We bought a car this winter, certified pre-owned from a large regional dealer. Friends and family have used them without any issues. At the time, there was a weird jump in mileage on the carfax but it it went back to what it was supposed to be on a later reporting. We didn't think much of it at the time, we should have.
Permanent tags are taking too long to get to us even with covid excuses, so while in the area for a different reason I stop at the dealer to politely ask what the fuck is going on. Two months at this point and not a peep from the dealer that there is any sort of issue.
General manager sat me down, admitted fault, and then told me a yarn about how they have tried and failed to get the DMV to fix the title to the correct mileage, and at this point there are no options left to fix the current car/title. The error in mileage devalues the car by ~30%.
He offers me:
1. We sign paperwork accepting the car as is. He will put in writing a standing offer to buy the car back from us at book based on the odometer mileage and shipped at his expense anywhere in the continental US.
2. We return the car and receive cost/tax/fees back and can go on our merry way..
3. New vehicle from the same dealer, conditions unspecified.
Our thoughts:
1. Is clearly bullshit. We like the car/model/year and would probably keep it after a thorough independent inspection if they paid us the difference in value. I don't expect to be receiving any cash but would not be upset if things worked out this way.
2. Coincidentally, we financed the same amount as what is wiped out from mileage error. No response yet if he would also pay us the interest, there are no early closing fees. A huge PITA to find another vehicle. Even more annoying would be opening a new line of credit with a now higher rate. We have plenty of cash on hand but had other plans for using it.
3. I think this is the most likely solution. I plan to stick firm on not giving them any more money and receiving the same model w/ same or newer year and same or lower mileage. Part of the reason we didn't walk from the original deal is because we had been looking for this specific model and year for a while. We bought the last year of the previous generation to avoid some of the growing pains of the newer generation. If we received a newer car, it will be from the first or second year of the new generation. I don't have specifics on how a newer vehicle will change my insurance rates but I know it will be more expensive to register when we move.
We have already talked to our insurance. I have plans to meet with an attorney but would like to avoid over complicating if the dealer is willing to play ball. Is there anything else I'm missing? I found all this out on the 23rd, we are moving May 29th. I plan to give them a deadline of May 12 to have everything resolved.
Bookmarks