MAJOR Dealership Problem - Damaged Car

[BruceH]

I thought they took it out for a test drive with a potential customer and the customer was burning the clutch.

 

[cwhit23]

sure this has been said, but it's his word against theres. He hasn't a leg to stand on. Chalk it up to lesson learned. I never let the dealer test drive my car until a deal is in the works. I keep the keys in my pocket and when they ask for them, I tell them, we're not to that point yet. Just me but I hate dealerships. most of them are jerk-offs.

 

[5.0H]

The keys were given to a salesman so he could go check the mileage. THAT WAS IT. The salesman grabbed shotgun and this Dale guy, a 20 year vet and employee of Columbia ford whom Dylan had not met at this point, gets in the drivers seat and the two of them take off.

Read the whole thread. Here's the link for the afm thread started by Dylan.

http://www.allfordmustangs.com/foru...290-major-dealership-problem-damaged-car.html


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[bossmanpena]

i have to agree that yea its sucks but its really no big deal.. in 10 minutes he didnt destroy your car..

 

[Chally72]

Nope, car is fine. And all it cost me was a day off of work and 3 days of hell. I have mentioned this many times, but the dealer driving it without permission is only ONE of the issues! I think it was BEYOND unprofessional, but if that is all that happened, then no, I would not have posted this stuff. Heck, I sat at the dealership waiting for another 30 minutes AFTER that before I got in my car and smelt clutch. Like I said, lesson learned. Don't give em the keys, even if it is just to "check the mileage" Learn from my mistakes.

I was told by Billy at Hoffman yesterday that there was almost no way they could even get a Boss, to add insult to injury. So they took my car out for a spin to appraise it for a trade in for something they couldn't even order, then LIED about what happened in front of my eyes. Sounds like a great experience, eh? I should expect more of this experience when I talk to other dealers about trade-ins?

 

[SkidAce]

Way to many people casually lie now a days and act like its no problem.

My mama would slap me.

 

[Xorak]

i read the first page, then gave my opinion

okay, read the 2nd page, what am i missing

synopsis,

gave keys to car to get appraised, smelled a little clutch "supposedly",

car "checked" nothing is wrong with the car.

where is the problem

the problems are deceptive sales tactics and a sales manager that rides the clutch too much.

you're in the business, you expect this chain of events. i used to be in the business and know how dealers work. the OP obviously didn't have any idea until the other day and should have been told they were going to drive the car, not just get the mileage.

 

[SilentScope]

Way to many people casually lie now a days and act like its no problem.

My mama would slap me.

shut up and progress with the rest of the world. People are selfish and don't care about others, especially strangers. so plan for the worse, and hope for the best.

OP: If you are SOOOOOOO concerned about your car, then why did you let your car and keys out of your sight? You are the only person to blame here.
It's your fault for letting that idiot at the Stealership have open access to your vehicle. be happy it wasn't stolen.

 

[beefcake]

i have to disagree,

do you think that sales people / sales managers sit here waiting for a mustang to drive up to go "joy ride" in.

it's a business, we are here to make money, not waste time driving cars around

yes, if you are looking for a boss, it may be hard to find, however, if we are going to "waste our time" spending hours on the phone trying to locate a car for you,

we are going to need to know what we are working with on your trade in.

for example, maybe you have a car worth 25k, and you owe 38k, have bad credit, and no money down,

we then know there is no reason to procede spending hours of our time to find you a car.

It's a business, not an amusement park. It sounds to me more like miscommunication, whether it be you, or them.

I've been doing this 8 years, and I tell everyone, my manager will need to appraise the car, do we have your permission to do it.

Your not buying my car without driving it, i'm not buying yours without driving it.

I think this is blown way out of proportion, how much time off work, 3 days? because you went to buy a car and they test drove yours?

 

[5.0H]

if you read the thread, you would know that this was chally72's car and now mine (OP). you'd also know that them taking the car was only a fraction of the issue.

That isn't my biggest issue.

Let me say it again. THAT AIN'T MY BIGGEST ISSUE BUDDY.

As I have said I think twice in this thread alone....I stayed at the dealership for another half hour after they took the test drive without asking me. That is just icing on the S**T cake that was this experience.

