Dishonest Car dealer ?

[ivanlotter]

I took a 2014 Merc Vito for a test drive today. 78000 km on the clock. Dealer seems reputable and part of a wellknown brand car dealership. I took the VIN and ran it through mercedes database and all the specs are the same and engine number however the year of delivery/ manufacture is 2012.

I will contact Merc on monday to check.

I thought i will just mention it on here to make people aware and not name any company’s but to Double check everything.

I had enough of thieves. This is on the back of losing a deposit for,a canopy I ordered making me super suspicious of everyone. Last week I was in Finland and once again shocked at the honesty in all their systems.

 

[Grubscrew]

Possible that it was only registered in SA in 2014.

Maybe manufactured in late 2012, delivered early 2013, maybe sold late 2013, but registered Jan 2014?

 

[tRoN]

Which database did you use?

 

[ivanlotter]

Which database did you use?

https://www.datamb.com/

 

[ivanlotter]

Possible that it was only registered in SA in 2014.

Maybe manufactured in late 2012, delivered early 2013, maybe sold late 2013, but registered Jan 2014?

Perhaps. Released and delivered Sept 2012

 

[supersunbird]

Cars can sit many months in some lot before even being shipped to the dealer to be sold, so as long as the model year number is correct and servicing records are correct, no issue.

 

[tRoN]

The scenario could be that the vehicle was initially captured on the system in December 2012 when a customer cancelled the deal and then was transferred to the used section and was only sold Dec 2013 for registration in Jan 2014

OR. The dealer is a crook.

 

[Swa]

OP doesn't know a car can sit for 1 or 2 years from manufacturing to being sold?

 

[supersunbird]

Cars can sit many months in some lot before even being shipped to the dealer to be sold, so as long as the model year number is correct and servicing records are correct, no issue.

OP doesn't know a car can sit for 1 or 2 years from manufacturing to being sold?

If me and Swa agree on something, one knows something is a certain fact lol

 

[tRoN]

Here’s an idea . Ask the dealer for an explanation ‍♂️

 

[ivanlotter]

I checked with the Service Centre where it was taken and the car was registered June 2013. Dealer now says that sometimes the manager could make a mistake. They will get back to me.
One year "mistake" on the model year must make a significant difference to the retail value!

 

[Nevar]

Think the lesson here is that if something does not feel right walk away.I am sure there will be another vehicle for you to look at without too much hassle.Just move on.

 

[A3@MBB]

Ja, crooked dealers are everywhere and not limited to "Mike's used cars" on the corner in downtown.

My 2c to add to the fact:
Saw ad for a 2015 model for a good price, went and checked the car out the next day and got told it is in fact a 2014 model after I showed interest.
When I asked for the service book (not in car), I discovered it was in fact a 2013 model. I pointed it out to the sales person and got told "but they (people writing in service book) make mistakes like that".
Pre-delivery inspection and first service was in 2013, I told him I don't think so and walked away...

Dodgy sales tactics 101
Step 1. Get the buyer to the premises

 

[SauRoNZA]

Manufacturing Date <> Model Year <> Date of Registration

The entire car industry uses Date of Registration to signify the "on the road" age of the car. It's up to you then to figure out what the actual "spec" model year is.

Nothing dishonest about it, just the way the industry works.

Think about it...if you bought a car on 1 January 2018 it's impossible for it to have been manufacturered in 2018. With a large enough production line waiting period and odd timing you could easily have a vehicle manufacturered and VIN'd in December 2012 only registered in 2014.

****

My bike is a MY2016 (as in the facelift manufacturing spec designation), built in August 2015 and registered in January 2016.

The very next model year (MY2017) started production shortly after mine in December 2015 and many of them were still sold in 2018 and beyond as new registers because BMW don't consider a new MY if no changes were made.

 

[Ninja'd]

Here’s an idea . Ask the dealer for an explanation ‍♂️

This is the most idiotic piece of advice I've read on this forum thus far. Totally preposterous.

 

[ivanlotter]

Manufacturing Date <> Model Year <> Date of Registration

The entire car industry uses Date of Registration to signify the "on the road" age of the car. It's up to you then to figure out what the actual "spec" model year is.

Nothing dishonest about it, just the way the industry works.

Think about it...if you bought a car on 1 January 2018 it's impossible for it to have been manufacturered in 2018. With a large enough production line waiting period and odd timing you could easily have a vehicle manufacturered and VIN'd in December 2012 only registered in 2014.

In this case car was registered is June 2013. Advertised as 2014.

 

[SauRoNZA]

In this case car the registered is June 2013. Advertised as 2014.

Well in that case you are fully within your rights to be weary.

That being said it could be a simple case of miscommunication if they have multiple models on sale at the same time.

I've had a case where I test drove one car but the actual car being sold (same colour and everything) ended up being another with different mileage etc) which raised an eye brow on my part but ended up being a non-issue really.

It could be the other way around though where it's registered in 2013 but is a MY2014 again. Had that with a previous bike and people care when buying due to significant changes made under the hood.

 

[Pitbull]

In this case car the registered is June 2013. Advertised as 2014.

Simple then really. Walk away and find another dealer/vehicle.

Might have been an honest mistake maybe not. No use crying about it now, make a decision and go with it.

 

[Pitbull]

Well in that case you are fully within your rights to be weary.

That being said it could be a simple case of miscommunication if they have multiple models on sale at the same time.

I've had a case where I test drove one car but the actual car being sold (same colour and everything) ended up being another with different mileage etc) which raised an eye brow on my part but ended up being a non-issue really.

It could be the other way around though where it's registered in 2013 but is a MY2014 again. Had that with a previous bike and people care when buying due to significant changes made under the hood.

Some dealer stock are also "registered" as demos, but only registered once it's purchased. Either way, the OP is already uncomfortable, he should just let it go and find another dealer/vehicle.

 

[tRoN]

This is the most idiotic piece of advice I've read on this forum thus far. Totally preposterous.

What’s the need for the insult???

See post #11.
The dealer must explain the reason for discrepancy to the customer and then he can decide from there whether to accept the explanation or walk away.

As @SauRoNZA states, there could be a reasonable reason