Car Connections USA, Inc.

[redacted] is no longer with Car Connections USA, please open the complain and forward it to [redacted] so it may be responded to promptly.

We met with [redacted] and obtained for him the documents he requested.  He should be completely satisfied at this point.  If not, we will cheerfully perform any additional services he may request.  Thank you for your help in this matter.

Review: I purchase a 1997 Aston Martin from Car Connections USA in October 2011. My Salesman was [redacted] and his manager name is [redacted]. The vehicle was advertised and being in excellent mechanical condition and had passed a mechanical inspection. I have a copy of the report which was sent to me. I purchased the vehicle and had it shipped from Pennsylvania to Seattle where I picked it up. The moment I drove it I noticed that the low water indicator light was on (also witnessed by my wife) and I proceeded to the nearest service station to add coolant. By the time I got it home the light was on again and I put some more coolant in. Shortly after that I had the thought to check the engine oil. I was worried about where the water going since there did not seem to be an external leak. To my horror I discovered that the engine oil was contaminated with coolant and the level was a full inch about the dipstick maximum fill line. To me this was evidence that this car has had this problem for a while and definitely before I took possession of it. I took pictures immediately and send them to [redacted], Oct 28 2011 just a few days after picking up the car. He responded with “it looks like you have a problem and should have professional look at it”. I have emailed Car Connections USA many times and have clearly indicated that they are not interested in any kind of resolution. Their advice; I should have gotten a 3rd party inspection even though they supposedly provided a full mechanical inspection for every vehicle. This service is very misleading; as I found out the inspection was done in house and not independently which they never mentioned. Also troubling is a statement from [redacted] that I should be happy because I bought the vehicle well under market value. This is his opinion but certainly not mine. And this is what you get from a company that wants to change what’s wrong with the industry. This is what’s wrong with the industry…..dishonesty. I have an estimate by an Aston Martin Dealer of $5300.00 plus taxes to make the proper repairs. I offered to settle for the cost of the parts and fluids only and in which case I would do the work myself. This offer was not accepted.

Finally out of desperation I decide to accept an off from [redacted] of $600.00 which he made May 15 2012 and I have attached below. Well nothing ever came to me in the mail and I can no longer get him to respond to my email or phone calls.

“From: [redacted] [mailto:[redacted]]

Sent: Wednesday, May 16, 2012 3:14 PM

To: [redacted]

Cc: [redacted]

Subject: RE: Aston DB7

I can find the parts a bit cheaper, but don't think it's worth trying to source parts as a third party and then have a headache getting them into Canada, wrong parts arrive, etc. IIf you are interested in accepting a goodwill contribution towards your car, I would refund you $600 of your purchase price to make the car a better value for you. Please let me know if that is something that you will consider to bridge the current gap. I can have a mutual release drawn up and have this behind us within the week.

Thanks

[redacted]”Desired Settlement: Refund of the total cost of repairs to bring the vehicle up to the condition it was advertised to be in!

Business

Response:

[redacted] did purchase a 1997 Aston Martin from Car

Connections USA in October 2011. Despite

the recommendations on our advertisement to the contrary, [redacted] did not afford

himself the opportunity to have the car inspected prior to purchase, nor prior

to shipment. He paid for the car, and

had it shipped to a location between our facility and his home. Upon delivery by his shipper, he hopped in the

car and drove it home. During his drive,

he noted a low water light on, and added coolant or water. By continuing to drive the car, he potentially

caused harm to the car. He failed to

note in his complaint that he did check the oil prior to his drive and noted it

to be clean and clear. Upon arrival to

his home, the second check of oil, noted in his complaint, turned up a mix of

coolant and oil. He concludes that the

fact that the oil crankcase was overfilled would be evidence that the problem

existed for some time prior to his acquisition.

Contrary to that, if a head gasket fails and allows coolant to pass from

the cooling system to the crankcase, and no oil leaves the crankcase, the

crankcase will end up overfilled with the blend of two fluids. It is simple physics. The water that left the cooling system,

causing the light to come on. He added

more water. If that water isn’t leaking

onto the ground or blowing out the tailpipe, it has to be going somewhere. During our mechanic’s check of the vehicle

during our ownership the oil was filled to the correct level and we experienced

no coolant light nor low coolant condition.