Here are some bigger issues-

-BURNT CLUTCH SMELL
-LYING ABOUT THE STALLING THE NEXT DAY
-Threatening me with sending pictures to Ford when they decided they didn't want to do anything else to make me happy.
-The fact that I was told by another local dealer that Columbia in all likelihood couldn't even get me a Boss. So they got me down there and took my car (without asking) for a test drive for a trade-in appraisal ON A CAR THEY COULDN'T EVEN GET.

Maybe when I wake up a bit more I won't be so grumpy. Hope you understand now.

i feel like i'm going in circles with you beefcake

 

[UltraKla$$ic]

http://gma.yahoo.com/video/news-26797925/car-valet-s-joy-ride-caught-on-hidden-camera-29146638.html

 

[beefcake]

if you read the thread, you would know that this was chally72's car and now mine (OP). you'd also know that them taking the car was only a fraction of the issue.


That isn't my biggest issue.

Let me say it again. THAT AIN'T MY BIGGEST ISSUE BUDDY.

As I have said I think twice in this thread alone....I stayed at the dealership for another half hour after they took the test drive without asking me. That is just icing on the S**T cake that was this experience.

Here are some bigger issues-

-BURNT CLUTCH SMELL
-LYING ABOUT THE STALLING THE NEXT DAY
-Threatening me with sending pictures to Ford when they decided they didn't want to do anything else to make me happy.
-The fact that I was told by another local dealer that Columbia in all likelihood couldn't even get me a Boss. So they got me down there and took my car (without asking) for a test drive for a trade-in appraisal ON A CAR THEY COULDN'T EVEN GET.

Maybe when I wake up a bit more I won't be so grumpy. Hope you understand now.



i feel like i'm going in circles with you beefcake

Okay, so i didn't miss anything,

another dealer told them that the dealership that test drove the car probably couldn't get them a boss..... that carries 0 weight. stupid arguement,

1) it's another dealer
2) said "probably", probably is not can't

so, that is a mute point

Lying about stalling
1), really, your going to come back the next day to argue that they stalled the car while test driving, lol

Burnt clutch smell
1) car has been verified to have 0 issues...

So, again, WHAT IS THE PROBLEM TO TAKE 3 DAYS OFF WORK

obviously it wasn't a big deal

HE STAYED AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR ANOTHER 30 MINUTES AFTER THE TEST DRIVE WORKING THE CAR DEAL

You guys are making a mountain out of a mole hill

If there is info on the other forum i'm missing, i'm not wasting the time to go look for it,

based on the info in this thread, i can see what happened.

HE WENT TO BUY A CAR, THEY TEST DROVE CAR, DIDN'T PUT DEAL TOGETHER

that about sums it up, sounds like a normal day at a dealership

 

[Chally72]

Is having two people drive a car around for 15 minutes to air clutch smell out a MISUNDERSTANDING?

Is being told the GM has produced three magical witnesses (that say nobody stalled my car) a MISUNDERSTANDING?

Is taking pictures of my tread and playing hardball as I am sitting in their service area a MISUNDERSTANDING?

Yep, no doubt about it. I was naive. I didn't follow my keys around. I didn't expect them to drive it without specifically asking. I didn't stay at the dealership after I realized what my car smelled like. Never again. I don't think I overblew anything. I posted anonymously until I could not reach a resolution with the dealership. I have not contacted local media or the police, as many have suggested. I did not lose it and start screaming in their dealership.

By the way...I took Monday off of work. Not 3 days. The three days, as I mentioned, were hell for me as I'm wondering what has been done to my car. You think this is fine, toss me your keys for 10 minutes and I'll take it, do whatever the fuck I want, bring it back 10 mins later, and say it can't be damaged, it was only 10 mins.

 

[beefcake]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G401CC5Rep8&feature=related

 

[Chally72]

Beefcake if you think lying to the customer and not even apologizing is perfectly fine...what dealership is it you represent?

Would you let a dealership service your car that burnt the clutch on a test drive, didn't apologize, and then told you you were imagining things when you heard and saw your car stall?

