AutoPedigree used car nightmare!

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turbine

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So I’m in the market for a small car just to work and back which is 11 km. I decided a used/demo car would suit me better since I won’t feel bad it baking in the summer sun, nor it getting pelted in the afternoon hail…
I thought a Hyundai Atos or Kia Picanto would be good- from around 2007 onwards…

What a nightmare!

An obvious route is to go via a reputable dealership. And then the run-around begins!
Auto-Pedigree: one dealership still to contact me after I’ve made two visits (its already been nearly 2 weeks), another didn’t have the decency to return messages, and the third wouldn’t even consider my offer to purchase unless I took the ‘optional extras’ of road side assistance for R2500 because they ‘not making any money on the car sale’. When I contacted the Gauteng regional manager and questioned these non-ethical practises of forced ‘optional extras,’ he allowed the advertised price plus R2500 on-the-road costs. To allow the dealership to make some money (on their request), I agreed to finance the car and not pay it cash. Now that finance has been approved, (for the total sale of R65k which took 2 days to eventually obtain), the dealership calls me today and says finance approved, but sorry the car was sold cash to another individual over the weekend!

I offered to pay cash myself, also asked to sign an OTP but was told its not necessary since it was a gentleman’s agreement- only to be told today its been sold! A wasted afternoon of test driving and filling in forms too…
Further: all it seems that sales-persons are interested in is affordability: would I be able to qualify for the car loan; not interested in trying to sell you the car first (like service at BMW who allow you to test drive, quote on extras, then a chance to apply for finance). If car sales are down, I expect greater levels of service in this entry level vehicle market. With close to 4.3 million unemployed people in this country, you’d think people would take their jobs more seriously!

This makes it very clear to me that people less fortunate than me who are forced into this price range (sub R120k market), are cheated and deceived, and do not get the service and respect that they deserve.

Any thoughts anyone?
 
Thats salesmen for you, I'm not surprised. Next time - buy private and have a mechanic check it over if in doubt.
 
not surprising. you are there to service their commission. not them try to give you a useful service...the customer usually gets screwed. 'on the road costs'. what a joke. and now 'road side assistance'
 
"how much do you plan to spend?" is a total no-no in my book. Sell me a car rather....and they are still too lazy to do that....the general attitude: why bother and waste their time IF you are not going to buy...
 
Ridiculous, thanks for taking one for the team here and informing us! Will keep this in mind when I'm looking in the next couple of months.
 
when u get there they expect you to go find them. if no one comes to me i just walk out. if u not prepared to get off your fat but then i will go elsewhere. i'm sure they want to ask:'are you going to buy or are you just wasting my time here?'
 
I would make a stink. Hello Peter, Auto Pedigree H/O, the obutsman, I would keep going until they make right for their actions. Whatever that may be.
 
Guess I know where I won't be buying or selling a car. Thanks for the info.
 
turbine said:
I offered to pay cash myself, also asked to sign an OTP but was told its not necessary since it was a gentleman’s agreement- only to be told today its been sold!
Click to expand...

The problem with a gentlemen's agreement is that it requires two gentlemen, and it seems that your agreement was short of that, by one.
 
the graduate said:
"how much do you plan to spend?"
Click to expand...

I also got asked that at all 3 dealerships and I dont really understand that question: whether I buy a old Picanto, or a new Lamborghini, I plan to spend the least amount of money... no fancy accounting principle here.
 
turbine said:
Any thoughts anyone?
Click to expand...

Yes. I can pretty much mirror your experience. A few months ago I was also urgently looking to purchase a car (also sub R120k) after mine was written off by a truck. Anyway, after searching for almost 2 months, I came accross quite a number of different characters. Some real good guys (one whom I eventually bought from) and some crooks.

Have had 2 different cars sold 'in cash by another salesman' while I am in the process of buying them. Numerous times when I call in to enquire I hear 'sorry, the price advertised was a mistake, it's actually 5 thousand more'. One car was mysteriously 'in an accident' all of a sudden and could not be sold to me. Service & delivery fees that vary from 5k-2k (insane considering the purchase price of the vehicle). The guy I eventually bought from was the most honest (think his straightforwardness had more to do with his inexperience than anything else).

But yes, I agree. The sub R120 is a crazy segment. Money talks, sadly. These a55holes know there are enough buyers to rip-off, so pissing one off with pathetic service is not going to affect their sales. Sad but true. Good luck buddy.
 
Madman88 said:
I would make a stink. Hello Peter, Auto Pedigree H/O, the obutsman, I would keep going until they make right for their actions. Whatever that may be.
Click to expand...

I did contact Mr Fritz Luckhoff (Regional Manager Gauteng- see their website for other regions) initially when the dealership refused selling me the car because they 'weren't making money' on the deal. I expressed my dissatisfaction received with the various dealerships but have not gotten any feedback. Seems like higher management not interested in poor service delivered at customer/client level. Very disappointing seeing the large budget placed on marketing the company.
 
ALWAYS sign the OTP if you intend taking the car.

Apart from that if you want FANTASTIC service contact Subaru Durban. PM me if you want any extra info, or click on my link in my signature.
 
I had very good results from an enquiry on McCarthy call a Car. I didn't buy from them, but I was impressed with the service.
 
Ancalagon said:
Thats salesmen for you, I'm not surprised. Next time - buy private and have a mechanic check it over if in doubt.
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If I buy a car privately, does anyone know what paperwork I need to do? Generally cars are cheaper going private- so maybe its an option to explore. Thanks in advance.
 
turbine said:
If I buy a car privately, does anyone know what paperwork I need to do? Generally cars are cheaper going private- so maybe its an option to explore. Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...

Proof of the fact that the car has been paid for, then your standard change of ownership papers, best in duplicate.
The fact that they are cheaper doesn't always mean that you are getting a better deal, however...Buyer Beware!
 
The_Librarian said:
I would be very, very, VERY careful with private deals.

You never know what you'll end up with.
Click to expand...

This leads to an interesting point worth mentioning. The Picanto being sold to me by AutoPedigree had a few problems with it (aircon was definitely not working). But it was promised to be repaired as part of the deal after I mentioned it.
Because I refused to accept the R2500 road-side-assistance optional-extra package, the dealership refused to replace the rear tyres, which was in a bad state: I even doubted it would pass the COR test. Can a dealership sell me a car with almost smooth tyres? In fact what are the responsibilities of a dealership sale, if any?

Anyone know?
 
turbine said:
This leads to an interesting point worth mentioning. The Picanto being sold to me by AutoPedigree had a few problems with it (aircon was definitely not working). But it was promised to be repaired as part of the deal after I mentioned it.
Because I refused to accept the R2500 road-side-assistance optional-extra package, the dealership refused to replace the rear tyres, which was in a bad state: I even doubted it would pass the COR test. Can a dealership sell me a car with almost smooth tyres? In fact what are the responsibilities of a dealership sale, if any?

Anyone know?
Click to expand...
The car should be sold to you in a fully roadworthy condition.
If tyres even vaguely look suspect, we fit new ones. "Add ons" like the roadside assistance should not affect the deal in any way ever!

It sounds as if this particular dealer needs to be steered well clear of!
 
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