Complaint Review: Top Gear ImportsLLC - Select State/Province

When you lose money on a bet or a bad investment it can be very disappointing even frustrating… But if you lose because you got hustled you feel like a victim. That's why decided even after agreeing with the car dealer not to file this report that I was going to anyway. Here's what happened to me…

Top-Gear Porsche primarily sells cars on eBay, I saw a 16,000 mile Bentley Continental flying spur for sale which was an oddball because they primarily sell Porsche. The first five times I called the number in the auction I got a voicemail that was either full or was just the generic greeting from the cell provider. Hardly what you would expect from a company selling exotic cars. I had a purchase agreement in hand from a legitimate dealer in Chicago for a nearly identical car, two years newer but TGs deal seems too good to be true and I wanted to talk to someone before I purchased the car. I finally got Sean on the phone who immediately identifies himself as the owner and gives me an unsolicited explanation about how successful he is and the millions of dollars of cars they have in their showroom. Because I have no interest in a old Porsche I politely listened and continued to ask questions about the Bentley.

The long and short of it was he represented that car (on a recorded line) “as absolutely in pristine condition, one female owner, who bought the car off lease. There is not one scratch or defect which is visible… I don't like to use the word “mint, but this is as close to perfect as you can get without buying a new car”. Notwithstanding his explanation I still asked him specifically and about paint scratches and chips, rotors and brakes, and any damage to the rims. Sean can be very charming and he knows he's preaching to the choir... Let's face it, you're looking to buy an exciting car and you are just looking for a guy to validate your purchase sight unseen. In the first conversation we agreed on a price he took the listing on eBay which should have been a huge red flag to me. When an eBay seller does that they are essentially stealing a $50,000 warranty that eBay extends through their auto program. In reality, the dealer doesn't want to pay any additional fees to eBay and stealing your warranty to save himself couple of dollars.

The final discussion with Sean was about them potentially taking a trade of mine. I had a beautiful late model S class Mercedes (4-matic) which had 30,000 miles left or two and half years of a bumper-to-bumper warranty remaining. I also agreed to drive from Ohio to New Jersey to save us both on the aggravation of shipping. While I was making my arrangements the next few days dealing with Sean was becoming increasingly difficult, he routinely only returns one out of three messages if any and when you do get him on the phone he gives you some ridiculous explanation about how he's dealing with some international buyers who are picking up 20 cars. My presumption is that this is supposed to impress me and make me feel as if in dealing with me is more of a courtesy than anything. To summarize the prepurchase experience I have to say, was no better than my first car buying experience at 18 years old when I dealt with a real scumbag at a buy here pay here lot. This one was just wearing Gucci loafers and a handmade Italian blazer.

The day I drove to New Jersey from Ohio was during the polar vortex 2014 and the roads were incredibly dangerous. There was a point during the trip it looked as if we were going to have to turn around about 300 miles into the drive which was extremely disappointing. I tried to call Sean to find out what the weather was like and again, even though he knew I was on my way up, would not answer for five phone calls. It only occurred to me later that he doesn't answer restricted numbers. Think long and hard about why a legitimate businessman wouldn't answer a restricted call especially when dealing cards like this. Is he hiding from bill collectors? Or just infuriated past clients?

I arrived in New Jersey seven hours later and they are in a almost laughable industrial warehouse complex. There's no signs for the business and Sean offers to drive up front and you follow him back to their office? I couldn't find that place again if I tried no matter how much time I had. I arrived and Sean was as charming as ever and laying it on just as thick. We walked into a warehouse and the car I was purchasing was pulled up front completely detailed and absolutely gorgeous. That was at a cursory glance. When I got up close to the car I realized that there was a $200 detailed job but that can't cover up the fact that every single rim was gouged, there were substantial scratches on the trunk lid, and most disturbingly someone had used scotch tape to tape in the weather stripping and the passenger rear door. One of the batteries in the two master keys is dead or simply doesn't work (the replacement key is $500).

Sean was far more interested in showing me around the other cars that allowing me to inspect the one that I was buying. He kept walking me around showing me “special” cars that have outrageous values according to him and that it's the only one in the world etc. etc. etc… When I was done sightseeing, it was time to conclude our business and he had me sign over my title to him and then started to walk out as if we were leaving? I asked him about the title on the Bentley… To which he gave me the most ridiculous explanation I have ever heard. He said that in the state of New Jersey you have to buy the car first and the state issues you a transfer... This is simply not true and I checked with the state. The reason he did this is because they did not have a clean title on the car and so he lied to get me to leave. I should have left with my car and money right then. There's a big warning from Consumer Reports about leaving the dealership without the title in hand, I read the article after I had this concern and literally just prayed that I didn't just hand over a clear title to my car and a bank check for almost $100,000. I would have almost no recourse except for a civil lawsuit according to my attorney.

Fortunately, the title did eventually come in and these geniuses sent it to me FedEx express saver! Can you believe that? I have to wait a week and a half to get the title to my new car and when they finally get it they don't send it overnight they sent it the cheapest possible way they could. Now I was clearly distressed at this point, no title, lots of undisclosed damage, and Sean “was on vacation”. Complete nonsense. So this report doesn't drone on for six or so pages I’ll start the summary here. I have purchased many exotic vehicles sight unseen and it never had this type of experience. His sophomore sales techniques were ultimately effective because I didn't find out about some of the damage until after I got back to Ohio.This was the first Bentley I have ever purchased and I was naïve as to think I need to specifically look for. For instance, if the brakes were not done on this car the cost is $4100. That's an important one.

I have been a derivatives trader for 17 years which means I have a unique understanding of high ticket intangible sales specifically over the phone. Your integrity is absolutely everything. As a matter of fact, if I misrepresent even the smallest detail of one of our investments a disgruntled client could take an action against me using the federal regulatory authority and I would lose. Bottom line, we are required to be honest with people and give them all the facts before they make a decision. Apparently car dealers are still the horse traders that they used to be.

When I tried to get a hold of Sean and kept being told that he was on vacation that was the final straw for me. It's bogus and it's a cheesy boiler room line when you have an upset customer. You ask the other guy in the office to settle him down in hopes that they might go easy on the other salesman who was not involved in the transaction… Good cop bad cop. I wrote a scathing e-mail to this guy's partner who very obviously is the financial underwriter of the entire organization and basically told him that he was dealing with the degenerate liar who totally misrepresented his car in the deal. Surprise surprise… My e-mail was responded to by Sean who was previously busy on vacation but took the time to respond to my e-mail. He knew he screwed up and he knew that I could cause a lot of problems for them but in reality I just wanted the car that I paid for. He even offered to take the car back… Sounds generous right? Not at all, I just spent 14 hours of my life driving back and forth to New Jersey (yes my time has a value) and I didn't do this because I thought it would be a fun experience.

I wanted the car and now that it was in my possession it's my responsibility to get it back into the condition that it was advertised in. Here's the bottom line do not buy anything from top-gear unless you're willing to take your car to an actual new car franchise for a prepurchase inspection. By the way he's got that one covered to… There's some sleazy mechanic around the corner from him that "inspects" his cars for their clients. That's like asking Bernie Madoffs accountant to vouch for their trading. I read another report about these guys after I purchased this car and apparently Sean has quite a history in the auto industry. Don't do what I did, I allowed the laziness and greed to impair my judgment when I should have just walked away. The second I saw the damage on the rims I should've asked him to reimburse me for my trip and left. There are so many legitimate dealers around the country why deal with the drama/crapshoot of someone who operates this way? Hopefully my story gives you pause for thought and if nothing else makes you do your homework before buying anything from this company.