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My Salesperson Misled Me

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  • mcdawggmcdawgg Member Posts: 1,722
    I have noticed that when I change the oil on a brand new Toyota that the O ring gasket on the oil filter was red, not the usual black color. I figured that Toyota did this to combat the people who cried "sludge" but really never changed the oil.
  • jipsterjipster Member Posts: 6,296
    Hooked on phonics anyone? I wrote earlier that only a visual inspection would be required. No way I'm going to "deflower" my own automobile. :P
    2021 Honda Passport EX-L, 2020 Honda Accord EX-L, 2011 Hyundai Veracruz, 2010 Mercury Milan Premiere.
  • madmanmoomadmanmoo Member Posts: 2,039
    Hooked on Phonics worked for me! So stop taking your car's virginity, Jip!

    -moo
  • lemkolemko Member Posts: 15,261
    450hp bread truck?!?!? Forget the little old lady from Pasedena and her Super Stock Dodge. Doug driving the Tastykake truck is the one to beat!!!
  • mattandimattandi Member Posts: 588
    No way I'm going to "deflower" my own automobile.

    Wait. You want someone else to deflower your car??!!??? You might want to talk that over with the car before making any long term commitments. You know, just so you can't be accused of being misleading.
  • roadburnerroadburner Member Posts: 18,331
    Don't take this for gospel but this is how Toyota determined a lot of customers were not changing the oil on the sludge engines. The original oil filters were still on the vehicles.

    I'm obsessive about maintaining my power equipment and vehicles properly- from my mowers to my 1999 Wrangler to my 2007 Mazda. I just cannot understand why someone would buy a nice car and then ignore, cut corners, or otherwise cheap-out on maintenance and repairs. A friend of mine used to be the General Manager of a BMW/Porsche/Audi store. Customers would bring their cars in for service and would swear up and down that they hadn't taken their car to Jiffy Boob. The service tech would then take them into the shop and show them where one of the Boobster's chimpanzees had stripped out the oil pan drain plug threads and replaced the metal plug with a rubber substitute.
    All without telling the customer of course.

    Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
    Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
    Son's: 2018 330i xDrive

  • jeepboy08jeepboy08 Member Posts: 49
    As the title says, I am going to buy a Wrangler, but first, I want to talk to people who have bought wranglers in the past.

    here are my main questions:

    1) I drive a 2005 Dodge Neon SXT, 5-speed manual, and I have never driven a manual SUV. Is it much different than that of a sports car?

    2) Pros and Cons of the 2007-2008 Wrangler?

    3) We also own a 2005 Jeep liberty, Special Edition, 3.7L 4X4, 4-speed auto. Does the 2008 Wrangler drive anything like the 2005 Liberty?

    Please answer ASAP!
  • lrguy44lrguy44 Member Posts: 2,197
    How many forums is this posted on? Best bet for an answer is on Jeep forums.
  • jeepboy08jeepboy08 Member Posts: 49
    As for now, only 3. I am not going to post it anymore, but I really want to get some information.

    :D

    Think you could help?
  • wlbrown9wlbrown9 Member Posts: 867
    One more note on DisneyWorld timing. Wife used to sponsor JV cheerleading and my daughter still works for the company that puts them on. I looked on their web site and starting about Jan18 - Mid March there will be various cheer or dance competitions as DW. Everything from Jr High to College. So, you might want to plan around that if you can.
  • verdugoverdugo Member Posts: 2,288
    One more note on DisneyWorld timing. Wife used to sponsor JV cheerleading and my daughter still works for the company that puts them on. I looked on their web site and starting about Jan18 - Mid March there will be various cheer or dance competitions as DW. Everything from Jr High to College. So, you might want to plan around that if you can.

    You mean, to make sure he's there during those dates? :P
  • Kirstie_HKirstie_H Administrator Posts: 11,242
    Hey folks, this has wondered quite a bit, and we need to stay closer to topic. People have a reasonable expectation that the majority of the conversation is relevant to the topic title. We have a ton of other discussions, including the off-topic board, for the other stuff.

    Also, a few inappropriate posts have been removed.

