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cars
general motors
Maybe GM Can't Sell Cars Because Its Dealerships Won't Sell Them
Consumerist reader Chris decided to take advantage of GM's please-buy-a-car Employee Discount sale that we wrote about yesterday, so he headed off to two different dealerships in the NY/NJ area. What he found were deserted showrooms with salesmen who ignored him or argued with him over the existence of specific models he'd looked at online. He adds, "tonight I’m off to Toyota for some hard numbers on a Corolla and Camry." More »
suvs
Ditching Your Gas-Guzzling SUV Could Be More Expensive Than You Think
SUVs are worth so little that it could take 15 years for a more fuel efficient vehicle to pay for itself in gas savings. Before rushing to trade-in your gas-guzzler, do the math and make sure it isn't economical to hold onto your unfashionable behemoth. Here are three questions to consider... More »
Non-Starter
Best Buy Tries To Install Remote Starter, Wrecks New Nissan Altima
While cramming a remote starter into Andrew's new Nissan Altima, Best Buy managed to break the car's locking system, window controls, and a brake light. Andrew hauled the crippled car back to the dealership, which immediately blamed Best Buy for burning out the car's wiring, and told Andrew that the parasitic system had to go. Best Buy defended their quality workmanship, and refused to issue a refund unless Andrew signed a waiver absolving them of any responsibility for damaging the car. More »
heartless
Poor Howard Castleman. All he wanted was a little PR for his car dealership. Castleman planned to give four scholarships to students at Patterson High School in Baltimore, but instead of honoring Castleman's charity by inviting the media and displaying his dealership's banner at the senior's farewell ceremony, the school instead decided to honor a long-time teacher who recently died of a heart attack...
More »
Castle Toyota Rescinds Scholarships After Students Decide To Mourn Their Dead Teacher Instead Of Staging A Commercial
Poor Howard Castleman. All he wanted was a little PR for his car dealership. Castleman planned to give four scholarships to students at Patterson High School in Baltimore, but instead of honoring Castleman's charity by inviting the media and displaying his dealership's banner at the senior's farewell ceremony, the school instead decided to honor a long-time teacher who recently died of a heart attack...
More »
credit cards
New Car? Put It On The Credit Card
Why should dealers tell you what you can and can't charge to your credit card? Cars represent a jackpot of credit rewards that every consumer is entitled to collect. There's nothing stopping from charging your new car straight to your credit card, if you storm the dealership armed with the right tools... More »
The Brits are amused by a Missouri car dealership that is rewarding buyers with either a $250 gas card or a gun. According to owner Mark Muller, everyone chose the gun, "except one guy from Canada and one old guy." Muller, whose sales have quadrupled since the start of the offer, explains to the BBC: "We're just damn glad to live in a free country where you can have a gun if you want to." [BBC] (Thanks to Jodie!)
success stories
8 Monthlong Dodge Charger Problem Fixed After Consumerist Post
Whenever Brian drove his Dodge Charger in the rain, all the dash lights flashed and he had trouble restarting his car, but after 8 months of strife, his problem got fixed after his story posted to The Consumerist. The next day after the post went up, Brian got a call from Paul at Danbury Dodge, his dealership. Paul wanted Brian to bring his car in so the Chrysler tech could inspect it. Brian brought in the car during a rainy day, the problems were recreated, and the Chrysler tech diagnosed and fixed the problem in less than four hours. On repeated visits before this, the dealership kept claiming they couldn't recreate the problem. A rep for Chrysler VP TP Lassdora also called Brian up, apologized profusely, and offered five years of free oil changes and extended Brian's service contract. "In the end, I believe that the Consumerist story forced Chrysler to get involved, whereas Danbury Dodge was content to ignore my complaints," writes Brian. "Thank you to the staff and the readers of the Consumerist for motivating Chrysler and Danbury Dodge to fix my car." Inside, the original video showing how Brian's dashboard reacted in the rain.
UPDATE: Brian says the tech said the root problem was frayed and rubbing wires.
More »
complaints
BMW Dealer Refuses To Honor eBay Sale
UPDATE: Facing Online Onslaught, Dealership Honors eBay Sale
15 minutes after Ken won a no-reserve eBay auction for a new BMW 3 Sedan for $60,000, he says a salesman at BMW of Lincoln nervously called him up and said that the price was a "mistake." "When I pressed the issue and raised the possibility of legal action," Ken wrote on the m3post.com forums, "this guy had the nerve to condescendingly laugh and say we are a multi-billion dollar company, ebay will definitely side with us." Actually, that's not how eBay works. eBay says its sales are legally binding contracts. Ken has already started the dispute resolution process and eBay seems inclined in his favor. If the dealership loses the appeal, they will also lose their eBay seller account.
BMW dealer auctions new M3 for $60K on eBay, doesn't want to honor the deal [AutoBlog] (Thanks to everyone who sent this in!)
Won ebay auction at 60K for E90 M3, BMW of Lincoln refusing to honor [m3post]
[eBay Auction]
videos
Whenever Brian drives his Dodge Charger in the rain, all of the dash lights flash and has trouble restarting his car. He's taken the car to the dealership multiple times, but they say they're never able to recreate the problem. Above are two screencaps of the video he took last time this occurred. He's now taken to writing a letter to Chrysler CEO Big Bob Nardelli, which is most likely a futile effort. You might instead email Cerberus, the company that now owns Chrysler's ass. Maybe the dealership will find it's able to recreate the flashing signals if Brian rides along the next time they test the car. Maybe call the Car Talk radio show. Inside, a video of this bizzare phenom in action, and his letter to the CEO.
