Brandon Dodge On Broadway

My 1995 Toyota Camry was falling apart, so I went car shopping on Saturday. I told my salesperson, Roger, and the used car sales manager (I don't know his name, but he had light green eyes and Roger would know his name) that I had two requirements for my car purchase: (1) I needed something inexpensive, and (2) I needed something that would last me through grad school (at least two years).

Roger and the used car sales manager talked me into looking at a 2005 Jeep Liberty with 127,000 miles, with the promise that they would sell it to me for $5000 plus my Camry, which included taxes. The used car sales manager also said that it would come with a warranty. I told them I had to think about it. The Blue Book said that the vehicle was worth $9500, so I returned to Brandon Dodge.

When I got back to Brandon Dodge, Roger took me on a test drive. I told him that I wondered why the previous owner had gotten rid of such a great car, and he said that since the car was a business car, once it hit 120,000 miles the owner could sell it and get a tax break.

When we returned to Roger's desk, he got called away to talk to a customer. A new sales manager came up and said that since Roger was busy with the customer, he would be working with me for a while. He presented me with a piece of paper saying that the price of the car was $5999 (I can't remember the exact number, but it was within $5 of $6000). I told him that the other sales manager had promised me a price of $5000. He said that the extra $1000 was for the fees and taxes. I told him that I would buy the car for $5500, plus a new windshield (the car needed a new windshield), even though the original price I had been quoted was $5000 (which was to include taxes and a warranty). I also asked him about a warranty, and he said that the car would be sold "as-is." I said that I didn't want to get the car off the lot and take it to my mechanic and find out that something was terribly wrong with it, and the sales manager said "We aren't that kind of dealership."

After I signed the paperwork, Roger returned. I said that I was amazed that I had gotten such a great deal. Roger said that he had explained my situation to the sales manager and that the sales manager had a "soft spot," so he had given me a big discount. Roger also told me that the sticker price on the car had been $11,800!

After an hour of waiting for my windshield to be replaced in Brandon Dodge's waiting room, Roger came to tell me that the shop at the dealership was already closed, and didn't open again until Monday. I was supposed to pick up the Jeep on Monday, but Roger told me that the part wasn't in yet, so I had to pick it up on Tuesday. Tuesday was Roger's day off, but he told me that I "had a friend in the car business" and he would come in so that I could pick up my Jeep.

On Tuesday, I picked up my Jeep and signed my Camry over to Brandon Dodge. I drove the Jeep home. Ten minutes later, the car wouldn't start. I tried several times and it still wouldn't start. I had the maintenance guy in our building bring out the car jumper and he tried to jump the car. Unfortunately, we discovered that the problem was not the battery. I called Roger and left him a voicemail, but he never called back. Then I called Brandon Dodge and talked to a sales manager named Jeff Miller. Jeff said he would call me back.

An hour and a half later, I still hadn't heard from Jeff, and I went outside to try to start my Jeep again. Miraculously, it started, and I drove it directly to my trusted (AAA and BBB approved) auto shop. Once it got to the shop, it wouldn't start again. They looked at it, discovered that the problem wasn't the battery or alternator, and told me that they would need to keep it overnight.

The owner of the shop called Brandon Dodge himself. He spoke to the repair shop first and asked if they had replaced the fuel pump. They said that they had replaced it, but they had taken it to a Mitsubishi dealership to have the fuel pump replaced (why they wouldn't just replace it in their own auto shop is beyond me). The owner of the shop then asked to speak to Jeff Miller, but Jeff wouldn't talk to him and said that he would call me.

Jeff Miller never called me back (and I never heard from Roger again). A sales manager named Ron Hood called me and left a voicemail saying that the car was sold "as-is" and that since there was no implied warranty they "cannot honor any repair". He said I could call him on Thursday if I would like and left his phone number.

My Jeep is currently at the shop, and they have discovered that it not only needs its fuel pump replaced but also needs its fuel line and tires replaced. I cannot believe that Brandon Dodge would sell me a car that needed $1400 in repairs when I told them that I was a student who knew nothing about cars and needed something functional and inexpensive. I trusted them and I shouldn't have.

Holiday Auto Care

Holiday Auto Care has been a complete life saver for me. They are kind, honest, prompt, and efficient, and I couldn't recommend them more highly.

I used to have an old Camry, and at one point it needed its belts replaced. HAC replaced the belts, and when they needed replacing again later on, HAC informed me that the belts were still under warranty and that I wouldn't have to pay a penny.

When the Camry was on its last leg and was having problems starting, I took it in to see if there was anything HAC could do to help. They gave the car a full inspection, filled up the oil (which was empty because it was leaking in several places), and gently told me that it was time to get rid of the car. They only charged me for the cost of the quart of oil (about $4).

Recently, I bought a used Jeep, and the day I brought it home it wouldn't start. I waited a few hours, got it to start, and took it to HAC. Mark, the owner, is incredibly kind, helpful, and understanding, and is helping me deal with the dishonest dealership and get my car moving again. Words can't express how grateful I am for Mark. He is truly an angel.