    MODERATOR /ADMINISTRATOR
    Find me at kirstie_h@edmunds.com - or send a private message by clicking on my name.
    2015 Kia Soul, 2021 Subaru Forester (kirstie_h), 2024 GMC Sierra 1500 (mr. kirstie_h)
    Review your vehicle

  • wlbrown9wlbrown9 Member Posts: 867
    Just be warned. Of course the 12 year old + 3 years would like to be there for the Jr High and High School groups. Poor ole dad would/should probably be looking after the cheer moms if he know what is good for him... Or just avoid them at all costs :-) Could be dangerous to the health if the WIFE notices a roving eye.
  • madmanmoomadmanmoo Member Posts: 2,039
    Ok, since you posted in the "My Salesperson Misled Me" forum. Are you expecting me to lead you in the wrong direction? I want to make this clear before I answer.

    Thanks!

    -moo
  • qbrozenqbrozen Member Posts: 33,737
    good point, moo.

    jeepboy, you can get one for $15k and they get 35 mpg! What's not to love! Sign here, please!

    '11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S

  • madmanmoomadmanmoo Member Posts: 2,039
    I'll do $13k and I'll make sure you get 40+ mpg. Thanks for your business!

    -moo
  • blueiedgodblueiedgod Member Posts: 2,798
    Don't take this for gospel but this is how Toyota determined a lot of customers were not changing the oil on the sludge engines. The original oil filters were still on the vehicles.

    What happens when the dealership cuts corners?

    I usually do the oil changes on my G/F's Escape, but in the winter, when it is really cold, I tell her to take it in to Ford. So, when I was doing the oil change last spring, after she has taken it to the dealership in the winter, I found my old filter was still on. The reason I know is bacause I used Advance Auto Parts Orange cans with black grippy area on it, and Ford is supposed to use Motorcraft. I highly doubt that the dealership is using Advance Auto filters instead of Motorcraft. I told her not to take it there anymore. Who know what kind of oil, if any they are putting in the crankcase.
  • mackabeemackabee Member Posts: 4,709
    I would drain the oil and put new oil in it. Who knows? they might have put peanut oil in there instead of the dyno stuff. Some dealerships are really dumb. They say oil and filter change or oil change only.?
    At my store the prices for the oil changes are right behind the service advisors station and it clearly states oil and filter change.
    Mack
    Ps. trust but verify. I always check the oil and filter after an oil change. If the oil is nice and honey colored we're good to go. Only once did them mess up the drain plug thread but they fixed it and let me know about it.
    Mack :shades:
  • jeepboy08jeepboy08 Member Posts: 49
    So you are telling me that you can sale me a 2008 Jeep wrangler, that gets 35mpg? For 15k?

    And how many wrecks has it been in?

    HAHA.
  • mako1amako1a Member Posts: 1,855
    Be a real sport of a dad. Wait for the new Camaros coming out and get him a V8.

    Since you're accepting opinions...Jeep is junk, Chrysler is junk, all of Mopar is junk.

    All of Honda and Toyota line is good and some Chevys and Fords are good. Corvette is excellent, but ill advised for a 16 yo.

    2013 Mustang GT, 2001 GMC Yukon Denali

  • jeepboy08jeepboy08 Member Posts: 49
    i don't know about you, but i don't want to pay Sky-Rocketed insurance bill.
  • mako1amako1a Member Posts: 1,855
    then Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, Scion TC or XB are very reasonable choices. Jeep is a poor choice.

    Sorry, I went into the "if I had a rich dad when I was 16 mode".

    I hope you took it in jest as I said it. ps I'm not a salesperson and didn't want to mislead you.

    2013 Mustang GT, 2001 GMC Yukon Denali

  • jeepboy08jeepboy08 Member Posts: 49
    haha, no pun intended?

    Anyway, i understand what you are talking about.

    Why do you think so poorly about jeeps?
  • mako1amako1a Member Posts: 1,855
    Resale is miserable. I'm assuming 4WD which is more costly to insure and drive. If things go terribly wrong and you have to unload a jeep the value is half what you paid as soon as it leaves the dealer's lot. If 2WD, takers are rare and if 4WD, buyer will assume it was used for hill climb or rock crawling no matter how it looks. Again, just my opinion.

