Here's a doozy. My fiance purchased a 2002 Toyota Solara SLE-V6 from Toyota West for me (I was unable to get the vehicle financed in my name by myself). Unfortunately months down the road we broke up. He wanted the car out of his name, so thought it would be best to trade it in, and I'll walk away with a vehicle in my name (my father cosigned to help me get a better interest rate). My ex contacted Toyota West to ask them what they could do for us, and this is where the fun began...
My ex told me to call Toyota to see what they had up there (I live 35 miles from the dealership). The salesman I spoke to said that I chose the right time to get a car. He told me that they had exactly what I had (Solara SLE-V6) but in the 2004 model that was their demo. He told me it would be in the same price range (maybe a little higher) that I brought my old Solara for. I had heard that you can get great deals on demos, so I told him that I'd be up after work to check it all out.
I get there, and they already had my old car (technically my ex's car) already inspected and ready for trade. They gave him payoff for it ($17400). I asked the salesman if I could just buy it back, and he said it would just be too much paperwork, and since the bank wouldn't be paid until tomorrow for the pay off, he couldn't do that.
I was shown the demo and it was just as nice as they told me it was. It had a a few imperfections (it had 5200 miles on it, a cigarette burn on the driver's side floormat, a small ink stain on the leather, and a two small scratches on the interior). The salesman told me, my ex (before i got there), and several other customers (whom of which I am aquainted with that came to the dealership and spoke to him while I was talking with the manager) that the vehicle was a top of the line, V6. But they told me that they would give it to me for $23,000 (I knew this was a good deal because I had booked it at $29,500 before I came to the dealership). I also purchased their EasyCare plan (free oil changes for the first 3 years of ownership, extended warranty, roadside assistance, etc.) for under $10/mo.
So I filled out my portion of the paperwork, the rest was to be sent to my dad in CA the next day for him to sign and send back. They told me that I would get my EasyCare card in the mail along w / my paperwork. So I went home that night so excited that I got such a good deal (I have no family here, so I was calling everyone).in fact the next day, I dragged a friend up there to see what kind of deal the salesman could work for him. The salesman asked how my racecar was doing, and if my friend wanted wanted the V6 Solara that I had, or if he wanted something smaller like a Corolla. He also told my friend that my car comes in a 4 Cyl. If he wanted a car like mine, but was concerned about gas mileage. Needless to say we didn't get a car that day since my friend couldn't get a loan... I'm glad in a way though.
Two weeks ago, I went to check my oil in my car. I opened the hood and to my surprise I see "16 Valve"... WHAT!?!?!? But my car is the 24 Valve muscle car... HUH! Guess Again!
The sticker was never on my car... in fact there was nothing on the window when I bought it, except V6 written which was taken off by the salesman before the car was off the lot... I booked my car on the internet and it booked for $24K! I GOT RIPPED-OFF!
To make matters worse I never received my copies of the loan docs, or my EasyCare info. The EasyCare stuff was sent to my dad in CA (DUH!), which he didn't get until about 3 weeks ago (over 60 days after the purchase).
I was heated. I called Toyota Corp. And told them of the situation. They filed a complaint with the dealer. They told me that the dealership should satisfy what they told me I paid for. The dealership's cust. Relations person called me. She said she was aware of the situation and the dealership would having a meeting about it the following Monday (this was on a Friday)..
Monday she called and said it was postponed for Tuesday, but she also asked me what I expected out of this. I told her they could take the car back, pay it off and get me something else. Or they can give me what i paid for, a 04 Solara SLE V6.
Tuesday she called and said that the manager decided to trade my car out for what I was supposed to get. I was ecstatic. I was going out of town and told her I would be in on the following Monday.
The following Monday I went up there. I was greeting by a salesman who took to the salesmanager who didn't know his head from a hole in the ground. They didn't do a darn thing. I would had more done for me at any other dealership. He wanted me to trade (so bury myself) what I had and buy what I was supposed to get (what I was told I was buying to begin with, and I have witnesses)... BUMP THAT!
He also broke down all my finiancing stuff for me to try and justify what a good deal I got eventhough my car was a 4... And revealed to me that they only gave my ex $14000 for the trade... They shoved the payoff difference in my car, which I had no idea about since I had no hand in the trade in (I had no right in the matter since it wasn't in my name). I walked out feeling annoyed, ashamed, and so badly wanted to pop the guy who sold me the car in the head... I WAS SO MAD!
So I called Toyota Corp again. They said they don't get in the middle of the sales aspect (which I can understand) and will file another complaint about Toyota West. They suggested that I go to a local consumer affairs bureau... So far I have contacted 2 in the last 2 days.
Lesson learned? Never buy from Toyota West, they are dirty crooks. Never believe a thing that a salesman tells you, or what's on the car windows for that matter. Make sure you inspect your purchase thoroughly. Make sure you have someone with you when you go. I don't have any family near where I live, and a handful of friends, and I wish I would havegrabbed one of them to come with me. Boy, did I learn my lesson!
Rachael
Charlotte, North Carolina
U.S.A.
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