DO NOT BUY A CAR HERE!…read more
May 31, 2011: This is the date that I officially retrieved my vehicle from the auto lot. When I was ready to pick-up my vehicle, a man named Dave (who had sold me the car) told me that my BMV paperwork was not ready. He told me they had made errors to the original paperwork, and it was being corrected, but would take a few days to process. Now, on this day I was on my way to temporarily moving to Michigan for the summer to stay with my family in Flint. I was doing so because I had obtained a position working with Child Life Staff at a local hospital. Since the vehicle was purchased in Indiana, this meant that I would have to drive from Flint to Indiana in a few days to go to a BMV to get my plates and registration. The nearest Indiana BMV from Flint is more than 2 hours away, meaning a round-trip drive would cost me nearly a full tank of gas.
I figured I would resolve the issue of the BMV at a later date, as my temporary plate was still good for 14 more days. I left the car dealership at approximately 10:00am. I drove from Elkhart, IN to Flushing, MI, which is almost 200 miles (approx. 3.5 hours). It was in Flushing, MI on M-13 at approximately 1:30pm that my car ceased to function, and powered down. When I first left the lot that day, the car appeared to be in excellent condition--and to my knowledge, I was assured that it was. The engine was extremely quiet, handling was great, and everything seemed to function properly. I would not have purchased the car if I had any doubt in my mind that it was defective or unreliable.
Just a few moments before my car broke down on the highway, I began to hear a strange ticking or vibrating sound, loudly humming from the motor. I was only driving 50 miles per hour. As I was deciding that maybe it was best to pull over to the side of the road, this is when the noise ceased and my car powered down. I immediately called for help from nearby family, and I also attempted to call the dealership. They said they would offer me roadside assistance, but my dad had already arranged for a tow. My car was then towed to M-13 Auto (Cliff's Automotive), just about a mile or two up the road. The mechanics at the shop assessed my car and confirmed that the timing belt and timing gear had broken during my drive, which caused the motor to seize. I, my father, and Cliff's Automotive all made contact with the dealership.
When I spoke with the dealership, they assured me that they would do everything in their power to cover all costs, to ensure that the vehicle was fixed in a timely manner, and that it would be nearly effortless for me. I was told that they would contact me concerning details of when work would begin on my vehicle.
I have now been without a vehicle for 30 days. It took 8 days for them to get it back in their possession. They ordered the wrong engine, which delayed the process by another 2 weeks. Then they ordered the wrong transmission. The problems are never ending.
-I have been without a working vehicle for 30 days and counting
-They have failed to keep promises of continued contact
-When I try to make contact with them, they treat me rudely; I have asked to talk to a supervisor several times and have been denied
-I feel I have been thoroughly ripped off, as I have invested nearly $2,500 into this vehicle, which has not been working since the day I drove it off the lot
-I feel that it is more than coincidental that each time I call there is something else wrong; why had they not made an effort to contact me when there had been numerous setbacks?
-They refuse to offer me a loaner car
-They still expect me to pay a deductible
-They are taking zero responsibility
-They have made several mistakes in paperwork and orders of parts
-I have been unable to find summer employment as I do not have reliable transportation; I actually was forced to turn down a $400/week babysitting job because of my vehicle issues
-I believe I deserve some form of compensation
