I am an 18 year old college student who went with my family and boyfriend to purchase my first car at A&R Sales Auto Dealer when Rob Strouth came out to greet us. We told him I needed a car for college and work, one that looks cool but reliable, and within my budget. He commenced to show me 2 other cars that I did not like before he showed me the 2000 Toyota Celica. He described it to me as a "Fast Car", good gas mileage, reliable because his mechanic just installed a new engine because the girl who previously had it, ran it without oil, and ruined the engine. My family and I were excited because the car was nice and coincidently has a new engine. So essentially, I'm getting a used car with a "brand new engine", and by the way Rob described it... Life was going to be Good!
He gave me the keys to start it while he went to make a temp. Tag so I could test drive it. The car did not want to start and he quickly said it was due to the car sitting here for a couple of weeks and the new engine being "cold", and not "broken-in". He jumped-in the drivers seat, and finally started the car with a few adjustments. My dad looked under the hood and despite a light coat of dust, the engine was super clean. This reassured me and my family that Rob seemed to be legitimate. Once the car idled by itself, we started to get in to test drive it when my dad noticed that the stickers were expired, would that be a problem. Rob said " No problem, that is what the temp. Tag is for and I will have it inspected within the hour".
We test drove it, it seemed fine at the time, so I told him I did want it based on how he described it. He said he would need $2500.00 down with $275-$325 per month. This was more than my parents expected, but my dad saw how excited I was and asked Rob if he would give him $3000.00 could he make my monthly payments $225.00? He said "Sure" but it would have to be cash. My father only had $1500 cash on him so he cashed a check through my boyfriend for the remainding $1500 and we made the transaction. We went straight to the car wash to have it cleaned, then took it to have the oil changed while we were out to ensure there would be no problems.
All this happened on Friday 8/14/09 and on Sunday 8/16/09 The car overheated and it and left me stranded in a remote area by Joe Pool Lake that is approx. 8 miles from the house. There is no/poor cellphone reception in this area, but I managed to climb hill, where I did receive enough reception to start calls. I did call Rob Strouth that Sunday night, but I did not get a response. I tried calling several tow trucks to help me, and was unsuccessful. Finally, I called the Cedar Hill Police and an officer came to help me. He waited there until I did get tow service. Sunday nite ended at 1:30 am.
I called Rob on Monday and told him what had happened and he told me to have it towed to his mechanics shop. I told him I would call him back because I had to call my dad next. My dad went to the business and told Rob that his daughter just paid to have it towed to her apt, he should be fair and tow it to his mechanic... Rob agreed, and said he will be leaving for vacation tomorrow, but his mechanic will fix it and depending whose fault it was, that would determine who pays for the repairs, and if it turns-out both of us were at fault, we would split the cost (it would be around $700.00)... And we would handle all this whenever he got back from vacation next week.
Well, the car was ready the following week, and he told me he would add the $730.00 to the end of my note, to help me out. The problem was the thermostat was bad and made the car overheat and stop. I reminded him of what he told us before he went on vacation and he acted like he didnt hear me and told us we can either pay for the car or not, he doesn't care. My dad was upset because he now felt like I was being scammed, but told me not to say anything and just accept the "Help" at the end of my note. Before vacation, he guessed the cost of repairs, and when he billed mefor the repairs, he was "Right on the money". Once again, he reassured me the car had "another, new engine", and the car is "like-new" again".
One week later... The car breaks down again. I repeat the process of calling the mechanic and Rob, and he says he may need to adjust "something" because it's a new engine, and the mechanic will pick it up and look at it. Rob calls back two days later saying " It's a rod in the engine, it will need another new engine... It will be $2500.- $2800. For another engine, and he can help me out by giving me a week to pay for the new engine". I'm in a Private Business University, and I asked some of my professors... And they remarked " He is like an insane con-artist". Since the car does not run because it needs a new engine, my dad removed the car off the insurance on Oct. 02, and Rob repo'd the car on 10/13/09 because of this.
I called the police to report missing car, they told me Rob repo'd it. No letter. No call... No engine... No car... No money!!! When I tie-in everything Rob Strouth and his mechanic did to me and my family... I now know how he make his living... By scamming the public. My car, and others there on the lot are part of a repetetive scam. I would recommend viewing his books and I would bet Rob has a high turn-around on his cars by swindling the public out of bulk-down payments, with the intensions of repo-ing the car within the first two months... And repeating the cycle/scam over and over.
I am very disgusted by his deceptions, and I'm only 18. I really feel horrible not only because I have no car... But also because my family sacrificed all that money. My dad is a Disabled Veteran, and does not have that kind of money to throw away. This has been a Horrible experience for me and my family. Buyer Beware!!! Of this Company! It is my opinion that A&R Sales Auto Dealer has a "Scam-Ring" going on against the public that include Rob Strouth, Amy Strouth (A&R), and his mechanic that will leave you broke. His contracts cover every angle to ensure he ends-up with the vehicle within a 1-2 month period. Watch-Out!!!
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