 

[beefcake]

Beefcake if you think lying to the customer and not even apologizing is perfectly fine...what dealership is it you represent?

I don't lie to customers, I don't think lying to customers is ok, i don't think I ever said that.

I am one of the most successful salespeople in the country.

There are 2 sides to every story. We all know that. What I am saying is, you are saying you are mad because dealer B said dealer A "probably" can't find the car you want.

Silly argument it what i'm saying.

I am saying that the dealer test driving your car is 100% normal. We test drive 99% of the cars, other than say something with 500 or so miles on it.

I am saying that sales managers have better things to do than "joy ride" in a mustang. It is a place of business, not an amusement park.

As far as what was said about the trade in, I don't know, I wasn't there.

You are upset they tried to assess a value on your car, when you are wanting to buy theirs. Just seems silly to me.

It sounds to me like there is information that is being left out, that's all i'm saying.

Seems like a lot of time and effort spent on nothing other than a demo drive, especially with you admitting you continued working the car deal after the appraisal.

Seems like more to the story. Only you and the salesman know.

Would you let a dealership service your car that burnt the clutch on a test drive, didn't apologize, and then told you you were imagining things when you heard and saw your car stall?

If you were that upset, why did you stay?

 

[gil_t2]

Did the Saleman fill out a trade in sheet and have you sign it before they test drove you car?

 

[Xorak]

I am one of the most successful salespeople in the country.

so with that said, you should probably bow out of the conversation and quit while you're ahead.

a salesman asking for the keys to a car to get the mileage isn't the same as telling a customer that they're going on a test drive in it to determine the value. they should have explained their process better.

they should never have let someone in the driver's seat that couldn't drive a manual proficiently. moving a car around the lot isn't the same thing as being able to drive a stick.

 

[Ampire]

valets don't return your car stinking of clutch so much that it takes a half hour with the windows down to get rid of the stench...

I had a valet park my 06 GT last week in Washington DC (not very many park your own lots in the area where I was), expecting the mileage to be like +10 and my clutch to be completely burnt. Amazingly it changed by like .05 miles and the clutch was fine.


Friend of OP, sounds like it was just a miserable experience but everything will be fine. The thing to gain from all of this is to never trust a dealership at any point in negotiations.

 

[Chally72]

If you were that upset, why did you stay?

I didn't stay after they lied to me. I left and immediately contacted Ford and the BBB. That was on Monday. The test drive, appraisal, and clutch-burning was on Sunday. Dude, I don't think you are understanding the order of these events. I'll get to a rough summary in a second.

Events of Sunday- I am NOT upset that they tried to assess my car. Not at all. I was pretty upset that they took my car for a test drive without asking me. I didn't leave because of this, and I certainly wouldn't contact the BBB or Ford just for this, or even think of posting this online as a "Totally Horrible Experience" I stayed at the dealership for a half hour after that. Talking to the salesmen. Traded numbers with Karl after talking about mopar parts and his Duster. Talked to Ed about trade-in offer. I got the offer and decided it was time to leave. THEN, getting back in my car, I smelled clutch. THIS is where the serious issues began. Possible damage on a test drive I was not even asked if they could do. That's when it becomes VERY serious.

Events of Monday- Lied to and told 3 witnesses were produced that say his guy didnt even stall my car. Told I'd have to leave it for a day or two to examine for possible damage. Told pictures had been taken of my car and tire tread. At this point, I have no faith in the dealership, leave, contact the BBB and Ford, and post dealer information online. Start contacting other dealers to try and get my car examined for possible damage from Sunday.

I didn't mention that Dealer B said Dealer A 'couldnt get it' ANYWHERE online until last night. That was just more aggravating for me. I went through all this trouble and it turns out they were appraising my car for a trade they probably couldn't make. This is NOT something I would send to the media or contact Ford or the BBB about! It was something that was simply aggravating that I was sharing. I don't want to sensationalize it and act like I'm shocked they did this. They needed to get me in there so they could talk about acquiring for another dealer, etc. I understand that. I contacted the BBB and Ford for other reasons that are actually serious, and not just a mild nuisance.

I had a buddy with me Sunday thank god that can verify everything that happened then. I went alone to the dealership Monday morning.