More »
All The Dashboard Lights Flash Whenever I Drive My Dodge Charger In The Rain
Whenever Brian drives his Dodge Charger in the rain, all of the dash lights flash and has trouble restarting his car. He's taken the car to the dealership multiple times, but they say they're never able to recreate the problem. Above are two screencaps of the video he took last time this occurred. He's now taken to writing a letter to Chrysler CEO Big Bob Nardelli, which is most likely a futile effort. You might instead email Cerberus, the company that now owns Chrysler's ass. Maybe the dealership will find it's able to recreate the flashing signals if Brian rides along the next time they test the car. Maybe call the Car Talk radio show. Inside, a video of this bizzare phenom in action, and his letter to the CEO.
More »
hidden fees
If You Buy A Car (Okay, Truck) In Texas, Make Sure You Don't Pay The Inventory Tax
Texas levies an inventory tax of .02% on the retail value of all products in a company's inventory each year, but lots of car dealerships try to sneak the fee over to the consumer. Even worse, they do it year-round. A reader writes in to explain how you can argue your way out of it at the dealership.More »
bad salesmen
Nissan Dealership Won't Refund Deposit
Jay writes in with a question: how do you get back your deposit from a car dealership when a deal goes sour? The salesman jacked up the price after an initial negotiation, and now won't refund the deposit: "He said we'd be surprised at what he can make up to keep the deposit."More »
contracts
Dealership Tells Customer Abitration Is Awesome For Corporations
Sean writes: "The wife and I were purchasing a car this weekend. After the typical pulling of teeth to get a price quote over email, we headed into the dealership on Saturday to finalize the deal. We were finally ushered into the finance guy's office, pitched the warranty, gap insurance, etc., and got to the contract itself. I looked over the agreement and saw the 'binding arbitration' clause. Knowing it wasn't a battle I could win, nor an issue I could avoid by shopping elsewhere, I let it go with a simple, "I don't like the binding arbitration clause." To my surprise, he responded, "Arbitration is the best thing invented for corporations!" More »
complaints
Dealer Sells Car Touting Safety Features It Doesn't Actually Have
Ben writes:
A friend of mine bought a 2005 Toyota 4 Runner for about $25000. When he went to the dealer, he told them that safety was a big concern as he has small children, and he wanted to get as many safety features as he could on the vehicle he was going to buy. The saleswoman showed him the 4 Runner he ended up buying and pointed out that it had side and curtain airbags, which were listed on the sticker. He bought it, and a week later he took it to get inspected. It turns out that it does not have the side and curtain airbags that are listed on the sticker. He went back to the dealership and spoke to the manager who offered him a few free oil changes, and tried to tell him that that year didn't even come with those airbags so what was he complaining about. What should he do? They already got rid of the truck he traded in, and is thinking that the dealer owes him some cash back on the deal.Classic bait and switch. If your friend wants to take the guy to the mat, he could try to ask for a rebate for what he feels the cash value of those safety features are. I recommend the tactics described in the post, "How To Kick A Scammy Car Dealer In The Nuts."
(Photo: Getty)
saving
Indiana Man Buys Pickup Truck With Spare Change
Paul Brant of Indiana bought a 2008 Dodge Ram with quarters and gold dollars worth $26,670. The septuagenarian spent thirteen years collecting enough loose change to buy the new pickup, which will replace the Dodge he purchased in 1994 with 144,000 quarters. Brant's revolutionary method for collecting spare change, after the jump. More »
cars
Get Used Cars Inspected Before Buying
This month's USAA member newsletter has twelve Car-Buying Secrets from a former car salesman who got out after 6 months in the biz. One of the things he advocated was when shopping for a used car...
...take your potential purchase to your mechanic for an independent inspection. A good tech will spot hidden problems. Independent inspections usually run $75to$100. It's the best 100 bucks you'll ever spend on a car.That shiny apple may contain a lemon inside. Have an expert peel back the skin so you're not stuck with unexpected and costly repairs down the line.
(Photo: DCvision2006)
complaints
Reader Falls Victim To Spot Delivery Dealership Scam
Andriy writes:
It seems as I'm falling a victim to a Yo-Yo Car Financing | Spot Delivery Scam from a car dealer...More »I purchased a new Toyota (scion) vehicle at a dealership exactly 2 weeks ago. I drove away. The total price was $20600 - I left a $500 down-payment. 13% APR in my contract. $470 payments for 60 months. Finance manager pressured me into purchasing GAP and extended warranty (around $2100 total) saying that banks would likely grant me a loan if I show them I'm serious about investment. Well, my credit is sub-prime (620 FICO) with few accts that are almost falling off and 2 recent ones for a few hundred bucks. But I still smelled something fishy though...
cars
10 Things To Never Say To A Car Dealer
ForbesAutos has ten things you should never say to a car dealer, unless you feel like beefing up his kid's college fund. Hit the link to find out their rationale. The basic premise is hide your assets and weaknesses until the right moment, to not say stupid crap, and watch out for the little maneuvers that hand over control to the salesman.
10. "I think you can do a lot better than that."
9. "Sure, I'll look at the numbers with you."
8. "What's the lowest price you can give me?"
7. "I'll take whatever the popular options are."
6. "Oh, I've wanted one of these all my life."
5. "I'm not sure...which model do you think I need?"
4. "I'm only buying the car with cash."
3. "Yes, I have a trade-in."
2. "I can afford this much per month."
1. "I'm ready to buy now."
Things to Never Say to a Dealer [ForbesAutos]
