If I could give it zero stars, I would…read more
Sharing my daughter's experience below because, as her mother, I have watched firsthand how devastating and discouraging this situation has been for her.
My daughter is 19 years old, attends college full time, and despite ongoing health struggles, works harder than most adults I know. She babysits, takes photography jobs, works whenever possible at her high school job, and saves every extra penny she can. Her goal was simple: purchase a dependable vehicle so she could continue school and eventually obtain stable full-time employment without constantly worrying whether she could make it from one destination to another safely.
When she purchased this Subaru Outback from Tipton's mayor and his wife, she believed she was buying from trustworthy people. They were friendly, welcoming, and repeatedly reassured her that the vehicle was reliable. His wife specifically stated she drove the vehicle daily from Tipton to Indianapolis and would not have sold it had she not needed something larger for her children.
Before purchasing the vehicle, we took what we believed were responsible precautions and had the vehicle inspected at the exact garage they personally recommended: Guffey's Garage. The vehicle remained there for three days for what should have been a simple inspection. During that time, there was essentially no communication whatsoever. Her father, my daughter, and I all repeatedly called the shop only to reach an automated system inviting us to leave a message for a callback that never came. It did not matter how many times we called, what time of day we called, or how many voicemails were left...nobody responded.
When the inspection was finally complete, the only issue reportedly found was a cracked boot.
Trusting that inspection, my daughter proceeded with the purchase.
What happened next is what makes this entire situation so upsetting. From the moment she picked the vehicle up, drove to the nearby license branch, and returned home, the coolant reservoir was already completely empty. After filling it, she drove approximately twenty minutes only for it to be empty again. After refilling it a second time, she drove only two minutes down the road before the coolant visibly dropped yet again.
Since then, the vehicle has been evaluated by multiple independent individuals and professionals, and every single one has expressed essentially the same opinion: there is no realistic way this vehicle was being driven daily especially an hour each direction between Tipton and Indianapolis, not including traffic, road construction, and rush hour conditions without the driver being aware there was a serious ongoing issue.
These were not minor or sudden mechanical problems. According to multiple people who have looked at the vehicle, these issues had clearly existed for some time.
After the problems were brought to the attention of the shop, an offer was eventually made for "free labor." However, after experiencing the complete lack of communication, the failure to thoroughly inspect the vehicle in the first place, and the inability to provide honest and transparent service throughout this process, there is absolutely no comfort or confidence in allowing that same shop to perform repairs on her vehicle. Trust is earned through professionalism, communication, and accountability all of which were severely lacking here.
As a mother, watching your child work endlessly, sacrifice constantly, and try to responsibly build a future, only to end up financially devastated by something like this, is heartbreaking. She now faces thousands of dollars in repairs on a vehicle she cannot even safely drive.
The people involved may have been kind during the transaction, but kindness does not replace honesty, transparency, or accountability. I am sharing this because people deserve to understand that titles, positions, and friendly personalities should never replace due diligence and true integrity.
I am truly disgusted in the people who were involved in this purchase and playing a hand in the deception.
