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Star Car International, Inc. Lies, Lies, Lies Internet
I purchase a 1999 SL500 from Star Car International that the had listed on ebay.
I'll start by saying in spite of their deceptive business practices, I still like the car, I just wouldn't have paid the price I did had they been honest about the condition of the car.
Yes, I realize it's a 13 year old car with nearly 90,000 miles on it, but that does not give anyone a license to misrepresent a vehicle or to flagrantly lie when asked direct questions about specific items. Telling me that there were no leaks in the hydralic top system when the whole front header is full of oil is criminal. Selling the car with a poorly painted hardtop from a different car with the wrong color interior is shameful.
I Asked: This model car has 11 hydraulic cylinders to operate the top. If they are leaking, it's an expensive repair. I asked about the top condition and if there were any leaks.
They said: The soft top is in excellent condition, with no rips or tears or flaws. And it works perfectly with no hydraulic leaks of any kind.
Reality: Both front cylinder leak like crazy, dripping oil onto the seats or your lap. The top has 2 tears, not all the way through, but it won't be long. Plastic window is fair at best, and the leaking front cylinders probably mean the other 9 are on their way out too. Cylinder replacement at the dealer is a $6,000.00 job.
I asked: After seeing a broken antennae, A brake light out, and the interior cover inside the side mirror off, I asked if these items were being repaired.
They Said: Yes we are fixing the antenna and brake lights and mirror. The substance under the hood is the glue from the heat shield.
Reality: The Antennae is a cheap $29 version that looks silly retracting down into the oversized well. I don't blame them for not spending $300 on the real one, but they could have done a lot better for $20 about more. Only one brake light worked. The middle one needed rewiring. Also out, both cornering lights, trunk light, a fog light and a turn signal. I replaced the turn signal bulb, socket and lens when it flew off the car on the highway. The mirror is stuck in auto dim night mode, and the triangular trim piece inside doesn't stay on with the piece of velcro they installed.
Here is their description of the car from ebay:
"Stunning black/tan 1999 Mercedes SL500 AMG Sport Package."
YES from a slight distance
"Fully loaded with cd-changer, xenon lights, heated seats, hard and soft top"
YES, except the soft top leaks oil on you while you drive, and the hard top belonged to a different car, and was painted black and has a grey interior that is falling off. The car has tan interior.
"Garage kept with 86k miles. Well maintained with no warning lights. Runs and drives like new" uhhh....NO. Drives like an older car that needs work. A lot of work.
"The interior is very clean and was never smoked in."
NO the interior was filthy, and after 3 steam cleans the carpet if starting to look fair. Leather seats are cracked and hydraulic oil is NOT a good leather conditioner. Broken plastic pieces everywhere.
"The paint and body are near flawless with no dings or dents."
While the car finish is generally good, there are at least a dozen dents and dings, and a palm sized spot of cracking paint on the hood.
"Must see to appreciate."
I wish I had. I only wish I had.
6 Updates & Rebuttals
Peter
Palatine,Illinois,
United States of America
Can you say "Missing the Point"?
#7Author of original report
Mon, October 15, 2012
Sell crazy someplace else, we're all stocked up here.
Jim
Orlando,Florida,
USA
Don't Like It?
#7Consumer Comment
Fri, October 12, 2012
If you can't stand being "confused" by the facts or by common sense then don't post here. This is an OPEN site and its too bad if you want to stomp your feet when someone points out your obvious errors here. What you're doing is as if you blindfolded yourself then tried to cross the busiest street in your town. Then in your dying breath you blame the car which hit you! Looking at it another way is some 75 year old guy who throws away his life savings, his house, his car and all his belongings to some 23 year old bleached blond floosie who puts on an act that she'll so interested in him!
There's no way you can justify buying a used car sight unseen! Should the dealer have treated you as a valued customer and should the dealer had been totally honest with you? Absolutely! Instead, they clearly lied to you. They clearly misrepresented the car to you. They treated you like garbage. They saw an opportunity to push off this junk on someone who was willing to take it. You went in leading with your chin. You couldn't wait to have "that car". The bottom line to all this is what you wanted was a fine car. I have no problem with that. If you would have seen this thing prior to purchase you would have walked the other way.
