Drivetime ripoff Fontana California
I bought my car from Drivetime about a year ago. Please don't even consider buying from them. I bought a mid-1990s American-made SUV, and I've only had it about a year. So far, I've had to:
- Replace the fuel pump TWICE, which usually costs about $400-500 each because the fuel pump is in the gas tank.
- Replace the heater core, which costs about $500.
- Refurbish the interior, windshield and various electronics after the power window switch in the driver's door had a short in a it and sparked a fire. Still paying for this, but it will end up costing me about $1,000-1,200.
- And now I have to get trasmission work done, because the vehicle is stuck in first gear. Who knows how much this will cost.
Think twice people!!! Seriously.
Mike
Anytown, California
U.S.A.
1 Updates & Rebuttals
Sherridan
Camp Lejeune,North Carolina,
U.S.A.
A Used car is a crap shoot
#2Consumer Comment
Sat, November 20, 2004
I will be the first to say that Drivetime/Ugly Duckling is one to be avoided and I empathize with you and they sold you a s**+**y car but in this case I have to speak up. I don't think that DT is to blame on this one. You had the car a whole year.
Just by the description of the problems that you speak of I am guessing you have a Ford Explorer. The type of vehicle you have is not the issue though. The issue is you bought a used vehicle. It is unfortunate that you are having these problems but it's a crap shoot. You never truely know what you're getting until something goes wrong. If you bought a car from some Uncle Joe's Lot or Bigtime Car Dealer's lot it would be the same story.
All car dealers get there cars from the same place, auctions. Some dealers pick the cream of the crop some dealers get left overs. I guarantee you that some of the high priced cars have the same type problems. A year down the road it is hard to say that that problem was present when you bought the car or it was the dealers fault that they sold you a bad car. The fact is it was unfortunate that the problems surfaced as late as they did. After a year it is hard time to blame the dealer.
I understand that all your problems didn't just happen. They happened though out the year. I understand that DT sells a lot of crap. I understand that there had to be a reason you went to DT. I understand that bad things happen to good people. What I don't understand is why blame a problem that happens a year down the road on the shop that sold you the car? Next time you go to buy a car take the down payment that you were going to use and go to the local auction. Chances are that your down payment will buy you a vehicle that you really like and without a payment.