On September 8th I purchase a 2003 Volkswagen GTI from the used car department at Gunther Volkswagen of Coconut Creek. The car had 11,881 miles on it with a price tag of 23,987.00 and was advertised as a Certified Used Vehicle which is a 70 point inspection which is an inspection done by the dealers service department.
I took it for a test ride looked over it everything looked fine except it was traded in by a previous owner with an aftermarket air intake. I negotiate the price to 21201.50 with the sales person she presents it to the sales floor manger who made a big stink on the price they were going to let it go for. They told me they would need more money in order for the dealer to sell the car to me certified. I tried to negotiate it but no luck. I told the sales person I would purchase the vehicle on one condition they would give me the OEM stock air intake. I asked if this was the only thing aftermarket they stated yes.
I figured since it still had the manufacture warranty on it I shouldn't have to worry. On the night of September 11th my car starts to make a noise from the enginetransmission area. I called Gunther VW in the morning and explain the situation and have the car flatbed to the dealership. The service advisor gives me a call and asked if anyone has done work to my car I stated aside from routine maintenance no. He goes on to explain to me there were aftermarket pullies installed on the engine which caused my flywheel to break off causing all kinds of engine damage.
I stated to him I had no recollection of this and the vehicle was sold to me exactly the way it is. He explains to me the VW manufacture will not honor this repair because of the pullies being the direct result of what happen and it would cost approximately 5000.00 to repair. I was outraged and told him your dealership needs to take care of this then. Since then the dealer agreed to only move 1000.00 off the total cost. I would have never bought this car if I was made aware of these aftermarket pullies on the engine this is a heavy engine modification which voided my manufacture warranty with out my knowledge.
The service department must have missed this because when I asked the service advisor if this would have passed for a certified used vehicle with aftermarket pullies he stated no. So why was it advertised as a certified used vehicle? I called Volkswagen manufacture to put in a complaint now I'm being accused of putting the aftermarket pullies on.
A Dan Brawn who handles the inspection of traded in vehicles stated the pullies were not on the vehicle at the time of inspection when it was sold to me. Sounds like someone is trying to cover their behind. If that is so why is the dealer ship crediting me 1000.00 toward my repair? Sounds awfully fishy to me. Stay as far away from this dealer and if you do buy from them get your own mechanic that way they would be looking out for your interest and not theirs.
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