Lied to about condition of car, cheated out of money, and ignored when trying to resolve.
Never. Ever. Ever. Buy a Car from This Dealership. Read full story below.
Alright, buckle up, because this is a wild ride -- pun absolutely intended.
So, two weeks ago, I made the genius decision to buy a car from this dealership. And let me just say, if you're ever wondering what it's like to purchase a vehicle in the ninth circle of hell, look no further.
Let's start with first impressions: I walk into their office and immediately feel like I've stepped into a forgotten corner of a mechanic's garage. The place reeks and looks like it hasn't been cleaned since the Bush administration. But hey, I'm here for a car, not a candlelit dinner, right? Unfortunately, things only go downhill from there.
Quick backstory -- I flew in from California just for this car. Straight from the airport, I Uber to the dealership like an excited little car-loving gremlin. I sign all the paperwork, hand over my hard-earned money, and think I'm good to go. Plot twist: they now tell me I have to wait 45 minutes for them to "pick up the title/pink slip." Seriously? I've got an 18-hour drive back home ahead of me, and they hit me with this?
Whatever. I finally get the title, walk out to meet my shiny new ride and... yikes. The car looks like it's been parked in a dust storm since the Stone Age. Not a single wash in sight. Still, I'm trying to stay optimistic. I get in, start it up, and the car starts shaking like it's trying to escape reality. Idle feels rough, but it smooths out once I'm moving -- so I make a mental note and head out.
About an hour and a half later than I wanted to, I start my epic road trip back to Cali. Except... literally as I pull out of the lot, I notice the transmission starts shaking violently when RPMs go over 3k. Oh, and the clutch? It sticks halfway up every once in a while when shifting gears. Fun! But wait, there's more: I literally can't get into 5th gear without feeling like I'm grinding my soul through the transmission. If you've ever driven stick, you know exactly what I'm talking about.
Now let me remind you -- this car was supposedly in "great condition" and had no issues according to the dealership.
Somehow -- and I mean by the grace of God Himself -- I make it back home in one piece. Three days in, I take the car to a mechanic because duh, this thing is clearly falling apart. What do they tell me? Just a casual quote of $3,475 to replace the clutch, flywheel, three broken engine mounts, and a broken transmission mount. I nearly passed out.
Now, I'm a full-time student and I work two jobs, so dropping $3.5K out of nowhere isn't really in the cards. I decide to baby the car as much as I can and only drive when absolutely necessary. Spoiler alert: that didn't work out.
By Day 4, the clutch is on life support and the check engine light pops on like it's saying, "surprise!" Back to the mechanic I go. They tell me it's gonna cost another $300 just to diagnose the engine light. Possible causes? Oh, just a $2000 crankcase valve problem. Cool cool cool.
Defeated, I go to leave the shop -- and boom. The battery's dead. Yes, really. I get a jump, limp home on what's left of the clutch, and decide to text the dealership. They ask for proof of the issues (which I send immediately), and then... crickets. Not a word back since.
I originally was told the car was in great conditions with no issues, but recently called them back and was essentially told that i should have expected the car to be broken because it's used.
I'll update this post if they ever decide to acknowledge my existence. But until then, take this as your sign: do not even think about buying a car from this dealership unless you enjoy emotional damage and spontaneous combustion. read more