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03/05/08
BUYER BEWARE!
by goodgrazer at Citysearch
I bought a "new" sports car here that had in fact sustained front end damage as well as engine damage before it was fixed up with replacement parts and put on the new car lot. I only found out when I decided to sell and had it inspected by a major appraiser near the airport, who showed me all the tell-tale signs. The car was worth about $8,000 less than it would have been without prior damage.
When I went back to this dealership and confronted the branch manager Alex, from whom I had bought the car just a year earlier, he admitted to knowing about the damage and basically said, "It was a legitimate deal, but I guess I should have told you." Which leads me to believe HE DOES THIS ALL THE TIME! Unfortunately, the government agency that is supposed to protect consumers also considers a car with a certain percentage of replacement parts "new". I'd suggest AVOIDING THIS DEALERSHIP, but in general, getting history on the VIN # even if it's listed as new AND if possible, having it inspected by an appraiser because If no accident report was filed, it won't be in the VIN #s history.
- Pros: Convenient Location
- Cons: SELL REFURBISHED CARS AS NEW
