West Coast Auto Dealers

Review: I purchased a 1998 ford explorer from west coast auto dealers on 11/01/2012 with the understanding that it only had about 136,000 miles on it. On 05/02/2013 I went to a different auto dealer because I was considering trading the explorer in on a different car. That auto dealer ran a car fax that shows that odemeter had been rolled back from199,000 to 115,000 in 2009. Because the odemeter has been rolled back the car is only worth about $500-$800 not the $5795.00 that I paid for it. I paid for it in full at the time of purchase. I called west coast auto dealers on two seperate occasions and asked who ever answered the phone if they run car faxs on all of there cars and there answer was yes both times.. but when I went in and talked to justin he told me that they dont run them on trade in's. after some back and forth justin told me all he could do is take it on trade and I would have to finance the rest, he then told me to come back at 12:30 and he would have some cars for me to look at when I came back I was met by sergio who told me they could not help meDesired Settlement: I would like them to buy the car back or replace it with on that is worth around what I orgianlly paid

Business

Response:

All vehicles that are traded, purchased, and sold in the state of Washington are sold with miles being exempt when the vehicle is over ten years of age. The reason for this is vehicles that are this age the value is based on the condition and drive ability of the vehicle. These vehicles when taken in on trade are driven and appraised with condition and run ability reports of the vehicle. When a dealer takes a vehicle in on trade the odometer disclosure states exempt miles due to the state does not track the miles on the vehicle due to the age. When the vehicle is sold it also states on the odometer disclosure that the miles are exempt. We take in on trade a lot of vehicles that have exempt miles and it is very apparent in this complaint that the mileage discrepancy was in 2009 and was years prior to us taking the vehicle in on trade and selling the vehicle. All dealers when taking a vehicle in on trade give a customer a purchase number that is a trade in value, not a retail value that a customer purchases the vehicle for. Car fax has a class action law suit against them for misleading the consumer into improper information regarding there vehicles. All of our customers are recommended and given the opportunity to have there vehicle inspected, and able to run any reports that they would like to have at there expense before the purchase of a vehicle. We have tried to resolve this issue with our customer but due to the fact that we do not have any vehicles in this price range at the current time, we have no options available to help him in this manner. We have tried to run some options on financing a newer, less mile vehicle but at the present time can not secure financing for him. What the consumer pays for a vehicle does not mean that the vehicle is worth that amount. We are a business that makes a profit margin on every vehicle to stay in business. Thank you for your time in this manner.

Consumer

Response:

[To assist us in bringing this matter to a close, you must give us a reason why you are rejecting the response. If no reason is received your complaint will be closed Administratively Resolved]

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID 9569672, and have determined that this does not resolve my complaint. For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below.

[To assist us in bringing this matter to a close, we would like to know your view on the matter.]

To answer what west coast has said I bought the car with the believe that it had low miles for that age of car and their sales man used it as a major selling point. Kelly's blue book and other dealers still count on the mileage to value a car no matter the age of vehicle. I also tried to bring the car back that day because after driving it for awhile I noticed it had transmission troubles. I brought it to them the fixed some other minor issues with the car three days later I took the car to Firestone where the mechanic told me to get them to take the car back because there was so much wrong with it. They refused but did put in the front drive shaft for the all wheel drive. I told them then every thing the mechanic said including the fact that the transmission was toast. They took the paper the mechanic had given me and asked to drop off my car the next day for the whole day. When I came back nobody would answer my questions. I believe the only reason the trans mission still works is because I am disabled and don't drive much. When I talked to them about trading it in they number one where only looking at what I paid in cash not the whole deal where I traded in a car . With car that I traded in I paid 5795.00 not the 4300.00 I paid on a debit card. Two I was asked to come back later in the day to talk with them about trading it in and I was met with a very rude man named Sergio who told me they could not help me. After going back and forth for a little bit we started working on plans to finance a car. I am on fixed budget and don't really want to make payments. So I left and started to try and call Justin who never returned my calls and I watched their inventory on line and they have had cars in that price range and lower. At this point I would even settle on the making good on the repairs to the transmission the horn the cruise control and the rear seal that is leaking oil and has been since the day I bought it and I believe the air bags are not connected

Regards,

Business

Response:

I have acknowledged his complaint and we do not carry any vehicles in that price range anymore. There is nothing more I can do that I have not already offered. I can not buy the vehicle back and do any more repair work to the vehicle thank you for your time in this matter.

