- Report: #439295
Complaint Review: Alta Vista Auto - Phoenix Arizona
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Alta Vista Auto
323 East Dunlap Avenue Phoenix, 85020 Arizona, U.S.A.
Phone:
602-331-9000
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Alta Vista Auto, Joe owner DO NOT BUY FROM ALTA VISTA AUTO! Phoenix Arizona
January 14, 2009, I was looking for a Nissan Maxima online, when I came across one that I wanted to look at. This Maxima was advertised by Alta Vista Auto on their website, so I called to gather a little more information about the vehicle.
After receiving information about the Maxima, the salesman's exact words were "ya man come take a look at it, it's sitting here in the lot now, and it's hot!"
Alta Vista Auto is 20 minutes from my house, and I was there in 20 minutes. I entered the lot, and drove around for a few minutes looking for the Maxima, but didn't see it. I parked, and was approached by Joe, the owner. I asked him where the Maxima was located on the lot, and he said in a saddening manner "oh, we sold that two days ago, I'm sorry." I was upset and explained to him that I was just told it was here on the lot, and rushed here to look at it.
"I really apologize, my salesman was not aware that I had sold it," was the BS excuse he gave me. He added, "take a look around the lot, if you see anything you like, I'll give you a good deal because of the inconvenience."
I was pissed, but decided since I wasted time, gas, and energy I'd might as well take a quick look around the lot. I spotted a beautiful Cadillac, and talked to Joe about it. He claimed it was his friend's trade-in, and it had been very well taken care of. I liked what I saw, and took it on a test drive: no problems. I didn't get it checked out first, which was a huge mistake on my part, but after an hour and a half, I was excitedly on my way home with my cool new caddy.
Within a week, I noticed a pretty distinct oil leak, and told them about it, only to be told they couldn't help me. Okay, fine. Well, after being told I'd recieve my plate in 2-3 weeks, I received my plate almost 2 months later. Also, after being told I would be given a 6 disc cd changer that was missing, the day I picked up my plate I asked about it for the fifth time and was told they couldn't get me a 6 disc anymore, and they were "sorry."
A week ago, I started feeling grinding near the front end and thought it was the brakes. I took my cool caddy to a very honest family-friend mechanic. After looking at it for an hour, he was to be the bearer of bad news: the driveshaft was shot, and needed to be replaced ASAP; the oil leak was not simply a repairable oil leak. I had leaks EVERYWHERE. My mechanic told me that I had every possible leak an engine could have. For the first time in my life, I was told by a mechanic to get rid of this POS as soon as I could, or I'd be paying close to $4,000 in repairs.
To add to this crappy caddy story, Alta Vista Auto lies, falsely advertises on the web, and does NOT live up to their word. To gather some info about Alta Vista Auto, I went to their website (www.altavistaauto.com) about 20 minutes ago, only to see the ORIGINAL MAXIMA and MY CADILLAC still advertised. I have never seen anything more conniving and sneaky.
DO NOT BUY FROM ALTA VISTA AUTO, YOU WILL BE A VERY UNHAPPY CUSTOMER.
Kelz
Glendale, Arizona
U.S.A.
After receiving information about the Maxima, the salesman's exact words were "ya man come take a look at it, it's sitting here in the lot now, and it's hot!"
Alta Vista Auto is 20 minutes from my house, and I was there in 20 minutes. I entered the lot, and drove around for a few minutes looking for the Maxima, but didn't see it. I parked, and was approached by Joe, the owner. I asked him where the Maxima was located on the lot, and he said in a saddening manner "oh, we sold that two days ago, I'm sorry." I was upset and explained to him that I was just told it was here on the lot, and rushed here to look at it.
"I really apologize, my salesman was not aware that I had sold it," was the BS excuse he gave me. He added, "take a look around the lot, if you see anything you like, I'll give you a good deal because of the inconvenience."
I was pissed, but decided since I wasted time, gas, and energy I'd might as well take a quick look around the lot. I spotted a beautiful Cadillac, and talked to Joe about it. He claimed it was his friend's trade-in, and it had been very well taken care of. I liked what I saw, and took it on a test drive: no problems. I didn't get it checked out first, which was a huge mistake on my part, but after an hour and a half, I was excitedly on my way home with my cool new caddy.