    2013 Mustang GT, 2001 GMC Yukon Denali

  • elmira1elmira1 Member Posts: 5
    So after posting here and talking to some other people, apparently using new cars as "donors" is fairly common.

    My next question is, what if it's the Powertrain Control Unit that has been replaced? From what I understand, this is the "brain" of the car. What are your thoughts on a major component being replaced?
  • cccompsoncccompson Member Posts: 2,382
    I wouldn't be concerned about it.
  • mackabeemackabee Member Posts: 4,709
    Hmm. automotive brain surgery. Elmira, with todays electronic components that is probably one of the easiest jobs to do. All it takes is unplugging the wire harness and re plugging on the new unit.
    Mack
  • elmira1elmira1 Member Posts: 5
    Alright, thanks. Wasn't sure if it was a plug-n-play kind of deal or if it involved taking apart the whole engine.
  • snakeweaselsnakeweasel Member Posts: 19,592
    well legally speaking once the contract is signed you have an enforceable contract. How you want to handle things afterwards is up to you (as in it may not be worth it to force the customer to live up to their agreement).

    2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D

  • snakeweaselsnakeweasel Member Posts: 19,592
    Hooked on phonics anyone?

    Huked on foniks wurked fur me.

    2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D

  • elmira1elmira1 Member Posts: 5
    The dealer called me a little while ago and explained that they also took 3 additional parts out of the car (said he didn't know what they were), and it would be 7-10 days before I could take delivery. He then told me that he'd rather cancel the deal and sell it to someone else for more money (meaning someone who is ignorant of the service history of the car, I'm sure). No way in hell do I want to give them any money after all this drama, so I'm fine with canceling. We'll see when my deposit shows back up on my debit card...

    What a mess.
  • mackabeemackabee Member Posts: 4,709
    Sounds like a crappy dealership. I wouldn't darken their doors anymore. The first thing they should have done was offer you another car. If they took parts out of the one you were going to buy and then found out it was to be sold your salesperson and sales manager should have called you and explained the situation and offer an alternative.
    Sounds like a shady dealership. I'm sure they had more than one car like yours in stock.
    The dealer was totally unprofessional in saying they wish to cancel the deal and selling it to someone else for more money. Sounds like they renege on their word.
    Swapping parts out of one car to fix another is common practice at most dealerships from what I read and I've seen it done at my store too. However, we put a sign on the car "Do not drive or sell, parts on order" and the service writer takes the main keys so the car won't be shown to anybody. We don't do it much since our distributor stock most parts and if we order before 2pm the part is at our doorstep at 5am the next day.
    Good luck on your vehicle search and let us know how it goes.
    Mack
  • obyoneobyone Member Posts: 7,841
    All the honda dealerships in Hawaii suck. Order one from isell and have him ship it...
  • mackabeemackabee Member Posts: 4,709
    Now there's an idea!
  • oldfarmer50oldfarmer50 Member Posts: 24,203
    "...Would probably have to look at when they have a 21/2 day minibreak..."

    We did it on the V day weekend. Only took the kids out of school for Thursday and Friday. As a bonus we got to watch the space shuttle launch from our hotel room.

    My salesman did not mis-lead me.

    2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible

  • jipsterjipster Member Posts: 6,296
    Call their bluff. Call them back and say you still want the car. I bet they come up with even more excuses and delays. Why? They don't have that car. It's already been sold to someone else. :surprise:
    2021 Honda Passport EX-L, 2020 Honda Accord EX-L, 2011 Hyundai Veracruz, 2010 Mercury Milan Premiere.
  • jeepboy08jeepboy08 Member Posts: 49
    For the past ten years, we HAD bought from this one dealership. "Greater Birmingham, Dodge, Chrysler, Jeep." About 4 years ago, Chrysler cleaned out the place, and started from scratch, and about that time, and a while before, we said that we would never buy from them again. Well, we decided, we need a new car, and they have everything new (THIS was in 2007). So we got here, and we were going to trade our neon in for a 2008 jeep wrangler XS, flaming red, 4X4, nothing fancy. They offer us 5,500 for the neon, which is reasonable due to the amount of wear and tear on the car. But that still left us with 8,000 we owe on the car (it is only a 2005). The salesman comes out and says, "I want to just buy the damn thing from you, and pay for everything!" SO we were kind of excited, and we talked to the manager about it, and he said, "I don't care HOW long you've been with us! We're not paying your car off!" My wife gets really masd, and goes and sits out in the car, while I have to deal with this jerk. Yes I know, he doesn't seem like one. He was going to try and rip us off. 26,000 for an '08 Stock wrangler XS. We got him down to 19,990. ANYWAY, bottomline, is that they were misleading us by telling us that they would pay off our car, and then completely going AGAINST that. Oh well, life goes on.

