by soltrain: Oct 5, 2004 - 10:19 PM

[prompt]

Ya the first one they didnt evenput the car on a lift? WTF...second one put it on the lift and showed me personally.

[Uppitycracker]

[boosted_K2]

[shadycrew31]

i say for our nationwide 6gc meet that im planining. we hit up that dealship and just stand there and give mean looks 30 deep yo lol j/k. hey if you need lawyer help let me know. i know of guy that can help you out. he will answer any questions i have fore free, and look over paperwork to see what your next step should be. so if you want i can do that for you?? i got screwed on my celica. i payed like 13,000 at the end of it i was so siked i didnt even care. i took it home and it was in a accident i didnt know about. but by that time it was to late. so yea im here to help. i know how ya feel its a shame when you get ****ed in the ass at a dealship. they wouldnt even give me a job double screwage.

[Hym3n]

AFAIK, you signed an "As-Is" paper. No lawyers will even mess with you knowing that.

Keep your head up though, there's gotta be some loophole in there somewhere.

-brian

[chucho]

[Consynx]

im still wondering if car-fax has a buy-back gaurentee(sp)

[turboinduction]

Prompt,
As many know, I work at a dealership. (and i'm not shady Soltrain ). If the previous owner didn't claim or take it to an certified body shop - ones that reports - then carfax will come up blank. The carfax buyback only means that if a report was made and carfax doesn't say so, then they buy it. No report is made, it passes Carfax. Ok, aside from that. State safety inspections are very very minimal. I for one, even working at a dealership, am scared of how weak they are. For example, if the car has a Check Engine light on, thats all that needs to be checked. Meaning the window will say "Check Engine Light is on," you ask and you'll get a "we didnt go that far into it." DAMN! So, a frame damaged car that looks almost perfect would probably pass state inspection. The big conserns are Cat back exhaust is ok, intake is ok, oil is ok, etc. Not problems with the radio, or clutch above 6000rpm, or whatever. Which sucks for purchasers. Since you signed a "as is" paper, your moreorless screwed. As soon as you drove that car off the lot, you said that the car in its current condition is ok, and that you accept all problems that are on the car. You really cant hold the dealership at fault. My dealership would most likely help you out because you just bought the car, but we have a good rep too. Find out what its gonna take to fix her up and ask the owner of the store to try and help you out. If he says no, well then you should just accept it rather then get mad. Only because he can counter-sue with harrassment. ALSO, give him his plate back!!!! Your gonna get in series trouble if he calls the police. I know this post isn't that great and doesn't leave much hope, but goodluck and keep up posted.

-Ti

I'm gonna ask my service department if frames would be checked

EDIT: After talking with my used car manager, he says that if we check that the frame is good but its not, we're F'd. However, he added that Wisconsin has the best safety in the country. Wisconsin is Super-user friendly and its a hard safety to squeeze problems by. Good luck, get an attorney and ask them for legal advice.

This post has been edited by turboinduction: Oct 6, 2004 - 9:58 AM

[Tweek]

hey, at the very least you should call the better business buero and report him. Definately have a lawyer check out your case, they usually do that for free so they can determine if they are gonna make any money from your case. If your really bored because you can't play with your new car, you can hang out by his dealership and tell customers that are trying to buy from him, what happened to you and tell them to go somewhere else. Maybe if you cost him enough business, he'll try and get you some money back. Just try reporting him to any business beuro's you can find so other people might be warned. Good luck.

[Jonathan]

Call a lawyer

[Jonathan]

update?

[Gilbert_619]

i say take him to that stud of judge judy hahah or either keep it as a nice 7000 dollar project....when i worked at mitsubishi they inspected then pretty good in and out...just cuz thet could sell them for more...paint was touched up,bumpers re done even dents were removed...anything bad would just be auction material....but sounds like you got a mom and pops place....just try your hardest to sue him..

[prompt]

After I called the DMV in NH. They told me to write a letter of complaint to the state police department. Which I did and mailed out today. When I got home the Hampton Falls police called my house, because the guy actually called the police. So I told them the story and the cop talked to him. Now all the sudden the guy is willing to take a look at the car. Which isn't going to happen.

[neoklis]

Firstly, why did you buy a car that isn't a Toyota?

Also, how could you buy a car without having someone check it out for you first? there is a say in my country that goes: i am blinding you and sell and you keep looking and buying. Never take anything for granted and never wait for the law to prove your point.

[prompt]

because I needed something with more power on the track

[psyko]

In my state if the car as been in any wreck it's illeagel not to tell the person about it. But anyway are u sure eclipses even have a frame ? most japanese cars dont' have a frame they have a unibody. Which it is kinda hard to bend, the only thing i've ever heard of bending was the craddle, and all parts of a unibody can be replaced. When i hit my crub someone told me my frame was bent, but of course celi's dont' have a frame. Anyway come to find out just my shocks and hub assemlies where bent causing it to look like everything was bent. oh any my rims where messed up too so everything looked at worst then it ended up being. SO dont' give up yet, but i'd bet it has a unibody instead of a frame, so have a BODYSHOP look at it and you can prolly fix the car, don't worry keep at it. just remember when your fixing stuff, get aftermarkets where u can, like shocks, u can get all factory parts u need from a junkyard.

[shid]

[exxtractor]

call BBB, also call your State office for fraud, and call a media reporter in your area that does consumer fruad stories and hire a lawyer to contac them. I'm not trying to bring you down any further, but one thing I did before buying a used car was to actually let the dealer know I was taking the car for inspection prior to purchase. I put a $50 deposit down, had an inspection, and found out what the issues were with the car. It was a Toyota dealer I bought the car from. Buying a car without an independent inspection was a mistake... though I know you realize this now.

[turboinduction]

[psyko]

just trying to give him some hope and help, i thought i knew what i was talking about, but i guess i was wrong. thx for correction turboinduction.

[Dr_Tweak]

Man, that sucks. That's not too far from here, if you don't get justice let me know and I'll go down and shoot the place up.



Also if you do sell your Celica, let me know.

[Akimbo]

Updates?

[prompt]

Few months went by talking to state police. They didn't help. Then tried the Attorney General..he didn't help either. Well 2 weeks ago I went ahead and hired a lawyer. First thing he tells me is that he has this in a bag if we go to court.

So at that time he filed a "demand letter" telling them that within 30 days. They have to pay me the cost of what I paid for the car, what I have made for payment, the interest ive paid, and what I have paid in insurance. If they do not comply within the 30 days. They are going to court. Where I can sue for up to 4x the amount of the accumulation of everything stated above.

He also said since hes 100% he is going to win. He will do a constingacy(sp?) base pay. Where I don't have to pay the lawyer fees until the suit is over, and he'll take a 1/3 of the final amount. Which should leave me with roughly $16,000. Which I will spend on a 98 GSX that isn't broken.

[4wheelWOnder]

Im not too big on suin ppl, but sue his @ss......

[Terzin1]

yea prompt, what happend with this ?

[dustin15brown]

How court go? Cuz i'm guessing they didn't just give the money back

[DamDirtyApes]

just remeber, that if you win and get say 8000, hes gettin almost 3000 of that and ur stuck with about 5k and no car. good luck on winning

o yeah and youu must have a very good chance of winning if the lawyer is going on contingency. becuase if u dont win, thats no pay for him for several weeks

This post has been edited by DamDirtyApes: Jun 30, 2005 - 3:14 PM

[RedSunCelica]

if all else fails you can always insure the car and dump it or crash it into a guardrail