Complaint Review: Varsity Lincoln

In spring of 2008 my rusty 1991 Cadillac finally died. I was a 21 year old college student and blue collar machine shop worker by day and was a security guard by night.  My credit was crappy, around a 640 at the time.  I saw a 2006 Mercury Grand Marquis listed for $11,985 with only 38k miles on the dash I thought "Woah, big...safe...cheap....has a warranty." So I called and was transferred to this Ed Harrell guy.  He said the car was outside and had just been detailed and insisted he could get me zero down or low down payment financing. So I arranged a ride and went to Novi.  I met Ed, who was a large man in every sense of the word.  He was taller, heavy set, and had a "Mr. Wilson" aura to him.  I introduced myself and we shook hands.  I asked to see the car but he INSISTED on getting a loan approved first.  He said it was company policy.  He insisted my credit was a 504 and said that he couldn't get me into the Mercury.  He had already had a credit app filled out for a loan company, Credit Acceptance, and insisted they would only finance a cheaper car.   He had a $10,000 Ford Crown Victoria on the app so I offered to pay the $2000 difference for this Mercury and he laughed in my face.  He told me "that's not how it works".  At that time his phone rang so I stepped out for a smoke and to check my voicemail.  As I walked the lot looking for the "nordic or baltic" blue 2006 Mercury I was confused as to how a dealer that had so many nice and new cars listed online had nothing but older model (like mid to late 90's) cars and trucks on their lot.  I walked over to the detail bay to ask the guy where the merc was.  He looked and insisted that he had done six black Lincoln Navigators, a maroon Sable and white Mustang that week.  He swore up and down that no blue Mercury Marquis had come into his bay and he assured me that he was the only guy that detailed cars for this place.  He sort of rolled his eyes when I menotioned Ed.  

Back inside Ed was insulted that I even thought to question where the car was, stating that he sold it shortly before I arrived. He said that his phone call was the bank saying they approved me on the Crown Vic but said it required a $1500 down payment.  He took me out to look at it.  He would not let me touch it, breathe on it, much less sit in it witout a commitment to purchase it that day.  He kept insisting he wanted to help my credit and wanted to take care of me like a son yet he almost bullied me with his words.  It was 4:20 PM Friday and I had to face purchasing this thing or being without a car and losing my jobs and flunking out of school. I told Ed I wabred to think about it over the weekend.  He asked how I was going to get home so concerned for my safety. I told him I'd catch a bus or a cab.  He smirked and said "busses don't run out here. This isn't THAT kind of town".  This was the first time I became agitated with Ed.  I'm from Grosse Pointe Shores, born and raised, (No, not a trust fund baby like my peers) so I told him I wanted to take a walk.  I went looking for the big boss or owner and to my suprise the receptionist pointed to a tall guy in a gray suit walking to the front door. I intercepred him, introduced myself and briefly explained the whole Ed Harrell problem. He looked at me, and was so disgusted that I would question the quality of a car or a salesman.  He assured me that Ed was a fatherly man and had my best interests in mind then he stormed out.  

I decided to get it over with.  I told Ed that it was a deal.  He drove me to the bank.  I have him a cash deposit,  signed the papers and went home.  The car died twice that weekend.   I called on Saturday. He said to come back Monday. I ran my credit saturday find I had a 647 score. I also got a zero down approval for $15,000 from my bank. Too bad I was young, dumb and impressionable. 

The car lasted six months before dying (bent and rotted frame rail was filled and fell off thus render the car useless. A friend had recently started working for a Buick dealer.  He did a carfax and ran my vin. This car was Totaled and salvaged in Michigan. It was sold to a shop in Ohio. It was brougtobacco to Michigan (title washing) which cleaned the title. It was then financed.  Ed Harrell and Varsity Lincoln sure know how to dig their claws into impressionable youths. Good job guys...you made a sale. And only managed to break a few laws doing it.  SHAME ON ME. Tough lesson learned.