A few months ago, whole I was shopping for a car, I came across FIRST CHOICE > motors. I was led in by their big and attractive showroom. I was in awe > when I saw their selection of newly washed and polished pre-owned cars. I > saw a few cars but was finally attracted to the Exceptionally reasonable > Mitsubithi Lancer.
The car practically looked brand new. The milage was > under 40, 000 miles, the stereo looked fancy and the seating looked barely > used. Now time for the test-Drive. The engine seemed smooth and the > wheels were also well under suspension. After a short but satisfying drive, > I finally agreed(Without bargaining) for the reasonable 0ffer. I paid my > deposit and returned home. When came delivery, the car was shinning like a > silver bullet. > Afew weeks later, when I took my car for a drive to Pune.
Afer about one > and half hour, I noticed my car was slightly steering leftwards. I ignored > the problem knowing my lack of intelligence in the car field. Whele > returning back, I noticed my car was steering more and more towards the > letf. I mean I had to literally Hold on to the steering wheel to keep it > balanced. > I took the car to the service-center and they just told me that my > suspension rod had a problem and will have to be replaced if not now but in > the near future. They also told me that my milage meter was also tampered > but did not exactly know by how much since the engine was very smooth.
That > is when I had some doubt. Later I took the car to Popular and told them > about this problem. They told me they could not help me because the car had > already passed my approval during the test drive. The sales man was no > longer curtious and denying to take any responsibility at all. I requested > them to check the car again for any other problems but they refused. They > said I better take the car to the service centre even though I explained to > them that I had just returned from the service centre. > I was just referring this incident to one of my friends who suggested me to > visit his relative who owned an auto-mechanic and was a professional > mechanic. I left the car with him for a 5 days since he said he was busy > with a few cars on his hand. On the fifth day he called me to visit his > garage.
When I was at the garage, he showed me the marking of new paint > which was used on half the car. He said that the car had been through a > major accident. And the front part was completely destoyed. That is why the > hood and the front part of the car was re-painted.He said the car was > repaired in a private auto garage since the paint did not completely match > with the orginal color. The suspension rod and suspension springs were not > replaced but only repaired to avoid additional cost(Since it cannot be > seen).
The mechanic said that by looking at the wheels, the car had done > over 70, 000 miles but since it was driven mainly on the highway, the engine > will still run smooth. Since the car was mainly driven on highways, it most > possibly faced a highway accident. > I went back to FIRST CHOICE and told them about this incident. I was suprised > that the salesperson told me that I should have been more careful befrore > buying the car and he kept repating that I said the car was good during the > test-drive. I was surrounded by other salesmen who kept supporting their > colleuge. Then they even brought out the contract where it states thet thay > are just a commision agent and not owners of the car.
Then they gave me the > name and telephone number of the previous owner and told me to sort my > problem out with him as if he will really give a damn. > These guys at FIRST CHOICE are not responsible and often threathening.My adive is > that find yourself a friend who is a auto-mechanic. Ask him to come out > shopping for new pre-owned cars in exchange for a few beers and dinner. Dont > trust these dealerships. They are all out there to con people. I am sure > they all knew about the car had gone through a major accident otherwise > there should have been no reason why they would have offered it for so > cheap. Atleast they should inform potential buyers about all the pros and > cons about the car. When they dont, it is simply "CONNING." >