I came in yesterday to look at a black Mercedes-Benz GLC 350e. The car itself is nice, but there…read morewere several issues I noticed almost immediately.
The first thing I noticed was a very loud fan noise coming from the vehicle. I pointed it out, but it did not seem to be taken seriously. During the test drive, I also noticed that the tires needed to be replaced, the brakes would need to be done soon, and the alignment felt slightly off.
The salesperson I worked with, Fred, was a very nice and classy guy. I have no issue with him personally. However, he did not seem to know much about the vehicle, especially considering this was a plug-in hybrid. That made it difficult to get clear answers about the car.
After the test drive, we tried to verify whether the charger worked. Unfortunately, we could not confirm that the car was charging properly. That was a major concern for me because with a GLC 350e, the hybrid system and charging function are some of the most important parts of the vehicle.
The car also appeared to need cosmetic work. The trim around the windows was worn, the exterior was dirty and needed a proper wash, and the "C" next to the 4MATIC badge was falling off. None of these things alone would necessarily kill the deal, but when combined with the mechanical and hybrid concerns, it made the car feel neglected.
Fred called the used car manager, Shawn, to help answer some of my questions. Shawn was on speakerphone, and I asked him about the hybrid battery, whether there was any warranty remaining, and if he could provide documentation on the car. Unfortunately, he did not seem prepared to answer those questions clearly.
He told me he would not be available for about an hour. I asked if he could at least email the information or printout to Fred so I could review it while I was there. It seemed like that was not something he had thought to do. The whole conversation felt awkward and unhelpful.
To be fair, Shawn did not necessarily kill the deal by himself. The main reason I did not move forward was because we could not verify whether the charger and hybrid system were working properly, we could not confirm the warranty situation on the hybrid battery, and the car appeared to need more work than expected.
That said, the way the situation was handled did not help. When a buyer is asking serious questions about a used plug-in hybrid, especially regarding the battery, charger, and warranty, the dealership should be ready with clear answers and documentation.
I may have considered the car if they were more prepared, more transparent, and willing to work with me on the price given the condition of the vehicle. But based on what I saw, the car had too many unanswered questions, and the dealership did not do enough to give me confidence in the deal.
Fred was professional and respectful, but he needed more support and better information. Shawn, on the other hand, did not come across as someone who was ready or interested in helping close the sale.
At the end of the day, I walked away because the car had too many concerns, and the dealership could not properly verify the most important parts of the vehicle.