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MR. Me,
The ad reappears... http://portland.craigslist.org/clc/car/678511464.html
So here's the story...
Dan was eligible for Mazda's "S-Plan", a discount available to Ford
employees and their kin, but no Bay Area dealer would honor it.
He found Auto Town in Milwaukie, flew up to buy, and took the scenic 101
coast drive home with the dealer's assurance that "all our cars are
50-state legal."
Guess what came next...
Dealer disavowed making that statement.
Mazda told Dan that dealers are independent; they could do nothing.
Attorney General said he doesn't deal with such trivial matters.
A lawyer was too much money.
BBB's allegiance was to the dealer.
Turns out that the car is equipped _exactly_ the same as all others, but
that the warranty, as certified by Mazda, is not California legal and
cannot be changed.
So Dan bought another CALIFORNIA car, leaving this one to be driven back
up the coast if someone flies to make the deal. Outlay for that - gas,
plane, motels, food - I estimate to be about $750, bringing the total
cost to about $2450. This would be about $5000 under new, and about
$2000 less than Dan paid for it.
Get it in WRITING? He did, but neglected to read the fine print until
it arrived at his home two weeks after the sale. The car also may have
a "not Cal. certified" sticker. Moral: A salesperson will say anything
to get the sale.
The ad reappears... http://portland.craigslist.org/clc/car/678511464.html
So here's the story...
Dan was eligible for Mazda's "S-Plan", a discount available to Ford
employees and their kin, but no Bay Area dealer would honor it.
He found Auto Town in Milwaukie, flew up to buy, and took the scenic 101
coast drive home with the dealer's assurance that "all our cars are
50-state legal."
Guess what came next...
Dealer disavowed making that statement.
Mazda told Dan that dealers are independent; they could do nothing.
Attorney General said he doesn't deal with such trivial matters.
A lawyer was too much money.
BBB's allegiance was to the dealer.
Turns out that the car is equipped _exactly_ the same as all others, but
that the warranty, as certified by Mazda, is not California legal and
cannot be changed.
So Dan bought another CALIFORNIA car, leaving this one to be driven back
up the coast if someone flies to make the deal. Outlay for that - gas,
plane, motels, food - I estimate to be about $750, bringing the total
cost to about $2450. This would be about $5000 under new, and about
$2000 less than Dan paid for it.
Get it in WRITING? He did, but neglected to read the fine print until
it arrived at his home two weeks after the sale. The car also may have
a "not Cal. certified" sticker. Moral: A salesperson will say anything
to get the sale.