Within a week, I noticed a pretty distinct oil leak, and told them about it, only to be told they couldn't help me. Okay, fine. Well, after being told I'd recieve my plate in 2-3 weeks, I received my plate almost 2 months later. Also, after being told I would be given a 6 disc cd changer that was missing, the day I picked up my plate I asked about it for the fifth time and was told they couldn't get me a 6 disc anymore, and they were "sorry."
A week ago, I started feeling grinding near the front end and thought it was the brakes. I took my cool caddy to a very honest family-friend mechanic. After looking at it for an hour, he was to be the bearer of bad news: the driveshaft was shot, and needed to be replaced ASAP; the oil leak was not simply a repairable oil leak. I had leaks EVERYWHERE. My mechanic told me that I had every possible leak an engine could have. For the first time in my life, I was told by a mechanic to get rid of this POS as soon as I could, or I'd be paying close to $4,000 in repairs.
To add to this crappy caddy story, Alta Vista Auto lies, falsely advertises on the web, and does NOT live up to their word. To gather some info about Alta Vista Auto, I went to their website (www.altavistaauto.com) about 20 minutes ago, only to see the ORIGINAL MAXIMA and MY CADILLAC still advertised. I have never seen anything more conniving and sneaky.
DO NOT BUY FROM ALTA VISTA AUTO, YOU WILL BE A VERY UNHAPPY CUSTOMER.
Kelz
Glendale, Arizona
U.S.A.
4 Updates & Rebuttals
Justsomeguy564
Phoenix,Arizona,
U.S.A.
I bought from there
#2Consumer Comment
Thu, July 02, 2009
I was a little hazy about buying from them after I saw this report, but the dealI found was too good to pass up. I bought the car from them a while ago, and have had no problems. I talked with Joe and found him to be a pretty nice guy. At least in my experience, their service has been good.
Flynrider
Phoeix,Arizona,
U.S.A.
Probably not.
#3Consumer Comment
Tue, April 07, 2009
If I absolutely had to have a car that minute, no I probably wouldn't have done the same thing. I would have rented a car. I'm not much of a gambler, so rolling the dice with a big chunk of money is something I try to avoid. I'm glad you have a warranty. Hopefully, it's a factory warranty and not one of those shady third party warranties that used car dealers pawn off on unsuspecting customers. If it is a third party, check the "auto warranties" section of this site.
Kelz
Glendale,Arizona,
U.S.A.
Luckily...
#4Author of original report
Tue, March 31, 2009
Luckily I have a warranty on the vehicle, which means it wasn't necessarily 'as is.' And not getting it checked out first, yes it was a big mistake, but I had absolutely NO time to get it checked out first, as I was in desperate need of a vehicle right at that minute due to family issues. I will now have repairs done to my vehicle, thanks to the warranty. Think of it this way: if I didn't buy the vehicle and go through this horrible experience, some other poor soul would have, and be in the same position I am in. If you desperately needed a vehicle at that very minute due to personal issues and you were in my shoes, you would be that poor soul. Think about it.
Flynrider
Phoeix,Arizona,
U.S.A.
You hit the nail on the head.
#5Consumer Comment
Tue, March 31, 2009
"I didn't get it checked out first, which was a huge mistake on my part" This is probably the most common mistake made when buying a used car. Used cars are sold "as is" with no warranty. If you don't take the time to get it checked out by a good mechanic, you are stuck with whatever problems it has. It doesn't really matter if the salesman told you it was in great shape. When you agree to buy "as is" that overrides anything the salesman told you. 90% of the complaints about used cars here are from folks who didn't bother to get the car checked out before purchase, but amazingly had the time to do so AFTER they bought a car "as is". This is totally backwards and dealers rely on buyers like this to get rid of the junk cars on their lot. As the purchase of a car is probably the second largest purchase one could make, it just doesn't make any sense to take the word of a used car salesman. They know once you sign on the dotted line and drive off the lot, any problems will be yours. They have absolutely no incentive to be honest about the car's actual condition. One more thing, the business with the CD changer is another common tactic. Car dealerships will often promise to deliver some equipment or fix a known problem "later". They know full well that when you sign the purchase contract agreeing to buy the vehicle "as is", they're under no obligation to do anything for you once you drive away. One way to protect yourself is to get any follow ups specifically in writing, but the best way is just to refuse to buy the car until it is in a condition that is acceptable to you.
