Purchase Details:
I purchased the 1989 Toyota Supra VIN: JT2MA70J4K0136143 on Ebay item #: 2487595845 auction ending August 20 (today is Nov 28) for a total purchase price of $5500.00 ($1250 more than High book value) from Trenton Auto Sales in Trenton, New Jersey from Omar Rihan. It took another 2 weeks to receive the vehicle due to shipping scheduling arriving in Colorado mid September costing $900 to ship. Keep in mind that this vehicle was sold to me as a Mint Condition Collectors car as can be seen in the auction write-up.
Vehicle Problems Details:
I've put much less than 50 miles on the car since I received it in mid-September because it has so many problems and it is horrible to drive. The following is a list of the KNOWN problems with the car and I do have a video tape documenting these problems (listing below is for complaint purposes as well if you can please help).
1. Blows a ton of smoke out the exhaust upon startup and continues for 1-3 minutes depending on how long the car has sat. Also, after it has been idling there is still a small stream of something coming out the exhaust. Not sure if it is oil, raw fuel, etc. The longer the car sits before starting the more smoke blows out of the exhaust. After a week, the cloud will be very large extending to 8-10 feet in the air and bigger around than the vehicle is wide.
2. The valves are very noisy compared to my 1989 Toyota Cressida which has the same engine and 180,000 miles. This Supra ONLY has 57,000 miles! Also, the power of this vehicle is noticeably less than the Cressida which was a complete surprise since this is supposed to be the sports car.
3. Automatic transmission problem that has showed up periodically twice to be exact in less than 50 miles. At slow speeds less than 30 mph the transmission abruptly downshifted into first gear (I believe) causing the car to slow dramatically and me to be pushed forward into the seat belt. Shifting is also harsh at times.
4. After starting the vehicle when it sits for a week or so and you drive it you smell like fuel/oil. I liken the smell to a 2-stroke engine and it is similar to the way a person smells after riding a dirt bike.
5. The front-end (assuming suspension) is noisy when going over small road bumps causing a looseness feel.
6. There is excessive engine noise in the interior coming from the automatic transmission shifter location. I removed the interior center console to look at the shifter play and try and locate the cause of the noise. To my surprise, the rubber gasket wasn't on and you could see light. Also, it looks as if a large quantity of water has been entering the cabin as all of the bolts in the lower part of the dash, seat bolts and metal, interior bolts, etc. Are either rusted or severely corroded. This includes the bolts mounting the radio in place. There are a lot of mineral deposits on all of the components including the seat rails and console components indicating water damage. The entire car has a water-damage smell to it.
7. Accelerator pedal fell off of the shaft. The pedal was actually handed to me by the shipper after he drove it off of the truck.
8. Water damage to the radio in that the display has been damaged
9. Driver's seat belt lock broken and doesn't release without MAJOR pressure and effort.
10. Seat belt holders broken.
11. Power antenna broke
12. All wiper blades rubber is completely separated from
the metal frame
13. Dealer mentioned in the auction that the car had never been in an accident and a Car Fax documents an accident that occurred in 2000 with another vehicle.
14. Emergency brake cover completely shot or worn
15. Undisclosed body damage behind right front wheel where the trim no longer is attached
16. TAPs system doesn't appear to be working
17. The front left radio speaker is blown as well as the tweeter grill cloth is torn on both side doors
All these items as outlined do not represent a vehicle that is in mint and/or collectors condition.
Summary of Events:
Once the vehicle was unloaded and the driver made a couple comments about the condition of the car pointing out to me that the accelerator pedal had fallen off the rod assembly. He also noted that the automatic shifter on the transmission had 1-2 inches of play in it wiggling it from side to side this was ONLY the beginning of my problems with this vehicle! So I paid for shipping I began to inspect the vehicle. I decided to take the car to the dealership to see about fixing the accelerator pedal. I got in and drove to the dealership and when I got there attempted to unlatch the seat belt and it DIDN'T work. I tried for several minutes to unlatch it with no success. I ended up sliding up through the seat belt barely clearing the steering wheel and proceeded to find out about the problems on the car. I was told I needed to schedule an appointment and that it would be a minimum of $98! Frustrated, I left to go back home and call Omar at Trenton Auto Sales. Conveniently, Omar wasn't available.
Like I said, we haven't filed a claim sooner because we have been trying to get our $5500.00 back from Trenton Auto Sales since the day it was delivered to our door. We have been trying to resolve our DISHONEST purchase with over 100 contact (calls, emails and letters) to the seller - Omar and have been unsuccessful. As stated in the auction we were supposed to have purchased a "Mint Condition" collectors Toyota Supra and it is FAR from either.
In our many conversations will Omar Jr. (sold us the car) and Omar Sr. (owner of Trenton Auto Sales) we have been unsuccessful in getting a resolve to this misrepresented vehicle. On one conversation with Omar Jr., Omar Sr. And my wife, we were telling them about the engine and transmission problems. Omar Jr. Said that it is impossible the car left the dealership in perfect shape. Omar Jr. Went so far as to accuse my wife of replacing the transmission with a faulty one!
We paid for this car in a couple days after winning the auction with a cashiers check for $5500 and fully expected to get a car that was in mint and collectors condition. On one of the last conversations Omar Sr. Said that we need to send a video tape of these problems. We spoke further and agreed to sending the tape and the title back to Omar Sr. Expecting that we would receive a check for $5500 for the car. As of today, Trenton Auto Sales has our $5500 AND the title to the car!
The bottom line is that we promptly sent Trenton Auto Sales the money for this car and fully expected a vehicle in the condition that was described in the auction which reflecting back on the description is MINT and COLLECTORS CAR. To our shock and surprise the vehicle is very beat up and very dirty and has a great deal of mechanical and cosmetic damage.
The vehicle was taken to an Authorized Toyota Repair Shop and diaognosed with worn valve guides and a blown head gasket without tearing the engine down. He suspects much more damage will be uncovered as well. The total estimate came to $1742 without the transmission and other possible items.
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