Complaint Review: Brown Brothers Automotive

We came across a very nice 03 Jetta GLI, Earl promised us the vehicle was going to get a rigorous inspection, necessary repairs, and that the vehicle came from a franchise dealership and in fact had been inspected by them as well. After our intial test drive everything appeared to be in order so we willingly paid blue book value because we were told that all then necessary repairs would be handled, we were in good hands. We opted to not buy from a private party because we felt confident that Brown Brothers was a reputable business and would certainly uphold their word. So we put $2,000.00 down and proceeded to wait for them to perform the repairs, making 100% the vehicle was road worthy and safe to drive....After about a week we wrere told the vehicle was ready to be picked up and we went to the lot with the additional $1,000 of the deposit....we drove the car briefly as it was late by now and the lot was getting ready to close, I was confident that Earl and Bob would not let me down....

How wrong was I, after about two days we finally drove the car on the freeway and it shook so violently I knew there had to be something wrong. I took the vehicle to my local tire shop to have the tires balanced and this was when I was first told that the tires on the front of the vehicle are so dangerously bald that I am in danger driving the vehicle as is...this is how I drove the car off the lot....go figure. However, this is only the begining. By now the car is clunking when you turn the wheel and heaven forbid you hit a bump going faster than 2 mph because clearly there must be something wrong in the suspension.....so I take it to Brown Brothers and I ask Bob, who informs me that he is very familiar with the vehicle as he drove it....he is the Service Manager I think....which is terrifying because he is more than willing to ignore the obviously dangerous flaws of any vehicles so that the sales staff can sell a car. After having it for the day Brown Brothers tells me it is a drive axle ($70.00 part) that they wanted to charge me $200 for and approximately $200 additionally for labor...in regard to the rough ride he merely attributed it to the 'sport suspension'....feeling like their anyalysis was inacurate I took the Jetta to Berge VW. After paying a $68.00 diagnostics fee I was informed that the 'clunking' noise is in fact blown struts and bushings....totaling $1,200.....glad I didn't pay Brown $400 to work on something that isn't even the problem but I am not happy that I let them swindle me into buying a death trap to transport my family. This has been a nightmare and is 100% of the reason why I typically go to large franchise dealerships, they may screw you on interest rates but at least you know you aren't getting sold a lemon with sawdust in the gear box. I am sure this is just the begining of the issues to come with this vehicle...now only time will tell.

They told me they perform mechanical work for another dealership down the road that sells 'nicer' vehicles...if this is the case I wouldn't buy those either as I am sure they are also lemons.