Joe
Platteville,#2Consumer Suggestion
Fri, October 21, 2005
Try this....go back to the dealer and very quitely and firmly state that if something isn't done to remedy the situation, you are going to go down the street, come back later, point the car at the dealership and drive right into their showroom while you miraculously jump out at the last minute...and sue them for all they're worth. Why? Because with all of the other problems with your vehicle, any court of law will reasonably figure that the car was acting indescribably "funny" again and something must have gone wrong yet again to cause a sudden accelleration or inability to control the car (and you were on your way to get checked out) and that you were obviously sold a defective car. You're last minute escape from the vehicle will be seen as miraculous, and the press will have a field day with the whole thing. Not to say this is totally legal or ethical, but it did work very well for someone I know. They didn't actually have to do it, but the mere firm, matter-of-fact, and calm manner in which he described to them how this would play out scared the crap out of the dealer enough to replace the car. Who's the court going to believe? Why...you've got a track record of repeat visits and shoddy mechanic work, along with an overall defective car. One more thing going wrong with the car will look totally normal given your vehicle's mechanical history, and your "accident" and miraculous escape will make nice 6 o'clock news material and press that the dealer will not want to have get out there for all to see. You will need to use your best poker face...and really intend on doing it or they will see right through you.
Marc
Makaha,#3Consumer Suggestion
Fri, October 21, 2005
Where I live anyways, there is a little trick the car dealers play. You buy the warranty, but on a used vehicle the dealer's shop doesn't actually do the repair. As soon as you are out of sight your car is towed a block away to to a shop that does their used car work. Some are good, some are not so good. I'd check the parts they are using, are they dealer parts or El Cheapo crap? Why would a dealer install a rebuilt? When you buy a used vehicle you do assume some risk, and it doesn't look like your Chevy is all that bad, considering it's a 97 with unknown history. Just consider yourself lucky as you won't be buying any of Katrina's flood cars which are now appearing on dealer lots and being sold as "like new".
Marc
Makaha,#4Consumer Suggestion
Fri, October 21, 2005
Where I live anyways, there is a little trick the car dealers play. You buy the warranty, but on a used vehicle the dealer's shop doesn't actually do the repair. As soon as you are out of sight your car is towed a block away to to a shop that does their used car work. Some are good, some are not so good. I'd check the parts they are using, are they dealer parts or El Cheapo crap? Why would a dealer install a rebuilt? When you buy a used vehicle you do assume some risk, and it doesn't look like your Chevy is all that bad, considering it's a 97 with unknown history. Just consider yourself lucky as you won't be buying any of Katrina's flood cars which are now appearing on dealer lots and being sold as "like new".
Marc
Makaha,#5Consumer Suggestion
Fri, October 21, 2005
Where I live anyways, there is a little trick the car dealers play. You buy the warranty, but on a used vehicle the dealer's shop doesn't actually do the repair. As soon as you are out of sight your car is towed a block away to to a shop that does their used car work. Some are good, some are not so good. I'd check the parts they are using, are they dealer parts or El Cheapo crap? Why would a dealer install a rebuilt? When you buy a used vehicle you do assume some risk, and it doesn't look like your Chevy is all that bad, considering it's a 97 with unknown history. Just consider yourself lucky as you won't be buying any of Katrina's flood cars which are now appearing on dealer lots and being sold as "like new".
Marc
Makaha,#6Consumer Suggestion
Fri, October 21, 2005
Where I live anyways, there is a little trick the car dealers play. You buy the warranty, but on a used vehicle the dealer's shop doesn't actually do the repair. As soon as you are out of sight your car is towed a block away to to a shop that does their used car work. Some are good, some are not so good. I'd check the parts they are using, are they dealer parts or El Cheapo crap? Why would a dealer install a rebuilt? When you buy a used vehicle you do assume some risk, and it doesn't look like your Chevy is all that bad, considering it's a 97 with unknown history. Just consider yourself lucky as you won't be buying any of Katrina's flood cars which are now appearing on dealer lots and being sold as "like new".
Michael
Winchester,#7Consumer Comment
Thu, October 20, 2005
quite funny i didnt think i was the only one with a piece of junk. i also bought my suburban being only three years old with 30000 miles truck looked brand new still does. 6 months later antifreeze leak intake mainifold had it fixed 6 months later new engine time no warranty so that cost me only the beginning. air condition replaced twice still has a leak to this today that no one can find. rear axles,bearings,axel seals u-joints, wiper do not function properly they work but will just stop at anytime they had a recall on the wiper circuit board which i replaced free of charge but now there screwed again. three sets of brakes in 4 years i know its a heavy truck but come on thats a little to muchh had to replace taillamp circuit boards were so crudded up where the taillights leaked they no longer worked.same switch in drivers door replaced luckily no fire.after doing the engine swap i use green antifreeze instead of dex-cool will make the same suggestion for everyone else.dont think im leaving anything out just a really unhappy chevrolet owner cant really sell or trade it in due to such high repair bills. would take a big loss just have to hope the truck doesnt burn to the ground.
Robert
Jacksonville,#8Consumer Comment
Thu, September 29, 2005
While I'll grant you, the truck is a "pile", and you have been saddled with more than your fair share of troubles with it, it does not qualify as a "lemon". Every problem was different, and not one was a problem 3 times. You never posted the mileage on the truck when you bought it. The next time you purchase a used vehicle, look at the mileage. Why is the mileage very low, or very high. If the mileage is averaging about 15K miles per year, it is getting normal use. If the vehicle is 3 years old and shows 15K miles total, there is a problem. If it's 3 years old and shows 90K miles, it's been abused. Nobody who drives that many miles on a vehicle changes the oil as they should or does any other maintenance to it. They don't have the time. I think you got someone else's headache. It may have even been turned back in under a "lemon" law. You can use CARFAX and find out. I would use it if I was looking for a used vehicle. Try CARFAX and see what shows up on the report. You can get 3 reports for $25, not a bad deal if it turns up something you can use. Good Luck.