We empathize with **. [redacted]’s disappointment with having to

invest money in a car shortly after purchase.

We don’t drive the cars extensively while they are in inventory. His long road trip, combined with any long

periods the car may have run at idle during transport (moving cars on and off the

trailer during the trip), may have caused the failure of the head gasket. **. [redacted] chose to purchase a vehicle sight

unseen, without an inspection, in as is condition. By so choosing, he saved tens of thousands

versus buying a certified car with a warranty.

He also assumed some risks associated with the ownership of the vehicle. As I spoke with **. [redacted], he continued to

badger me to contribute to his repairs.

At some points during our discussion, I indicated I would make a

goodwill adjustment to help him get the repairs done for less. I offered to help order parts at a wholesale

cost, etc. In the end, we could not

agree and we elected to allow **. [redacted] to sort out his repairs on his own. We are neither able or willing to contribute

to the repairs at this time. We wish **.

[redacted] the best in his ownership of his Aston Martin and would be happy to assist

him with any logistical aspects of his repairs.

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]

Review: [redacted]

I am rejecting this response because:

Basically because it is not true

I have been trying for quite a while to get some

satisfaction and I have given them the benefit of the doubt. If that is

badgering then so be it. I am now done with trying to deal with them directly.

I am sure he would prefer it if I just went away quietly but that is not my

plan.

I never wrote or suggest that at any time the oil was clear.

And I only drove the car 1.5 hours to get it home and that is when I checked

the oil. I have taken the oil to several trained technicians here at home and

their expert opinion plus the fact that the crankcase contained several more

quarts of fluid than the maximum allowed proves that the water had been in the

car for a lot longer period of time than I have owned it, which was just a few

day at that point. It is my opinion that this is why the vehicle ended up at

the auction house to begin with, which is where they purchase it from. In his

response he basically agrees with me that the increase of fluid in the crankcase

was from water seeping past a blown head gasket. I put in just a cup into the

reservoir which put the check light out but by the time I got home and pulled

the dip stick it showed well above 2 quarts more above the add line. The cup of

water I had put in was now gone. Which means for the length of time I drove it

1 cup of water entered the engine block and the balance of water was obviously in

there before I drove it.

It is true that I never got a third party to inspect the

car. CarconnectionsUSA say that they do a full mechanical inspection on their

cars and provide me with a check list. They told me that the car was in perfect

mechanical condition. Why would I need a third party inspection or is [redacted]

really saying I was a fool to trust them. And if as [redacted] suggested the damage

happened in shipping (highly doubtful in my opinion) then the inspection would

have proved to be of their benefit not mine. The inspection would have been

done before the car left their site.

Nowhere on their website does it say that they recommend a

third party inspection unless buried somewhere deep

This is what I read taken directly from their website.

“Car Connections USA, Inc. is a licensed, bonded, and insured

independent dealer. The company is fully compliant with current State

of Pennsylvania laws and regulations. The company is also a member in

good standing of the Square Trade seal program, and the Pennsylvania

Independent Automobile Auto Dealers Association.

For those of you who may not know what that means, it should give you a

great deal of confidence as you consider buying a car, perhaps sight unseen on

the internet. We guarantee that you will

get everything you pay for and more. Our guarantee is backed by a bond that

assures you that we will act responsibly and honestly. Should we commit fraud

of any kind, our bond holder will reimburse you for your money spent and come

after us for the money. Please note that we have NEVER had a claim of any kind.

I guess my

next step would be to try to contact their bond company

[redacted]’s assumption that I did well buying the car at the

price agreed upon is ridiculous and irrelevant. By the time I got the come home

plus taxes, shipping, travel and tariffs and now the added $5000 plus to repair

puts the car above market value. He wrote all this before in an email

(attached) and then apologized and now here we go again. I would not have

considered this purchase at any price if I had known it had a blown head

gasket.

And what really sums up how these guys to business is their

offer in writing of $600 (which I decided to accept out of frustration email

also attached) and then nothing. Not sure how [redacted] would explain this lack of

credibility but perhaps it could be the so called cause of the badgering. I

noticed in [redacted]’s reply he said we could not agree but as you can see from the

attached email that absolutely not true. I never received document he said he

would send and I never receive any payment. I have attached are a few excerpts

to prove my point but I have kept them all if requested.

