Drive-Time Cars are death traps on wheels Van Nuys California
My mother bought a 2005 Kia Sephia from Drive time, the year was 2006 so she thought she was getting a great deal. She leased it as 10,900. A few weeks later, during the Christmas holiday, she was rear ended at 12 miles an hour and all the air bags deployed and almost killed her. According to Drive-Time, my mother "had to be going at least 90 miles an hour" For that to happen. I'm like, are you serious? You sold my mom a lemon and even the police reports say 12 miles an hour.
Anyway, the car was totaled, yea, totaled. Going 12 miles an hour! Then, they police sent it to a junk yard and my mom went to go pick it up, but Drive Time already had picked it up and then called my mother two days later saying she owes them 18000 dollars for damaging the vehicle and they had to pay the impound fee, which was 300 dollars.
My mom was in the hospital, christmas eve. She almost died in their crappy car and they have the darn nerve to charge HER 18000?!?! huh? I'm confused.
They put it on my moms credit that she never paid for the car. It ruined her credit. They still send letters. She had the car for less than 30 days and she almost died and they have the car, yet still want money from my mom. I'm so glad they are being shut down.
Please, if you value your life, do NOT go to these people for a car...EVER.
And to think, my mom was going to give me that car, and if I got in that accident, I would have died.
DO NOT BUY ANYTHING FROM DRIVE TIME, please...I beg of you.
Cece
North Hollywood, California
U.S.A.
5 Updates & Rebuttals
Tbald1977
Fayetteville,Georgia,
U.S.A.
your mom's accident
#6Consumer Comment
Wed, July 09, 2008
I just want to say that I am sorry that your mom had to go through with this. At least she is still alive. Yes I have to agree with the two other posts that it wasn't Drive Time's fault that she got into the accident, but however they do not offer GAP insurance and that is how they get us. Because I bought a car from them last year and they overcharged me almost double what it was worth, then about 3 months later I got into an accident and totaled the vehicle.
Now they are coming after me for the difference but you know what? I'm not worried because I feel that the accident happened for a reason. If I kept that car I would have been so ripped off because what they do is price gauge on all their cars then slap another $5,000 or more for interest so it's like you are paying for 3 cars for the price of 1. Like I said I learned my lesson and this has taught me to be cautious when buying a car and not to rush into anything because believe me it is better to walk then to go to places like Drive Time and get yourself ripped off.
J G Shrugged
Austin,Texas,
U.S.A.
Where is your mom's insurance company in all this?
#6Consumer Suggestion
Thu, July 03, 2008
If she was rear-ended it should have been easy to collect from the other driver, but $18k seems excessive for a loan balance on that car unless your mom rolled other charges into the loan. Anyway, airbags are not 100% safe but when they are needed they do save lives, so the risks are outweighed by the benefits. An airbag issue would more than likely be a federal NHTSA item rather than the dealer's, esp. for a car that "new"
J G Shrugged
Austin,Texas,
U.S.A.
Where is your mom's insurance company in all this?
#6Consumer Suggestion
Thu, July 03, 2008
If she was rear-ended it should have been easy to collect from the other driver, but $18k seems excessive for a loan balance on that car unless your mom rolled other charges into the loan. Anyway, airbags are not 100% safe but when they are needed they do save lives, so the risks are outweighed by the benefits. An airbag issue would more than likely be a federal NHTSA item rather than the dealer's, esp. for a car that "new"
J G Shrugged
Austin,Texas,
U.S.A.
Where is your mom's insurance company in all this?
#6Consumer Suggestion
Thu, July 03, 2008
If she was rear-ended it should have been easy to collect from the other driver, but $18k seems excessive for a loan balance on that car unless your mom rolled other charges into the loan. Anyway, airbags are not 100% safe but when they are needed they do save lives, so the risks are outweighed by the benefits. An airbag issue would more than likely be a federal NHTSA item rather than the dealer's, esp. for a car that "new"
Robert
Irvine,California,
U.S.A.
What?
#6Consumer Comment
Thu, July 03, 2008
It is good that your mom survived however I think this report is very mis-directed.
First of all your mom was rear-ended, this is not the fault of Drive Time but the driver that hit her. The accident was severe enough that the air bags deployed. While possible, I doubt that she was in the hospital just because they deployed. Speed is a factor, but it is not the only factor to determine if the air bags will deploy.
As for the damage if she was rear ended the other drivers insurance company should have paid for the damage and covered any costs. Most of the time the driver that rear-ends someone is considered at fault. If the other driver was not insured or your mom was found to be at fault her insurance would cover the replacement value of the car. She is still responsible for any difference unless she had purchased GAP coverage.