Ignorant at best. Negligent at worst.
We found a 2019 Volvo XC60 T6 Inscription (1003169) for sale at Select Motors, LTD in Plymouth, MI in which my partner and I were interested. As residents of Tennessee, we realized there would be a great deal of risk buying a car this far out of state. We reached out to the owner, Jeff Varilone, and asked for additional photos and information about the vehicle. Specifically, around recent service histories depicted on the CarFax, which showed several visits within a short period of time to an independent mechanic and Volvo dealership by the previous owner. Mr. Varilone assured us that there were no issues with the car.
This vehicle was listed on their website as: "stunning", "high-specification example", and having been "meticulously maintained". Furthermore, on the website, Mr. Varilone expresses that you "deal directly with the owners" and that they "personally hand pick each car we have for sale." To underscore their expertise and car selection, "you will not find dings, dents, scuffed bumpers, dirty interiors, worn tires, or paint blemishes with our cars."
After reading reviews across Google, Facebook, and their own website, we did not see any red flags that would indicate this dealer was not to be trusted. After negotiating with Mr. Varilone, we agreed on a price and arranged a time to make the 9-hour drive to Plymouth, MI. All our interactions with Mr. Varilone were professional and courteous, which gave us reassurance that this was a reputable dealer.
When we arrived, our stomachs sank. As soon as we walked up to the car, we noticed numerous scratches, parts of the front chrome grill were peeling, the top of the car and rear-view mirrors were showing signs of heat/UV oxidation. None of which, were captured in the listing photos. However, the most concerning part was finding two inches of standing water in the tailgate of the vehicle under the spare tire. The start/stop battery and numerous electrical components are also stored here. Mr. Varilone attempted to tell us that the vehicle had just been detailed so that must be the cause of the standing water. However, this does not make any sense. The cargo floor was not wet, and I am not aware of any detailer that would spray water into this area where sensitive electrical components are stored. Furthermore, I pointed out to Mr. Varilone that the car was clearly not detailed at all. There was garbage under the seats, the rear seats had dirt and crumbs on them, and the seal between the tailgate and the body of the car had an abundance of dirt, twigs, and other debris. Apparently, we were to believe that the only portion of the car that was detailed were the inner electrical areas? As we started looking to find a root cause of the leak, we realized the entire beige headliner had water stains. Furthermore, the floor/carpet in the front and back seats were wet to the touch. This immediately indicated to us that either the sunroof was leaking or the roof rail drains were clogged. In any case, we simply could not buy the vehicle in its current state.
While Mr. Varilone did agree to pay us for our hotel room for the night, it falls short of our time, gas, and frustration. Before leaving, I implored Mr. Varilone to disclose the water damage and update the listing photos to show the current state of the vehicle, which, based on severity, should total the vehicle. Mr. Varilone said he would "have it looked at". To remedy the damage, every single interior panel, headliner, and entire flooring would have to be removed and replaced to rid the mold and mildew. Not to mention the cost of fixing the leak and any additional electrical components that have been affected by the water intrusion over an unknown period.
As of this writing, Mr. Varilone has had over four days to disclose the water damage on his listing or take the listing down entirely. However, he has not. As we left his dealership, we could see him scrambling to clean out the water in an obvious attempt to hide the damage and truth from another unsuspecting buyer. Buyer Beware. read more