When I was purchasing a used car from a salesman named Tim, he said he was the owner. He said he was moving to a new lot where he would be selling newer cars, which was why there were so few cars on his lot (I thought it was odd there were so few). I picked out a 1988 Honda Accord which was the nicest of the few cars he had available. He bragged about the great condition it was in, "new starter, new belts, new fuel injectors, new power steering (except for a part he ordered that he was waiting on), and new tires". I believed him.
I assumed that, as a used-car salesman, he wouldn't lie about actual repairs, that instead, he would just withhold any bad information and let me find out on my own how many problems there were with the car once I was stuck with it. I took the car for a test drive. It ran great; no problems. We agreed on the price of $1000 (which was all I had to spend) and made arrangements to meet in a couple days for the transaction, because he was waiting on the power steering part (I do not recall the part). I was concerned about this part, and told him so, because the power steering was very tight, as though there was no power steering at all, even though he said he had replaced it. He also stated that while inspecting the car, he discovered a cracked strut and would replace it with a used one free of charge.
After I picked up the car, Tim said he would call me when the power steering part came in. He never called. I was sick for several weeks and didn't have time to follow up on it. However, I immediately began having problems with the car. Everywhere I drove it, the engine "flooded". Sometimes, I would have to sit in the car for 10-15 minutes before the car would start after "flooding". When I drove to work, the interior of the car would fill with gas odor so bad, I would get sick to my stomach and get a migraine. You wouldn't have wanted to light a cigarette anywhere near my car! (Actually, if I had had full-coverage insurance, that might have been a good idea.). It also stalled at stop signs a lot. That is just the fuel injection problem. (I paid for repair)
Many times the car just simply takes forever to start; the engine won't turn over (starter?). This is a current problem.
The power steering is horrible. I can barely make a turn if I have my foot lightly on the brakes. (Current problem)
There is a terrible oil leak. I go through a quart of oil every week or so. (I paid for repair)
Finally, the heater fan broke. I had to take the car to Amoco and have it fixed. They ran a diagnostic on it per my request (I wanted to know how badly I had been lied to by Tim). They said the following problems exist with the car:
1. The upper and lower fuel injector seals need to be replaced (the fuel injectors are NOT new as Tim stated)
2. The oil pan gasket seal needs to be replaced (I have since replaced them)
3. The starter is not new (as Tim stated); it is from a junkyard
4. The cracked strut was not replaced (as Tim stated), and in addition, there is also a broken spring
5. The timing belt needs to be replaced (therefore all belts are not new as Tim stated)
6. The rack and pinion needs to be replaced (the problem never existed with the power steering [which was not new] or the supposed part that Tim was waiting for)
7. It appears that the tires are okay (that may be the only thing he didn't lie about)
The heater fan and diagnostic cost me $450, because the wiring under the dash was so messed up that the tech at Amoco spent hours trying to figure it out. He could not use the schematic. So, for a while, he didn't even know if my heater problem was with the fan or the wiring for the fan.
To replace the fuel injector seals and repair the seals to fix the oil leak cost me over $560.
The heater fan quit again. It seems the wiring under the dash is such a mess, that it came loose.
The car wouldn't start the other day, the battery connection had come loose.
Each time something goes wrong, I panic and have to find a male friend to help me out.in the meantime, I have to pay for a rental car while mine isn't running. It is costing me a fortune and is stressing me out.
This car is a LEMON!!!
I have tried calling Tim several times since I had the car repaired at Amoco. The two numbers that he has listed on the Vehicle Purchase Contract are not business numbers. However I left messages at both twice and didn't bother leaving messages the other times. The first number: 952-895-9898 seems to be his buddies or roommates (definitely not a business). The second number: 612-419-8679 (his cell) seems to be his girlfriend's cell phone (also definitely not a business).
The address on the contract is not where I met Tim to look at the car. I am wondering whether his business is even legitimate or not. I called the Burnsville Police. They were very familiar with his name, although they would not make any further comments.
What I do know is that I have been conned. The part that makes me the most angry is that, if he is even a real car sales dealer, I would expect him to withhold information on things wrong with the car. That is just the nature of the business to rip-off the customer. However, to blatantly lie to me about parts that were replaced that were never replaced, and to lie right to my face about the reason for the flooding of the engine, are completely immoral and unethical.
I realize I bought the car As Is No Warranty. But, if that is the case as is I should have a new fuel injection system, new power steering, all new belts (including a timing belt), a new (not junkyard) starter, and a used uncracked strut. I have none of those things. That is the way I was led to believe the car was, therefore, the as is part was not upheld on his end.
Three months after I bought the car, I got pulled over by the police for having expired license tabs. They treated me like a criminal. It turns out that the title had never been transferred into my name. And, the prior owner was a female felon fitting my description...
I finally got ahold of a man named Dan, who said he (not Tim) is the owner of Kindcaid's. He said Tim ripped off a bunch of people including him.
I filed a complaint with the Attorney General of MN. After two letters were sent to Kincaid's, a man named Dave, called me. He said he had just started working there. He said he wanted to help fix the problem. He said he was upset, though, at both Tim and me. He thinks I should have known better. To that I respond, "We each have our specialties in life. Mine is accounting, not auto mechanics. I should not have known better. Therefore I do not appreciate the implication that I deserved what I got".
I am not asking for much. If I could just get my original $1000 back at this point, I would be happy. Right now, I have nothing to deal with for a newer car. I will get nothing for a trade, and I have no cash for a down payment, because I have spent all my money on repairs for the LEMON that I bought.
I tried calling Dan the other day, Dave told me he was out for 5 days. I asked if any progress was being made. His whole tone changed, as though he intended to do nothing. I called an hour later, and Dan who was supposedly out of town, answered the phone.
I am so tired of the games. These people are con-artists and they need to be brought down. They need to be punished. I cannot believe that the government allows businesses like these to continue to operate.
No one should ever by a car from Kincaid's Cars Inc. They suck. They are Con-Artists. They will rip you off and treat you like crap.
Danielle
Minneapoli, Minnesota
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