Recently I purchased a GTR from JAPAN AUTO DIRECT and ended up with the entire boot/trunk rusted out.
The pictures posted on the site were simply immaculate and the writeup was dazzling.
What Japan Auto Direct didn't see fit to disclose was that not only was the car in a front end collision but also a rear end collision that was even more obvious.
The whole experience has been terrible. The owner/salesman who I dealt with (Anton Cavka) is undoubtedly a lemon car crooked salesman. This jerk informed he that the rust could've been from the 10 day voyage to get to me (car was shipped from Japan to Canada).
When that wasn't enough I was then told he buys wholesale & customers are expected to spend about $1000 in fix up cost. He cannot take all his cars to the bodyshop & do repairs. To repair these rust damages I was quoted buy 3 different shops $3200.
As soon as you make your payment thats it. You can expect no updates (not even emails), your paperwork to clear customs will not arrive in time, and good luck trying to contact them. I don't expect any salesperson to show me every bolt & disclose every issue; but for Christ sake, it is not reasonable to expect someone who buys these cars from Auctions (and therefore has seen the car 1st hand) to offer their customer some decent cars? Is that an unrealistic expectation?
I dealt with the owner & trust me when I say, this character is a shady bastard. If you are in the market for a used car... Look elsewhere... RUN
JAD listed the car for 840000 Yen. Landed it ran me $11,000 Canadian. This car was already on their lot when I saw it.
Frankly if the problem wasn't so darn obvious I would just ignore it.
However, these cars are popular in Asia & the Pacific & I think its only reasonable to expect whosoever the JAD rep that inspected this car to know what to look for. I also expect him/her to do good job at looking over these cars properly.
JAD caters largely for clients who cannot see the car first hand & so we rely very heavily on pictures with the good, bad & ugly. If these pics were posted I would have had a choice... I was sent pics of a nice carpeted boot, and other pics with very minor imperfections.
This bill for repairs of such obvious defect should be JAD's not mine.By the way the entire floor pan & rear lid needs changing. The rust has migrated into areas where my camera cannot reach.
On top of all this they have a Guarantee posted on there site which is not being honoured. Since this incident I have made numerous calls to Anton Cavka (mgr/owner/lemon car dealer). I have even removed myself & asked an arbitration company to intervene & he refuses. He has changed the website & since removed/reworded the guarantee / disclaimer. As I am stuck with this piece of... I agreed to accept $1000. Well, that was in February and this is almost May. I think I can say no compensation is coming.
D
Burnaby, British Columbia
Canada
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