I am writing this to warn you, hopefully before you buy, but also to help you after you ve been ripped off by this crooked dealer.
I bought a car from them in 2001. Manassas Motors set up the financing for me with transouth financial (another rip-off) with an insane interest rate. The told me the car would be 2500 down, and let me drive it for the day while they got all the paperwork done on it. They called me later and said that everything was approved and come in to sign the papers. When I got there they said they werent able to finance me for the car I wanted but had me approved on this little piece of shit.
So after I told them no deal, they talked me into doubling my down payment and I could get the car I wanted. So I was pissed about the down payment and the interest rate, but I really wanted the car so I bought it anyway. After about 6 months the rearend went out on the car. It cost 1500 to repair. Then when I brought it in for inspection, it needed brakes and tires.
The tires alone were 740.00. I replaced the brakes myself. Through all of this I was still happy with the car because it was really a great vehicle aside form these problems. Then after a year, I took the registration in to DMV to renew it and was informed that my registration was invalid and they would not be able to renew it. I contacted the lienholder, (transouth) and asked them to fax me a copy of the title so I could prove to DMV that I was the owner of this vehicle.
Turns out that the leinholder had a title to a different vehicle, with somebody else's name. I went back to Manassas Motors and met with the owner Mike Stotler (LIAR!) and there title clerk to find out what went wrong. They assured me that there was a clerical error and they would fix it right away. The next day, they called with my plates and new registration. They have there own in house DMV to print out registrations. They assured me that everything was good to go.
I drove it for another year until I was pulled over for expired tags. I explained to the officer that I didnt know they were expired and have not received any notice from the DMV, but I got the ticket anyway. (110 dollars) I went to DMV to renew again and once again was told that my registration was invalid, that this car has never been registered to me, and to take it up with the dealer. I called the lienholder again to find out that they still dont have a title, and claim to have been trying to get one for over a year.
Meanwhile they never notified me. They just kept collecting the payments. I went back to Manassas Motors again and spoke with the owner again. He assured he would take car of it right away. After a few weeks of Bullshit he tells me that he cant get the title because DMV is doing an investigation involving the sale of that vehicle prior to my purchase. He says he can get me another car that would be a upgrade. Meanwhile a month goes by, I still dont have a car to drive, I still have to make payments on a car that isnt even mine.
So I take back the car to the dealer and he assures me that my upgrade will be there the very next day. Still no loaner car - The next day comes and goes - no car after another few weeks, I demand a rental car to drive and he tells me to pick it up the next morning. So I took off work to come get it and he says that enterprise rental cars is out of cars. I called his bluff and called enterprise myself only to find that they over 900 cars in the area ready to go.
So when I told this to Mike, He tried to feed me more bs until I demanded a car from the lot to use. This has been going on since January 10 and to the date of this listing, I am still driving his peice of crap loaner and making my payments as usual. He has made me an offer through his attorney to pay me about a third of what I ve paid so far and pay off the loan. I told him this would not be accepted and that I am going to file a lawsuit for the full purchase amount including the loan and interest.
I spoke with an agent from DMV that is in dealer services to find out my rights.
It is illegal for a dealer to even list a car without having physical possesion of the title on site, let alone sell one. It is illegal for them not to register the vehicle within 30 days or the purchaser has the right to a full refund of all payments made. It is illegal to issue a registration without a title number. If you have bought a car from these crooks, look at your registration and see if the title number is left blank.
If you have had any problems with this rip off artist, contact me as we may be able to help each other.
The car I bought was for approx 23,668.00. I have paid approx 13,800 on it so far less all the repairs and taxes. This guy is a true ripp off artist and will take your money if you let him.
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