Complaint Review: Downtown Auto Sales

I went up to purchase a truck April 3rd after looking at it on Monday Mar 30. There was an ad in an Auto magazine listing the price as $4995 with a Manchester NH address (Downtown Auto Sales). When I got to Manchester the truck wasn't there and I was told that it had been moved to Sanbornton. I drove to Giguere Auto in Sanbornton and looked at the truck, but the truck was undrivable on Monday so the dealer agreed to fix the problem. I gave him a $300 deposit and then he said that the price was wrong in the magazine. He said the correct price was $5995, but I told him I couldn't afford more than $5000 because I was laid off. He agreed to honor the ad price but would have to charge me $125 document fee, but he would still fix the truck.

I spoke to him every day and he told me that the issue was fixed on Thursday night. He assured me that the truck had been running great and that it had just needed a "Spider", which they fixed. He told me on that he spent the previous three days fixing the truck and that everything was fixed, but now he was going to have to charge me another $300 for repairs. He already had my deposit money so I had no choice but to come up with another $300.

My wife took the day off of work and drove me up on Friday. I took the truck for a test drive and it seemed ok so I agreed to buy it. After I paid him the money he told me that I had to bring the truck to Manchester to get the title at Downtown Auto Sales. On my way there the truck started to buck. I got to Downtown Auto Sales and they said that it wasn't their problem although they had the title and put it in the truck. I complained that the truck was undrivable and they agreed to call Brian, the owner of Giguere Auto Wholesalers (previously Rt. 3 Auto Brokers, same telephone number?) and see what he said. I asked for my money back at this point but Brian said it was sold as is and Mark at Downtown Auto said it wasn't his problem. Brian agreed to pay to have the transmission flushed and that is what they did. After this was done I got in and drove it around the block and it seemed better but as soon as I got on the highway it started to buck again and eventually shut down completely. I called both Brian and Mark but they couldn't be bothered. I had to have the truck towed to my house. The worst part of this whole experience is that I told them that I was laid off and didn't have much money. I broke down on the highway bringing the truck home and they just left me there and shut off their cell phones. These guys are SCAM artists! I also don't even have a correct bill of sale and didn't notice that until I got home so I don't even know if I can register the truck.

All I want is my money back. I drove the truck for 20 minutes to pick up the title and it is totally dead right now and I had to have it towed to my house after nobody would answer the phone.

Mario
Methuen, Massachusetts
U.S.A.