I bought a used 1993 eclipse from these con artists 2 months ago. I asked before i bought it to take it to a mechanic of my choice for inspection, they would not let me drive it across town to my mechanic and insisted they would take it to one nearby. I thought that to be pointless.
The only noted problem i could find on my own before purchase was a vibration of the motor while sitting in a parked position in gear, while driving there were no problems, as the test drive only consisted of a straight drive on 1 street, they said it was for insurance purposes it not be driven off their street. The salesman told me their mechanic said it needed a tune-up to get rid of the vibration.
All of this should have been enough for me to walk away from the lot without a car, but i had to buy one quickly for transportation to work. The only funds i had were from my credit card and this was one of the very few lots with affordable cars that accepted visa credit cards. From what i could tell, not being a mechanic and from the assurance of the salesman, this was a very reliable vehicle for me.
After leaving the lot with the windows down i noticed a squeiling sound coming from the passenger side, i assumed it to be brakes so i took it to meineke to have them perform their free inspection. Upon completion of the inspection they printed out an estimate for the work needed to be done, totaling $1400.00
In repair costs, Although meineke is somewhat expensive their prices are not to much more than other shops. I was told it needed new brakes all the way around, both CV axels, 2 rotors, radiator flush, and a new timing belt (it was cracked).
I then went for a second opinion at brake check, which confirmed the needed repairs. Having just spent $2525.26 total cost to purchase the car, I didnt have the funds to get the repairs done. But i did decide to have the tune-up done to eliminate the vibration.
I used Pep Boys for the tune-up and inspection of the vehicles needs, and i recieved a whole new check list of needed repairs.
The tune-up did not fix the vibration problem and the new checklist total was just over $1500.00. The only item on the needed repair list that was the same as the brake companies was the CV axels, as both companies do that repair. Now bringing repair needs to a total of (-CV axels from one place) $2700.00.
This piece of junks repair needs dosent stop here. At this point im at my wits end with this car so i contact auto price busters with my dilema. Only 3 days after the purchase. Yet the only response i hear from these Selfish %$&@#$ is that it was sold as is no warranty, and texas dosent have a lemon law to protect the consumer. I pleaded with the dealer to take the car back and let me get a diffrent one from him. I would even bite the cost of TT&L from this car. My pleading got me nowhere "as is" was his phrase of choice.
Having no money and a job to get to i used the car as little as possible, to and from work only. Approximatly 3 weeks of now owning the vehicle i break down on the highway. Then have it towed to a repair shop, 3 days go by and i get a call from the repair shop informing me of all the problem i already knew about plus the cause of the break down. The transmission has gone out and it needs to be rebuilt, a new $1500.00 job plus the cost of all the other repairs, but on the bright side if i got all of it done they would give me a discount. Total bill to put the car in good safe order as they do everthing automotive was $4699.00
And if i elected to do it all with them i would get a 10% discount. (WOW) I couldent afford it nor to afford the $400 charge for them having looked at it to give me a check list. Also keep in mind i have only now had the car for a few days less than a month.
I applied for a few credit cards in hopes of getting the money to get it running again, which i did get and was able to have them do $1875.42 worth of repairs.
Reason for this report is to inform anyone buying a used car, Please Please Please have YOUR mechanic look it over first, and if you run into my situation walk away, they are hiding something, by the time all the repairs are done i will have put over $7000.00 into this car that kelly blue book estimated a trade in value of $665.00.
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