DO NOT GIVE THEM A DEPOSIT OF ANY KIND UNTIL YOUR MECHANIC HAS CHECKED OUT THE VEHICLE!
Friday, Bill showed me a 2006 VW GLI. Nice ""looking"" car. Bill seems decent enough.
Airbag indicator was illuminated on dash. Bill said, just a sensor.
Brakes didn't feel right. Bill said, JUST RUST ON THE PADS FROM MOISTURE. When I pointed out they just picked up the car, as it had yet to be detailed, he said, RUST HAPPENS FAST.
Bill said he'd have them replaced if they needed it. I would just pay for the pads. Reasonable... if the brakes had reasonable/normal wear.
Tires were close to bald and uneven wear. Some had tread. Some were bald.
I told Bill new tires would have to be part of the deal. Bill assured me new tires would be on the vehicle and he would even come in Sunday if I needed him, too, as I told him I needed to leave on a trip Monday. I thanked him said Monday morning would be fine. He said he would be in at 10 and I would be out in 10 minutes. He also said while he could not get the car fully detailed in that time he would personally wash the dirty floor mats which were stored in the trunk of the vehicle.
I gave him $500 cash, signed a one-sheet that NO ONE SHOULD SIGN, and left.
I got there 10:05 Mon Morn. The old tires were still on the car and I later discovered the dirty floors mats were still in the trunk. In all fairness, the rest of the interior appeared to have literally received the once over.
I told Bill I needed to take the car to my mechanic before my family would kick in the 2K for me to seal the deal. He asked where I was taking it? I said CAPPS AUTMOTIVE. As I walked by the owner, his look of disdain was unmistakable. I got the feeling he knew all too well what happens when people take his cars to their mechanic!
My mechanic’s report:
• Abnormal wear on the inside tread of all 4 tires... Glad they had failed to replace the tires! It allowed us to see how messed up the alignment is.
• Oil leaking from at least three places from front to back.
• Brakes were not only worn, but the passenger rear was abnormally worn and documented.
• AIRBAG FAULT now flashed on the panel. This was much more than just a little airbag icon. My mechanic informed me this is due to the airbag having been deployed or tampered with… if it even still had an airbag at all. Now only they will know for sure.
Thank them and get back my $500, right?
The owner tells Bill to inform me, SPEND IT OR LOSE IT. The car they want me to spend it on doesn't even get in til Wednesday afternoon. They knew I had to head south immediately.
The one-sheet does not say “nonrefundable.”
Bill seems to think an airbag is an option. It is not considered an option when it is part of a car and presented as a safety feature which the GLI proudly boasts. It might as well be a malfunctioning seatbelt at that point.
The car was either fraudulently or cluelessly presented… since even after my mechanic went down there and explained it to Bill, I will let you decide which one you think it is. Not giving back my money when I never took delivery of the car and it was shown to have endless problems and safety issues… makes one go Hmmmm.
Mistakes can happen. Follow me, Money back would mean they didn’t know the car was so messed up and they wanted to make good. Keeping my money means they knew fully well and refused to give back $500 because their business practices are questionable at best. Reasonable?
HOW DOES THIS STORY END, JEFF? WE ALL WANT TO KNOW?
Your last statement was, “TAKE ME TO COURT!”
STAY TUNED!
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