West Coast is the worst car dealership I've ever been to. They run your credit through 10+ different banks which destroys your credit. They let you drive off the lot with your new car, then call you and tell you the loan didn't go through and makes you return the car. They are shady and try to work the system. Highly recommend you look elsewhere.

Review: My complaint is multiple. West Coast changed my contract the following day without my knowledge, the vehicle I wanted quit within 20 minutes after I left the lot, we towed it back. The manager was extremely rude when I asked to return the vehicle and just get mine back. Which ultimately I want, my car, my $500.00 back, nothing else. The contract ( or contracts) as I have two different ones now, are a mess. They are full of charges I shouldn't have. On one page I signed I didn't want, and they then charged me for on the next. I just want out, they are unwilling to deal with me at all, they refuse to even say who they are trying to get me financed through. I had thought maybe I could get out contacting them, West Coast hangs up when I call. I have my car ( the one I was going to trade in) they have my title. As for their business practice in representing this car, they told me it was the key and it needed to be recoded. Obviously not the problem as oil pressure dropped and this car quit soon after leaving. It is now at their shop and they say they will fix it. When my brother-in-law asked them why I had two different contacts with one date they asked him to leave. Not an honest business at all.Desired Settlement: I would like out of this contract, I would like them to retain their car ( which they have in their shop?) I would like to keep my car (which I have, they have the title) my title back, along with the $500.00 I put down. As if I never walked through their door.

Business

Response:

First of all the purchase price of this vehicle was not 9499 it was 4975. The vehicle that [redacted] purchased was a fresh trade-in that we normally send directly to the auction. We do not buy vehicles with over 100,000 miles on them for resale from any other point of transaction besides a trade-ins. This was disclosed to the customer but given the limited purchase ability that he had he decided to purchase this 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee with152,000 miles. This customer was disclosed at time of purchase that the vehicle was sold as-is, luckily he bought this vehicle from a dealership that there reputation is everything there for myself the owner heard about [redacted] having issues with the vehicle and offered to fix them free of charge. Now this is after the vehicle did leave him stranded and my employees where trying to facilitate help for him. Once the vehicle was back to the dealership [redacted] was offered a full refund or to have the vehicle fixed, [redacted] decided that it must not be that big of a issue and said he still wanted to purchase the vehicle and decided that he had no other form of transportation besides his trade, there for took the jeep again with out even letting our 18 bay service department even have the opportunity to get the problems addressed. Once again the Jeep broke down on him again and he called the dealership again. We of course told [redacted] that we would get him a full refund of his down payment and opt out of his Washington state legal binding contract that [redacted] signed. I as the owner of this company I then get notification that his family is bad mouthing my company on face book, yelp and other social media. We actually pay a company to do our reputation management because It means that much to us. I believe they did this because they don't know the entire process that transpired through this transaction. There are NO dealerships that are going to be on the consumers side like West Coast Auto Dealers. I know that I don't bad mouth other company's that take care of me even in unfortunate situations. When you ever are purchasing a vehicle for less than 5000 dollars issues like this will always occur, reason being we don't retail 5000 dollar vehicles. Televisions these days can cost 5000 dollars and it just doesn't buy you what it use too, but is that the dealers fault or inflation. I hope that [redacted] finds the perfect car for his budget, and that his family understands that all vehicles break, even new ones, and trashing a company that has been born and raised here in the Tri -Cities is probably not the best business practice. Owners would appreciate a phone call especially when there are party's involved that are not on any of the paper work.