I went to Patriot Motors because I needed a car and my credit isn't the greatest. I kinda knew What I was in for because of this, but their salesman put a whole new spin on lying.
When I first stepped on the lot, I noticed two signs hanging right on the front of their business: No Money Down Just pay the sales tax and drive today; and Every car comes with a xxxmile or xxday warranty.
I thought "okay, that's pretty good." When the salesman approached and asked what I was looking for I pointed out the no money down sign and told him I was looking for a car in the $4-5k range since that was the only cash I had for the taxes.
He quickly pointed out two cars and told me they were in the $4-5k range. I chose the 01 Malibu and took it for a test drive. No problems, run good, looked exceptional, etc. Went back to the dealer and that's when the lies and double talk started.
I told the salesman to run the paperwork and I waited. The salesman had nothing to do with the paperwork, it was some other guy, and no less than three different people asked what I had to pay down. I told all of them I had the amount equal to sales tax.
Now, when the paperwork was done, I was called to the back office to sign and give up my cash. The papers that were slid across the desk to me were unbelievable. The asking price was $8700 and the taxes were to be $850. I scanned the paper and told the man, this is not what the salesman had told me, it being $3500 more than what I said I could afford. He told me the salesmen didn't know the prices of the cars and that is what he was there for.
I told him I only had $450 to pay on taxes and he said he would have to run the paperwork again. An hour later he had me a new deal. The asking price came down to $6700 and the down payment was set at $800 plus taxes in the amount of $625. Again I told the guy I didn't have that much, but he just said that was just paperwork for the lending company, and all I had to give him was $600. Again, "all I have is $450." Well, we can do that he says. So Like an idiot I signed.
Left the lot and made it 7miles, yes I said 7 MILES, and the check engine light comes on. Stopped at a pay phone and called them and they told me it was as is no warranty. I reminded him of his sign stating that EVERY car comes with this warranty and he told me that was not the case. I asked him if the sign was just a lie, and he told me, "Of course it is!"
Got the car home and the very next day, it started running really bad: spitting, sputtering, no power. Took it to my mechanic who said the #5 injector was bad and could be replaced for $483. Called Patriot again and told them of my situation, and they told me if I could bring the car back, they would have their mechanic look at it and fix it for cost. I asked to speak to the mechanic, and he told me the injector would cost $525 but I wouldn't have to pay for labor. I told him that my mechanic said $483 including labor and he said I should just have my mechanic fix it. Duh!
The car has had a few more minor problems since, but that's what you get buying a used car. My concern is the way they do business. They tell you a false price to get you in a car, they falsified the paperwork to get it financed, they straight out LIED about the warranty, and once I was off the lot they acted as if I was some sort of scam artist trying to rip them off. I will NEVER do business there again, and strongly suggest that nobody else does. A couple months of ZERO sales and these rip-offs would be out of business.
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