Five Star RV Sales Hudson, FL Steve (Owner,) Tom Barth (salesperson) Sold me a used RV at high retail price that wasn't wholesale value. Covered up problems Hudson Florida
A friend and I were driving up US 19 in Hudson, FL looking for possible RV's for sale and pulled into 5 Star RV sales. Immediately Tom Barth the sales person came over and directed my attention to a used winnebago that the dealer mechanic was busily caulking around the windshield. I had never bought an RV before and had no idea what a person needs to look for or look out for.
The salesperson gave me the impression that it was a solid vehicle and did not disclose any problems. I later found out while researching on the web that when someone caulks around the windows like they were doing it can actually throw the balance of the window off and if there is rust underneath the window can crack and that's exactly what happened two days after taking delivery.
Steve (the owner) made a big point of showing me that all systems were working on the unit and during the test drive the engine A/C did work. As soon as I left the lot after the sale the engine A/C quit and I could not even use the defroster until I got the A/C fixed.
The next morning after purchasing the unit I got the oil changed and while I was pulling into the oil change bay anti-freeze was sloshing out of the radiator area. I immediately called Steve and he told me to bring it by and I did and his mechanic went underneath and said he could not find the leak. A friend pulled off the inner engine cover the leak was very plain to see. Steve told me where to take it but refused to help with the repair and has even denied the problem existed which is bogus.
I also found out the brakes were defective as the Master Cylinder was leaking. I had nothing to compare the level of braking to as I never drove an RV before but after paying to have the Master Cylinder replaced the brakes work great.
The windshields needed to be replaced but the severe rust underneath that Steve did not disclose or make me aware of that he tried to cover up with caulking has caused me to have to pay for the prep work in order to allow the windshields to be replaced.
I complained to the Florida Comsumer Board and Steve even admitted that he wanted to demonstrate to me that all systems worked but all systems did not work.
It's a 1993 Winnebago Brave with 108k. According to NADA value the retail value which indicates that all essential systems are working is around $8,500.00 I paid $8.900.00 plus tax and other fees.
Here is a partial listing of the repairs I have paid for so far.
1. New Radiator - $1,300.00
2. Engine A/C - $780.00
3. Master Cylinder - $575.00
4. Windshield Prep Work - $1,200.00 so far it's not done yet.
When I reported the radiator problem Steve allowed me to park on the lot (guess he felt a little guilty) and it rained hard which exposed some leaks around the front windshield to which Steve remarked about the need for repairs to made. Funny, I thought I paid a price where the material condition met with the idea I was paying retail price for a retail conditioned RV.
Hope your experience is not like mine....
4 Updates & Rebuttals
Ben
New Port Richey,Florida,
LOL
#5Author of original report
Thu, June 05, 2014
The major systems needed for basic operation like the radiator, engine a/c, brake master cyclinder were all defective upon purchase. The day after I bought it, I returned with it with the radiator leaking. Steve's mechanic climbed underneath it and claimed he could not see a leak but failed to remove the inside engine cover. The leak was there. Steve can rebutt all he likes but it doesn't change the fact that I paid high retail for a unit that was worth wholesale at best in it's current condition. The pictures I posted show the intense rust around the windshield. It was not disclosed to me but it was obvious upon removal of the header panel that had to be replaced too that caulking was attempted to cover over rust deterioration. The right hand windshield developed a top to bottom crack within two days after I drove off and I had to pay $772.00 out of my own pocket for the prep work that Florida insurance did not cover. The caulking was an obvious attempt plug a hole in the dike. Upon first rain after driving off the lot the front windshield leaked. As I stated previously a friend looked it over from the outside. So instead of paying high retail for a "retail price" conditioned unit I paid high retail plus over $3500.00 for basic repairs to make it habital upon initial use. Has nothing to do with my use of it, it has to do with the initial condition I bought it as well as the price I paid for it and what was disclosed and what was not...
Five Starr Sales & Service
Hudson,Florida,
scan as/is
#5REBUTTAL Owner of company
Thu, June 05, 2014
A picture is worth a thousand words
Ben
New Port Richey,Florida,
LOL!!!
#5Author of original report
Mon, June 02, 2014
The Brakes were squishy when I test drove it.... I had nothing to compare it to. The person who Steve referred to as "my mechanic" looked at it by simply "eye-balling" it from the outside.
The major components like the Radiator, Engine A/C, and Brake Master cylinder all are essential to the basic operation of the coach which were defective at the time of the sale.
Everybody in business is known by their reputation. One is either up-front and honest and discloses or one tries to hide and circumvent the truth. You can't have it both ways.
My use of the unit has nothing to do with the failure of these major components that failed immediately or were defective to begin with. As Steve stated he wanted to make sure the systems worked. Did he tell me they work right now and as soon as you leave the lot they will cease working? No. Without the Engine A/C working I couldn't run the window defroster because possible metal shavings could have gotten through the system and created more damage. It's funny how Steve's mechanic crawled around the underneath claiming there was no leak when my friend suggested taking off the engine "dog house" and the leak was so obvious.
When Lazy Days removed the inner windshield coverings I was shocked to see how extensive the rust deterioration that was present. There was fresh caulking around the windshield that was placed in an attempt to cover over major rust issues. No discusssion of windshield issues was ever offerred. I guess Steve by his response expects customers to strip down units for sale to the bare bones to get an accurate assessment of material fitness.
Buying anything from a dealer or retail store is an implied sense of trust.
Live and learn. Fool me once shame on you. Fool me twice shame on me....
Five Starr Sales & Service
Hudson,Florida,
sold as is
#5REBUTTAL Owner of company
Mon, June 02, 2014
We showed mr. Fielder that everything was woking when the coach left, he sent his mechanic to check out the coach and he oked it. He bought the coach and signed a as/ is contract. This coach was used very seldom by the previous owners as the husbands health was failing and he was on oxygen. Mr. Fielder is living in the rv full time and using it as his daily driver and is obviously taxing all the old components. We wish him the best of luck.