“From: [redacted] [mailto:[redacted]]

Sent: Wednesday, May 16, 2012 3:14 PM

To: [redacted]

Cc: [redacted]

Subject: RE: Aston DB7

[redacted],

I can find the parts a bit cheaper, but don't think it's worth trying to source

parts as a third party and then have a headache getting them into Canada, wrong

parts arrive, etc. IIf you are interested in accepting a goodwill

contribution towards your car, I would refund you $600 of your purchase price

to make the car a better value for you. Please let me know if that is

something that you will consider to bridge the current gap. I can have a

mutual release drawn up and have this behind us within the week.

Thanks

[redacted]”

[redacted]- I will reach out to [redacted] and ask him to

update you regarding your DB7. I am not aware of your latest conversations but

will follow up with [redacted] and update you. Hope all is well

Best-

Car

Connections USA

www.carconnectionsusa.com

[redacted] OFFICE

MOBILE

[redacted] FAX

Review: I purchased a 1986 motorhome on [redacted] and paid the 500.00 deposit and an additional 1713.00 to complete the transaction. The owner stated that the vehical was in good condition and ready. I asked him to have a reese hitch receiver added to the motorhome as I would be driving from North Dakota and towing my vehical back home with the motorhome, he stated that he would. The owner of this dealership stated that he had the motorhome deliverd to an auto auction lot about an hour away from him to have the receiver put on,this was a lie, this vehical was purchased by him approximately a year prior from this auction lot and never moved. upon my arrival and inspection of the motorhome I found it to be in very poor condition and unsafe for travel,I told the owner that the vehical was not as described and requested a refund of my money, he agreed and stated in writing that he would refund the full amount but I had to contact [redacted] in order to do that. Afterr contacting [redacted] several times I was told that the owner of Car connections Usa INC had to refund my money. Since that date I have tried calling his office as well as his personal cell phone and left several messages but never get a reply. the motorhome is still in his possession and name. I have invested over 5000.00 into this ordeal and was extreamy inconvienced by this issue. All I ask for is to have my money refunded...I feel that this owner of car connections usa is actually stealing my money. very unethical and should be illegalDesired Settlement: I request that my money be returned in full

Business

Response:

[redacted] is no longer with Car Connections USA, please open the complain and forward it to [redacted] so it may be responded to promptly.

Review: I brought my car on June 7 and I pay car connection to transfer the title and issue a new registration which will expire Sept 7. I was issued a temporary 90 day registration. I left many messages and emails with no response . I called the Department of Motor Vehicles in Pa.today and they said nothing was filed at all from car connections USA . I want what I payed for !!!!Desired Settlement: give me my title and money so I can take it to a tag place right away ! I can get a ticket with an expired registration

Business

Response:

We met with [redacted] and obtained for him the documents he requested. He should be completely satisfied at this point. If not, we will cheerfully perform any additional services he may request. Thank you for your help in this matter.

Review: Piurchased a used vehicle from Car Connections USA on 9/28/13, that included 3 month warranty included by Car Connections in the sale agreement. The warranty policy provided was through a third party (i.e., [redacted]). Approximatley, 4 hours after I picked up the car, the "check engine" light came on. I contacted Car Connections on September 29, 2013, and dropped the car off back to Car Connections for analysis. They indicated on 9/30/13, the code referenced "torque converter" and took to a recommended repair shop in [redacted] for an assessment. The mechanic confirmed there was a torque converter costing in excess of $2,600. I in turn took the car to [redacted] in [redacted], PA costing $1802 to repair the torque converter. I aksed Car Connections for a complete refund before the repair and they said no, and I had to use the warranty company for coverage. It appeared the warranty was only for $500.00, but I contacted [redacted] nonetheless. The [redacted] rep indicated they never received payment from Car Connections and would not honor payment. It appears Car Connections USA falsely represented a warranty they never purchased as part of the sale agreement. Further, it appears Car Connections USA may have reset the engine light whereby there was no reasonable means assess the car long enough to cause the transmission and engine to warm to a level to monitor the torque converter. I contacted the owner numerous times without him returning my messages.Desired Settlement: Request payment of $1802.00.

Business

Response:

To whom it may concern: