Google Image My granddaughter was trying to buy a car to drive to Florida. She actually waited too long as people sometimes do. We found a car on a lot in Conroe, (TX) that had the same drivetrain as my S10 (almost). We thought that would be almost as good as a warranty as that truck served me faithfully for almost four years. I was hoping for a repeat. That is not what we got. That, and what I did about it are what this story is about. What makes the story unique is the blizzard of problems and the results I got from the seller.
She was going to be away from her father for the first time. If the Olds served well, all should be well. It was attractive with white leather seats. I can assure you that means nothing if it stops running. One thing I asked specifically was whether there were any obvious reasons the car would not make it to Florida the following week. The answer was no.
I drove the car home because she had other things to do before she left. It was 12 miles to Grangerland and I had almost hit the city(?) limits when the check engine light appeared. The car immediately began to shift with a bang. The next morning my daughter took the car to two mechanics.
The first problem was needing a front end alignment which my daughter knew. Turned out that it needed new control arms which came to over $1100. The mechanic also said that the transmission was slipping and that there was no way it would make it to Florida.
My daughter called my wife and her mechanic (unknown to me) called the car lot. I went in to see the salesman at the lot just after they got off the phone with him. When I sat down and talked to them (once they saw I was not in attack mode) they seemed like reasonable people. I suppose it’s all your point of view.
I asked him what he could do and he said he could get it fixed at his price if I chose.That is with me paying but at his price. I felt he should have taken it back but he said it didn’t actually belong to him. Even now, I do not think he intentionally misrepresented, but I do think he was negligent. It seems strange to me that an organization would sell almost all its cars on a floor plan. They are actually acting as a sales agent for others.
Whatever the resolution was to become, it was going to take time and that's something my granddaughter did not have.
The first problem was needing a front end alignment which my daughter knew. Turned out that it needed new control arms which came to over $1100. The mechanic also said that the transmission was slipping and that there was no way it would make it to Florida.
My daughter called my wife and her mechanic (unknown to me) called the car lot. I went in to see the salesman at the lot just after they got off the phone with him. When I sat down and talked to them (once they saw I was not in attack mode) they seemed like reasonable people. I suppose it’s all your point of view.
I asked him what he could do and he said he could get it fixed at his price if I chose.That is with me paying but at his price. I felt he should have taken it back but he said it didn’t actually belong to him. Even now, I do not think he intentionally misrepresented, but I do think he was negligent. It seems strange to me that an organization would sell almost all its cars on a floor plan. They are actually acting as a sales agent for others.
Whatever the resolution was to become, it was going to take time and that's something my granddaughter did not have.
We had to get her to Florida with a car and Plan A just fell apart. Plan B was for her to take my truck and we could swap again when the Olds got fixed. Off she went.
When we tallied what it would take to turn it into a good car (based on the estimates from two mechanics) turned out to be over $6000. $3000 was already spent getting it from the car lot to our drive. A new transmission, front end work, and new tires would take it the rest of the way. I figured if I drove the car for five years it would be okay. Since it was a mess to fix (and got worse) we just swapped.
We just visited her in Florida. Seeing how happy she is with the truck I have no regrets. Grandparents are eternally optimistic...and stupid.
When we tallied what it would take to turn it into a good car (based on the estimates from two mechanics) turned out to be over $6000. $3000 was already spent getting it from the car lot to our drive. A new transmission, front end work, and new tires would take it the rest of the way. I figured if I drove the car for five years it would be okay. Since it was a mess to fix (and got worse) we just swapped.
We just visited her in Florida. Seeing how happy she is with the truck I have no regrets. Grandparents are eternally optimistic...and stupid.
The car came with a 5,000 lbs tow rating. It did not seem to be slipping so I used it around the property for light stuff. I decided that if I wanted to move feed with it I needed to have lights.
I took it to Uhaul, got a trailer ball and made an appointment for a lighting hookup. This picture shows the actual car in service with a light load. It worked quite well and the AWD (all wheel drive) got me out of trouble at least once. When I returned for lights the man backed it up to his work station. It involved backing up on a ramp so the rear was elevated and he could do his work standing.
I took it to Uhaul, got a trailer ball and made an appointment for a lighting hookup. This picture shows the actual car in service with a light load. It worked quite well and the AWD (all wheel drive) got me out of trouble at least once. When I returned for lights the man backed it up to his work station. It involved backing up on a ramp so the rear was elevated and he could do his work standing.
Google Image Obviously this is not the vehicle, nor is it backed up the ramp. I used this picture because the angle and height is about the same.
When he actually started backing up the ramp the transmission made a terrible shrieking sound and started to slip. The man’s eyes became the size of golf balls and he decided he would do his work from the ground. I really had no idea that reverse gear was completely gone because it continued to drive. Turns out that reverse and first were both gone.
When he actually started backing up the ramp the transmission made a terrible shrieking sound and started to slip. The man’s eyes became the size of golf balls and he decided he would do his work from the ground. I really had no idea that reverse gear was completely gone because it continued to drive. Turns out that reverse and first were both gone.
google image I decided that I would drop by auto zone and get some “mechanic in a can” for the transmission.
I am speaking of the Auto Zone on north Frazier street in Conroe, TX. They are probably as good as any other but it’s the last time I’m going there. The parking lot in front of the store appears perfectly level but it isn’t. I added the can of additive and prepared to leave. It was then that I discovered that I had no reverse.
I am 70 years old and probably look even older with the white beard. I am certain that the employees and customers saw me struggle pushing the car uphill in reverse. The total who came out to help me get that car turned around amounts to zero. No heart attack so no harm done but I have spent my last dime there. The O'Rielly’s a couple blocks north has a sloped driveway at least
I am speaking of the Auto Zone on north Frazier street in Conroe, TX. They are probably as good as any other but it’s the last time I’m going there. The parking lot in front of the store appears perfectly level but it isn’t. I added the can of additive and prepared to leave. It was then that I discovered that I had no reverse.
I am 70 years old and probably look even older with the white beard. I am certain that the employees and customers saw me struggle pushing the car uphill in reverse. The total who came out to help me get that car turned around amounts to zero. No heart attack so no harm done but I have spent my last dime there. The O'Rielly’s a couple blocks north has a sloped driveway at least
google image I should mention here that once the dirty deed was done (purchase made) I had time to Google the car. I found that the electronic valve block that shifts gears on the transmission kills Oldsmobile transmissions all the time. They went from a proven bulletproof design (700r4) to one that reeks 4L60E (for electronic).
I also found the front end was chronically unreliable. Had I read that before I visited the lot I could have saved a lot of problems.
My mechanic rebuilt the transmission. He found out the hard way that the Olds gasket was different from the Chevy and the tail shaft was different. When fixed he tried it out and the valve block tried to shift to reverse and another gear at the same time. That broke it again and he had to fix it.
By the time it was fixed the second time there was another problem. I was there when he was preparing to run it through the paces. He asked me if I knew the heater core was bypassed. That made me pretty upset because it was something I should have noted at the car lot.
I asked him how the first mechanic to check the car (and I) had missed something so obvious. He explained that the hoses had been tied to the heater coil so it would not be noticed. He removed the transmission and they moved. That made me angry because it was another $500 repair but mostly because it screams fraud when the other problems did not.
The final crushing blow came just after this discussion. He took it for a test drive and came back very crestfallen. There was a noise coming from the engine that appeared to be a lower engine knock. I had about all I could take by that time.
The next morning I returned to his shop. He was telling me my options when I told him that he would be paid for his work but that I was fixing nothing else. It seemed to me that this story was made for TV. Actually, I liked the guy that sold me the car. He seemed to be just trying to get by and I thought I would give him a chance to "do the right thing”.
I wrote a letter detailing what I have described above. I sent it on a Friday with return receipt required. Monday he called and asked if I would come in. I offered to take another vehicle that worked and return the “wreck” to him. He told me that the vehicles were not his and that he was unable to take it in trade. He offered to return the price of the car. I took his offer. He did not ask for the car back as he probably thought I was still going to fix it and drive it.
I also found the front end was chronically unreliable. Had I read that before I visited the lot I could have saved a lot of problems.
My mechanic rebuilt the transmission. He found out the hard way that the Olds gasket was different from the Chevy and the tail shaft was different. When fixed he tried it out and the valve block tried to shift to reverse and another gear at the same time. That broke it again and he had to fix it.
By the time it was fixed the second time there was another problem. I was there when he was preparing to run it through the paces. He asked me if I knew the heater core was bypassed. That made me pretty upset because it was something I should have noted at the car lot.
I asked him how the first mechanic to check the car (and I) had missed something so obvious. He explained that the hoses had been tied to the heater coil so it would not be noticed. He removed the transmission and they moved. That made me angry because it was another $500 repair but mostly because it screams fraud when the other problems did not.
The final crushing blow came just after this discussion. He took it for a test drive and came back very crestfallen. There was a noise coming from the engine that appeared to be a lower engine knock. I had about all I could take by that time.
The next morning I returned to his shop. He was telling me my options when I told him that he would be paid for his work but that I was fixing nothing else. It seemed to me that this story was made for TV. Actually, I liked the guy that sold me the car. He seemed to be just trying to get by and I thought I would give him a chance to "do the right thing”.
I wrote a letter detailing what I have described above. I sent it on a Friday with return receipt required. Monday he called and asked if I would come in. I offered to take another vehicle that worked and return the “wreck” to him. He told me that the vehicles were not his and that he was unable to take it in trade. He offered to return the price of the car. I took his offer. He did not ask for the car back as he probably thought I was still going to fix it and drive it.
Cars going to Mexico. In running condition? A couple days later I returned for clarification. I had found that the Pick-a-Part price for the car was $300 with engine problems. He told me he could get better than that and could resell it in running condition.
I figured I could do better also but not without cheating. I asked him why he thought it was in running condition. He thought about that a moment and said if I would credit him for another $300 I could keep the car. Considering that I did not care to give him a free $1400 transmission repair I took that deal and left.
As of today, I have received half the purchase price back in one form or another. This seems to surprise anybody having experience with car lots. I have learned more than one lesson.
I figured I could do better also but not without cheating. I asked him why he thought it was in running condition. He thought about that a moment and said if I would credit him for another $300 I could keep the car. Considering that I did not care to give him a free $1400 transmission repair I took that deal and left.
As of today, I have received half the purchase price back in one form or another. This seems to surprise anybody having experience with car lots. I have learned more than one lesson.
The first lesson is that since the feds did the "cash for clunkers" deal all used car prices are obscene.
There are three things you can hope for when you get mechanical services. They are expert service, prompt service, and a reasonable price. There is a tradeoff here and you should only expect to receive 2 of the 3.
My two were good price and expert service. They were not prompt and the month it set at my mechanics probably had input as to when the engine knock appeared. Otherwise it would probably have been the first oil change. He certainly did not cause it and was certainly upset. Even a pro will miss something and a lot of people missed that heater coil and engine problem.
If a car dealer tells you there is no warranty at all, do not buy the car. I have seen several dealers while looking for a suitable replacement. It seems almost universal with reputable dealers that there is a 30 day warranty. That is even if the window stickers say "as is, no warranty".
Never be in a hurry even if you are. I have also learned, do not tell them how much money you have to spend. They will put you in a box. That bit of information lost a sale for a different lot.
There is no judging a book by it's cover. Some of these lots that appear to be normal car lots are obviously a sales organization. That is, lots are selling cars received from and owned by others.
Diogenes wandered around the city streets of Athens (I think) with a lantern during daylight hours. He was looking for an honest man but never found one. The circumstances are unique but I have been refunded half the price to this point. Perhaps I have found that honest man. I am eating the transmission repair but will work on that when all this is done. I will go back next month to see if I can get another payment.
There are three things you can hope for when you get mechanical services. They are expert service, prompt service, and a reasonable price. There is a tradeoff here and you should only expect to receive 2 of the 3.
My two were good price and expert service. They were not prompt and the month it set at my mechanics probably had input as to when the engine knock appeared. Otherwise it would probably have been the first oil change. He certainly did not cause it and was certainly upset. Even a pro will miss something and a lot of people missed that heater coil and engine problem.
If a car dealer tells you there is no warranty at all, do not buy the car. I have seen several dealers while looking for a suitable replacement. It seems almost universal with reputable dealers that there is a 30 day warranty. That is even if the window stickers say "as is, no warranty".
Never be in a hurry even if you are. I have also learned, do not tell them how much money you have to spend. They will put you in a box. That bit of information lost a sale for a different lot.
There is no judging a book by it's cover. Some of these lots that appear to be normal car lots are obviously a sales organization. That is, lots are selling cars received from and owned by others.
Diogenes wandered around the city streets of Athens (I think) with a lantern during daylight hours. He was looking for an honest man but never found one. The circumstances are unique but I have been refunded half the price to this point. Perhaps I have found that honest man. I am eating the transmission repair but will work on that when all this is done. I will go back next month to see if I can get another payment.
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