I am writing this letter in hopes that maybe there is something I can do about this Used car dealer. I am not the only person he has ripped off, but I don't think the other people he has sold to know about this website.
In January I had a 1978 Chevy Nova (The first car I owned) that was going dead and I decided I needed another car. So I went to an auto dealership around the corner from me, which my grandmother had bought cars from in the past, and trusted.
Hockaday's Used Cars. They had some pretty decent selections. I went one day and looked. (Now, keep in mind that I've never bought a car from a dealership before. I bought the Nova from a private owner in Newport News, VA.) I saw a 1994 Chevrolet Corsica 4DR with a 3.1L V6 (191hp).
I wasn't looking for anything sporty, I was looking for something sensible, and something that had good gas mileage. I bought the car ALL in cash for $3,747.69. It had 117,092 miles on it at the time of sale. The car looked great though. It ran like a dream, and held the road well. It did have some problems when I first drove it off the lot. All of which they fixed. These problems were:
-The hood latch cable was broken.
-The cigarette lighter didn't work (Which I needed for my charger)
-The trunk release button didn't work.
I figured this was normal, since it was a used car. So I wrote it off. The car then had some minor problems after that. I had to get the alternator and belt replaced about 6 months later. I expected that to happen. I'd driven cross-country with this car, and had put about 15,000 miles on it.
I was very obsessive about routine maintenance. I changed the oil religiously, as well as the radiator, and the transmission. I changed all of the fluids the day after I bought the car. And continued with the typical maintenance schedule. I put 65,000 miles on the car before about 3 days ago, when the engine's cam shaft and two rear pistons died.
Since I've had that car I've had to replace the oil pump, the fuel pump, 2 Coil packets (which is what regulates the spark), the power steering pully, and the high pressure power steering hose, as well as the EGR valve. I am thouroghly pissed at them, because the last time I took my car there about 6 months ago, I complained about the problems with my car, and they told me to shut up, get my s* together and leave. (and to not come back).
Now my car is sitting at Duke's Towing & Repair on 75th St.in Newport News, with a blown engine. I do not know what to do, and am at my wits end. I don't have the same job I did back then, (the company downsized) so paying cash for another car, AGAIN, is an unlikely possibility.
Now I am without a car, and have had my feathers ruffled more than once by this dealership. I have spoken to several other people about this dealership, and they have had problems that were worse than mine. As far as I know, this dealership has not gotten into any hot water, but I have heard some whisperings of out-of-court settlements.
If anyone can help me, I welcome the advice. I was thinking of taking them to small-claims court, but I can't. The only way I could get my money back is if I were still making payments on the car. Because according to VA Lemon law, if you buy the car from a used car dealership, in as-is condition, and in less than 75,000 miles, the engine becomes a total reconstructive loss (which means it would cost more to repair the car than what it is worth), then technically, the dealership can be held legally responsible for your loss.in this case it does not apply however, because I do not have a payment contract with the dealership. (I am not making payments). So now I have no recourse, other than to become bitter, and very angry, at the dealership right around the corner from me.
I would be very happy to provide more details upon request.
Yours Truly,
John M.
John
Newport News, Virginia
U.S.A.
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