This summer my mother, brother and sister-in-law went to Price Point Auto in Traverse City, MI looking for a family vehicle. We are all adults and wanted to find something such as an S.U.V. For when we all go somewhere or if someone needed to borrow a vehicle for a while. The family had bought cars from Bill Marsh Auto in the past and had been happy with the purchases. This time was different.
The family found a 1993 Nissan Pathfinder that would fit our needs both for payments and comfort to drive. At the time of purchase while Mother was signing the papers they were informed repeatedly that it was an AS IS sale. Yet again knowing that we had no trouble with the other vehicles from Bill Marsh Auto we felt secure in the purchase, I mean they had never done us wrong so nothing should this time. WRONG.
Within less than a two week's time the vehicle left the family stranded on a Saturday outing and had to be towed to a garage for failure to run. Then two days after having the Nissan back home it overheated again. Another trip to the garage occurred.
During this time a call was made to the salesman from which we bought the vehicle. My brother was informed that it was an AS IS sale and the 5 day money back guarantee had expired. The Nissan was in for repair no less than half a dozen times before an inkling of the trouble was found-head gasket, water heater, etc.
Several blood pressures in the family were sky high due to the fact that my 68 year old mother living on S.S. Was now the proud owner of a big lemon that would cost thousands of dollars to repair. My brother and sister in law contacted the salesman several times to find some sort of resolve for this massive problem and Price Point finally came through. Their solution was to buy a brand new vehicle! Yes, that is exactly what we wanted to do! The only way that we would get anything from the Nissan that was in our possession less than 3 months was to trade it in for $1000.00 on a new Hyundai, which Bill Marsh Auto happens to sell. Mom's payments are now more than double from the Nissan and insurance is up at least $50.00 more a month.
I went up to Price Point to look around at their used vehicles and was informed from a salesman just how they go about determining where a vehicle will be sold at. First the mechanics do a thorough check on all vehicles, then depending on the shape and possible resale value the vehicle could end up on the main lot, the liquidation lot or sent to auction. Our lemon flavored Nissan happen to be on the main lot of Price Point. Should I determine from that information that the Nissan should have been worthy of being there?
To put the icing on the cake not all of us can go in the new family car because it is too small. So we are back beyond where we started from paying more money than was planned and still driving two vehicles for family outings.
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