    :(
  • joel0622joel0622 Member Posts: 3,299
    Wait. You want someone else to deflower your car??!!???

    In some country's it is considered an honor to have the village chief deflower your car. It is just another accepted practice in other country's that we here in America do not understand so we think therefore it must be wrong.
  • madmanmoomadmanmoo Member Posts: 2,039
    I have personally deflowered 15 new automobiles.

    CLEAN UP ON THE DETAIL BAY!!!

    :blush:
    -moo
  • cccompsoncccompson Member Posts: 2,382
    I'm with jipster here. My bet is that they never took any parts off the damn thing in the first place. If you've got a signed contract (by them), make them honor it. If they won't adhere to it, buy the same car at another store and file a small claim case for the difference you'll have coming from them.
  • jipsterjipster Member Posts: 6,296
    I have personally deflowered 15 new automobiles.

    Gives new meaning to the term "lube job". :sick:
    2021 Honda Passport EX-L, 2020 Honda Accord EX-L, 2011 Hyundai Veracruz, 2010 Mercury Milan Premiere.
  • jipsterjipster Member Posts: 6,296
    I'm with jipster here...

    Damn straight!

    I'm almost tempted to fly out to Hawaii on my personal jet to check out this dealership myself. They've pulled out 4 parts and don't know what any of them are?
    I'd bet if you ran a VIN# check on that car it was sold a week ago. More than likely it is as the salesman said though, They probably found someone who liked the color or whatever, and was willing to pay more. :surprise:
    2021 Honda Passport EX-L, 2020 Honda Accord EX-L, 2011 Hyundai Veracruz, 2010 Mercury Milan Premiere.
  • madmanmoomadmanmoo Member Posts: 2,039
    ;)

    -moo
  • mackabeemackabee Member Posts: 4,709
    They will pay off your car, the downside is if you are upside down (owe more on the car than what it's worth as a trade) then the difference is added to the selling price of the new car.
    :shades:
  • mattandimattandi Member Posts: 588
    Well, this new development certainly changes my take on the whole deal. Sounds like they're jerking you around. I agree with others, it sounds like they already sold the car to someone else.

    On the plus side, this turned into a really good "My salesperson misled me" story. Hope you get your deposit back quickly.
  • joel0622joel0622 Member Posts: 3,299
    Call in on a sales call and ask if they have a new what ever car it is you were buying in stock, or check there web site, if it is still there call in and ask if they still have stock # 12345 in stock.
  • jpvwaudijpvwaudi Member Posts: 139
    Sir, you are misinformed. Anyone in the car business will tell you that the only American cars that hold any respectable residual value are the Jeep Wrangler and the Chevrolet Corvette. Half its value? Try Jaguar, Suzuki and Kia.
  • qbrozenqbrozen Member Posts: 33,737
    And how many wrecks has it been in?

    Oh, its a clean carfax, so it must be an accident-free car. :)

    '11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S

  • joel0622joel0622 Member Posts: 3,299
    Sir, you are misinformed. Anyone in the car business will tell you that the only American cars that hold any respectable residual value

    Actually what they (we) will tell you is that residual value don't mean squat. What car is worth at the end of a lease has no bearing what so ever to what one is worth on trade.
  • madmanmoomadmanmoo Member Posts: 2,039
    God, isn't that the truth.

    -moo
This discussion has been closed.