Peter
Palatine,Illinois,
United States of America
Why are you posting here?
#7Author of original report
Wed, October 10, 2012
Dear Jim
How 'bout this? Start your own blog called "Big-brained Jim's car buying tips for all you STUPID people"
Go post on there to your hearts content to help save humanity and create a stronger nation.
This particular site is called "Ripoff report" with the tagline "let the truth be known".
I don't want sypathy, advice, or opinions from you, or any other pompous a**.
My reason for posting the truth here is simple. I am providing an opinion about one particular
dealer that I puchased a car from. This particular dealer does not provide honest descriptions.
I did check the dealers reputation, but unfortunately, I found no post such as mine warning
that this dealer is dishonest. Now others will. That's the whole point here. Period.
Go somewhere else to rant like a lunitic, you're now helping anyone.
Love,
Pete
Jim
Orlando,Florida,
USA
If I Wanted a Car 500 Miles Away....
#7Consumer Comment
Wed, October 10, 2012
First I would check out the reputation of the dealership. Second, I would GO SEE the car, take it for a test drive, check ALL the accessories, check it out in the daytime and thru a referal from some mechanics I know I would have a mechanic I know check it out BEFORE any money is put down. If the dealer was unwilling to comply with any of my provisions, NO SALE!
Anybody with half a brain knows the problems with buying a USED car. Most of us know somebody who has been hosed by a seller of used cars. It has happened enough times in the history of the sorry Sleazy American Car Business that someone who would simply send off their money to somebody they don't know to buy a USED CAR they've never seen, never test driven or never had their own mechanic check over needs to have their head examined.
What it all comes down to is someone being so infatuated with a stupid car, they are ready, willing and able to throw COMMON SENSE out the window and do something STUPID like buying a used car sight unseen. Then when they get screwed, its cry and whine about the big bad car dealer, when in reality their willingness to participate in such a STUPID PURCHASE tells the seller, "We have a live one here." P. T. Barnum was right on target when he said, "A sucker is born every minute!"
Peter
Palatine,Illinois,
United States of America
You but the car you want, and I'll buy mine.
#7Author of original report
Tue, October 09, 2012
The world is a big place. If you want to limit yourself to the cars available locally, that's your business.
When you search nationally, you increase the number of available cars dramatically. Companies like ebay, cars.com, and dozens of others have done very well by providing consumers with more car options, better prices than they may get locally, and in many cases, cars in better condition with lower milage. I have bought three other cars online, and they were all as described, and I saved a bundle on them. The reason this site exists, and the reason I took the time to post, is to tell others that this particular dealer does NOT provide accurate descriptions of the vehicles he is selling.
There are other sites that will allow praise for honest dealers when it's due. Most dealers who sell cars online are honest about the cars, and the transaction goes smoothly. Almost every major dealership has an internet department now. This dealer, however, is a crook and therefore does not deserve the right to keep lying to others. Don't condemn buying cars unseen just because you don't believe it is a good idea. Condemn dishonest dealers and help praise the good ones. Who knows, maybe some day you won't be such a pompous a*s and you might want a car that is 500 miles away.
Jim
Orlando,Florida,
USA
Same Old Story
#7Consumer Comment
Sun, October 07, 2012
I guess we're supposed to feel sorry for you, right? You send your money off to somebody you don't know and buy an old used car you've never seen. Anybody with half a brain knows about the problems associated with buying a used car. Anybody. Here you are not even seeing the car and you send off your money. Does the elevator reach the top floor? Should they have been honest? Of course! Should you have used common sense just in case they weren't honest? Of course! But all for a stupid car you throw common sense out the window to send money to somebody you don't know to buy a used car you never have seen, never have performed a walk around, never test drove, never had your own mechanic check out, never checked all the accessories. You now expect to find sympathy here? The only people who would even remotely feel sorry for you are those equally without common sense who would do the same stupid thing. One good thing you did is prove P. T. Barnum's point when he said, "A sucker is born every minute!".