"Curbsenthusiasms" (curbsenthusiasms)
03/13/2015 at 15:25 • Filed to: None
0
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"Curbsenthusiasms" (curbsenthusiasms)
03/13/2015 at 15:25 • Filed to: None | 0
| 16 |
Recently in December after driving her IS250 for 7 years my mother decided to purchase a new car. Dealership to dealership we looked at everything in the entry/mid lux market, C300, 228i, 328i, 428i, IS350, RC350 etc etc etc. While she loved the C300 she just couldn't justify its premium price per month to own. Mom ended up falling in love with the ATS, particularly with the Morello red interior and White Diamond exterior.
New car buying is ridiculously easy online once you know what you want. I pulled a quote from both TrueCar and through Costco's auto buying program, called the dealer with the best price and immediately asked for them to beat either of those prices. The GM sales event was going on at the same time through Costco so the dealer gave me the better of the two "base prices" and used the GM sales price towards that. We took home a $45,044 MSRP car for a little over $37,000 and on top of that she got a $600 Costco cash card to sweeten up the deal.
Here is where little clues start showing that something was odd.
- Before the purchase I noticed that the window sticker displayed different wheels as coming with the car. This one had the nice 10 spoke polished aluminum wheels. The sticker stated it should have the 7 spoke wheels.
- With the financing manager I was prepared to hear an up-sell on different options/services/warranties. He mentioned Perma-plate and I was ready to say no...than all of a sudden he said it was included for free. Upon asking him why the only response was, "it is you know some type of promotion". I knew this would be a $699 cost so why was it thrown in?
-Before the end of week one I had my clear bra installer put a clear bra on the front of the car. He asked me if the hood had been repainted as he saw some dirt under the paint I told him the car was brand new and I assume the hood was not repainted.
-Finally by week 3, mom tries to show a friend Onstar. When the Onstar advisor said "Hello Ms. (not my mom)", she immediately knew something was off. The Onstar advisor even recited someone else's home address to verify. Onstar told her that the car was registered specifically to the recited owner.
I've yet to pay to run a Carfax on the vin but entering it on the site immediately gives way to (8) records. Most Carfaxes from Florida cars I've seen have a max of 3-5 records after initial purchase and registration.
This car had 31 miles on it when we took delivery in the showroom so I am not too concerned but I can't help but think the dealer is somewhat responsible to tell us anything that may have happened to this car considering they sold it as "brand new".
Does anyone think I should bother with a Carfax?
MonkeePuzzle
> Curbsenthusiasms
03/13/2015 at 15:30 |
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make the dealer do the carfax for you
themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
> Curbsenthusiasms
03/13/2015 at 15:32 |
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......Is it possible it was some sort of showroom display/demo car? Hear me out for a minute
1) The wheels are different because they wanted the nicer wheels on it to look prettier
2) If the Permaplate was installed on the interior surfaces, it's psosible they already did that to stop the possibility of interior staining
3) Dirt on the hood came from technicians/salespeople/customers touching it?
4) Onstar was activated by someone to demonstrate the luxury features it can offer and they forgot to use a dealership account or somthing or it was activated by accident
DrScientist
> Curbsenthusiasms
03/13/2015 at 15:33 |
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i believe there was a posting up here not to long ago about damage incurred during delivery. and what a dealer is required to disclose to the owner. maybe it was one of steve lehto's posts?
could have been this car was ordered by mrs. not your mom, but when she noticed something upon when she was ready to take delivery she said no way. that would account for the perma plate and the 31 miles and the potential damage.
although... was the car advertised as "new?" dont know if that means it can not have been registered. which it sounds like it was.
jariten1781
> Curbsenthusiasms
03/13/2015 at 15:40 |
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Personally I wouldn't stress it...
I mean yeah, you can (and would totally be in the right) go through a big rigmarole to have the dealer poll the records or spend some money to pull a carfax or whatever...but what's going to be the end result? Are you willing to go to court for a car you were happy with otherwise if there's something odd in the first 31 miles. That seems like an obnoxious hassle for little to no gain.
deekster_caddy
> DrScientist
03/13/2015 at 15:43 |
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I'm pretty sure Steve Lehto did a story on this exact subject. It's entirely possible that the things that happened to the car weren't disclosed to CarFax either, especially if they wanted to sell it as "new". There are different standards as to what is "new" and you may have trouble finding out exactly what has happened to it unless you go straight to the top at the dealership... and don't leave without the full disclosure in writing. It's also possible you won't get squat for info from the dealership unless you have a lawyer contact them...
AMGtech - now with more recalls!
> Curbsenthusiasms
03/13/2015 at 15:49 |
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Yes. Definitely yes. Maybe even see if the DMV can tell you if it was previously registered. If it was out isn't a new car, regardless of mileage.
itschrome
> Curbsenthusiasms
03/13/2015 at 15:52 |
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OOOH, she's pretty! I hope you don't find they pulled a fast one!
Matsayz
> MonkeePuzzle
03/13/2015 at 15:52 |
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This.
Tina Corbett
> Curbsenthusiasms
03/13/2015 at 16:06 |
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Gimme the VIN and I'll run it for you.
MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
> themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
03/13/2015 at 16:06 |
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This all sounds legit.
It also sounds like the dealer should help him out with some stuff like fixing onstar up
ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable)
> Curbsenthusiasms
03/13/2015 at 16:06 |
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Could be that someone bought that car, and then decided they wanted something else and turned it back in.
I have seen that at the dealer I work for a couple times. If it isn't the very next day, the previous owner's info gets tied to the car in corporate systems and can be a small hassle to correct.
I wouldn't worry about it too much.
We had a car returned over a bad door handle. Yes, really. Because it would involve the removal of the interior door card, they refused that car. We fixed the handle and sold it again. Never told the new owner either, because it was just a trim piece and nothing to worry about.
Had it been body damage, we would have disclosed it.
m-b-w loves his SUBAROO
> Curbsenthusiasms
03/13/2015 at 16:15 |
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If the address that was recited is nearby, I'd go pay the person a visit to find out about the car.
Galileo Humpkins (aka MC Clap Yo Handz)
> Curbsenthusiasms
03/13/2015 at 16:20 |
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This is crazy timing because I was just thinking today about a guy I went to elementary and middle school with whose father was sold a car that had been previously sold and returned with under 100 miles on it (this was not disclosed). It was a BMW and we were pretty young so I don't remember all of the details but he did end up suing the dealer and won a huge chunk of money. Furthermore, I believe state law was soon changed to further protect the consumer as a result of this.
Anyway, I would be very very curious to know the situation of the ATS and get every fact that I possibly could because I hate this kind of shady shit (whether it's from a car dealer or just a local grocer).
Paging Mr. Lehto!
N51fanatic
> Curbsenthusiasms
03/13/2015 at 17:35 |
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Car was spotted pending financing, pending owner took said car home for weekend, financing fell through, had to bring it back?
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Curbsenthusiasms
> jariten1781
03/13/2015 at 17:52 |
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Agree full heartedly. I've approached my mother in the same fashion. She's happy, nothing is wrong and it has the full factory warranty. The big BUT here is that I'm a guy who believes in being fair, if something happened they should have just disclosed it...at $37k we were very happy with the purchase so "big deal" to any of those scenarios. They did play completely dumb with the wheels and perma plate when asked before purchase. I find it hard to believe the dealer would have no idea.
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Curbsenthusiasms
> Tina Corbett
03/13/2015 at 17:57 |
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1G6AB5SX8E0174494
Appreciate it! Thank you!