Complaint Review: Serra Toyota Decatur Alabama - Decatur Alabama

We are Senior Citizens and have never purchased a foreign car. On May 24, 2013 we went to Serra Toyota Decatur to look at a new car. We were interested in the Camry.We were impressed with the 5 Star Safety features which includes 10 airbags that the Camry L had and the Lifetime Powertrain Warranty.That being said, I test drove a Blue Camry L 2013 as my husband is a handicapped Disabled Veteran. We were impressed with the handling of the vehicle and the power that the 4 Cylinder had. We also were impressed with the room in the interior space in the vehicle as we are both over 6 foot tall and need more leg room. We were also impressed by the Fuel Economy advertised on the sticker. 

Our salesman was Travis Acklin and during the test drive,we inquired about any Dealer Incentives, Military Discount and Memorial Day savings with it being Memorial Day Weekend. Back at the dealership we viewed a Magnetic Gray Charcoal color that we liked and asked Mr. Acklin if they had the same color in a Camry L. He replied yes, we have one of that color. We were then ushered in to negotiate the discounts and Serra dealership incentives. We were told by Mr. Aclkin that they have a Military Discount of $500.00 off the price and a Cash Matching Program where the dealership would match it up to $2000.00. We also had a trade-in that they gave us $2000.00 off the price. As we had $2000.00 to put down, plus Toyota matching $2000.00, plus $2000.00 trade in allowance, plus $500.00 Military Discount it totaled $6500.00 which was to be deducted from the price of the Camry L. My husbnd and I were impressed with the savings and said we would purchase the Camry L. Up to this point we still hadn't seen this Charcoal Camry L, never being given the time to examine the car or take it for a test drive. Mr. Acklin said that the car was being detailed in their shop. Mr. Aclikin advised us that it was the same car we test drove previously just in a different color. After sitting in the dealership for over an hour, Mr. Acklin excorted us to the Finance Office where we met Mr. Paul de Slanc or Paul de Blanc, his handwriting isn't totally legilible on the contract. We signed all the necessary documents to purchase the Camry L VIN#4T1BF1FK6DU679322. Mr.de Blanc tried to explain the discounts to us, but they didn't add up to us. Paperwork in hand, we were then excorted to where they had the said "new" vehicle sitting. The vehicle had been backed into the the "new" car delivery area. We went out to inspect the vehicle. I opened the driver door to look inside the vehicle. My husband walking with his cane walked around the car to look at the vehicle. Upon coming to the front of the "new" vehicle he noticed bug debris on the front of the car and also saw a few scratches on the hood and grill of the "new" car. As my husband confronted Mr. Acklin about the scratches and the bug debris, I had started the vehicle and noticed that the odometer had 206 miles registering on the display. We then told Mr. Acklin that we did not want this vehicle as it is a "used" vehicle. and that we were going to leave. We then went back into the Finance Manager's office to have the contract destroyed and get our paperwork on our trade back so we could leave, Mr. Acklin found us and amazingly when orignally there was only one on the lot, he told us they have another car of the same model and color on the lot. We demanded to see the car to make sure that it was indeed a new car. Mr. Acklin brought the car around so we could inspect it and seing no visible damage or scratches and the odometer had 3 miles registering on the display.New car VIN#4T1BF1FK7DU678180. While waiting on the new paperwork to be drawn up, Mr. Acklin came to us and said that the detailing department had left for the day and he would do his best to detail the car himself for us. Now keep in mind, we had already been at the dealership for over 5 hours. We should have walked out along time before afteri being lied to about the first "new" car.

As of the date of this post June 16, 2013 we were looking over the paperwork on this car we noticed that Serra Toyota did not match our $2000.00 cash nor give us the $500.00 Military Discount= $2500.00. We were rippped off that amount and due to being exhausted after spending over 6 hours there, we were ready to just leave.

This is our first complaint against Serra Toyota of Decatur and there will be more to follow. June 7, 2013 with 606.3 miles onthe car the front axle assambly was improperly installed by Toyota and BROKE!!!!!! We only hope and pray that this report helps other car consumers to BEWARE and stay away from SERRA TOYOTA OF DECATUR AND BIRMINGHAM ALABAMA. Any and all advice to steer us in the right direction would be appreciated. God Bless and Stay Safe.

There will also be complaints filed with the Better Business Bureau of Decatur and with the NHTSA at safercar.gov.