They saw me coming a mile away...

[HelmetTester]

Let this be a warning to anyone buying a new car. The dealers have this trick where they sell you all sorts of warranty stuff that equals the amount of your down payment. You agree on a price for the car and when the flurry of paperwork starts they slip in "total loss coverage" and "tire warranty". It equals the amount of your down payment so you might not notice the discrepancy figuring the numbers were before your cash down. I'm an idiot for not taking the time to read what i signed but that really would have taken hours with the size of these documents. In short my $6000 down payment became $1000 tire warranty (are stock rubi tires even worth $1000?) and $5000 of total loss coverage for 5 years. This is going on big time in NY area, i've since talked to 2 other people (one a ford customer and one a hyundai customer) and they had the same exact thing.

My fault, that's life. Its like a mousetrap. Just when i have a little faith in humanity the metal bar of reality comes slamming down on the back of my neck, and some punk at Major Chrysler handily swindles me out of 6k. My rubi (i still love it) will cost me 46k if i make min payments for the life of the financing. (they only give out 6 year loans now i'm told, even with a 750 credit score) I'm so pissed. This is part venting but more so you can make sure this does not happen to you!!!

[The Duke]

Yep. I was a sales person for awhile. I quit because all the lies and deception in the business just aren't my style. After working at a dealer, I will never, ever buy a car from anyone but a private party.

The 6 years is true. It is very, very difficult and rare to ever see anyone get approved for a longer term.

I never heard of a $1,000 tire warranty, though.

[fatoldfool]

I assume you bought their insurance? It is usually much higher than even Allstate or State Farm. $1000 tire insurance...What does it cover?

[kwrangln]

When I bought the wife's rubi I shut the dealer up real quick when he started talking about warranty's.

me: Whats the bottom line, total price for the warranty? Dont tell me price per month, because that means crap, add it all up and give me a figure.

dealer: $3000

me: I can have a rebuilt engine for $1800, and buy an Atlas transfer case for $2000, there is not a single item in the drivetrain that I can not upgrade to better than stock for less than what your warranty costs. What exactly am I supposed to be saving with your warranty?

dealer: Ummmmmm.



Undercoating, special wax, tire warranty, scotchguard, all snake oil designed only to lighten your pockets.

Sure its too late now, but if you or anyone else is ever planning on visiting a dealer, post up before hand and the board can steer you strait, as well as give you some ammunition to fire across the table at the salesman. You have to realise that the salesman is out to make money, plain and simple. You have the money they want, and as such, you control the negotiations. If things are going to quickly, then the sales guy can just wait and go have a cup of coffee while you read. If he cant get the deal you want, then walk out, they negotiate alot quicker when you stand up and say have a nice day. Dont be afraid to grab the guys calculator and punch some numbers (they dont even have to be related to what you are talking about, it just makes em pay attention when they think you are watching every cent). Its a war, and neither side is going to win, you want a deal, they have to make a minimum ammount, the middle ground is the best you can hope for.

You got a nice ride out of the deal, dont dwell on the deal, its done and over with. Keep lookin ahead and enjoy your ride. Wheel the wee out of it.

[mwall]

i went to car max to buy my car and the guy was nice sat down and answerd all my question then when the paper work came me being 18 he tryed to screw me.

selling me all this stuff that was useless. i stood up to him and told him im a mechanic and a jeep enthusit and he backed down and we talked for about an hour till my mother came. once i did that i walked out with alot less for the car cause of the warrenties.

[fullautodave]

I had that happen to me several years ago and when I got home and figured it out I was able to get it taken back off, might of been state law though. Worth checking out but don't ask the dealer call the finance company.
Dave

[DrLewall]

Just to mess with dealers, I have in the past went looking, just looking mind you, and when a salesperson would approach, we would talk..he/she would think I was interested, we'd sit down, throw numbers back and forth..then I would tell them, not good enough! deal is off! then I would walk out..all the while noting the disapointed look on their faces..I guess I have too much time on my hands.

[dazed®]

Let this be a warning to anyone buying a new car. The dealers have this trick where they sell you all sorts of warranty stuff that equals the amount of your down payment. You agree on a price for the car and when the flurry of paperwork starts they slip in "total loss coverage" and "tire warranty". It equals the amount of your down payment so you might not notice the discrepancy figuring the numbers were before your cash down. I'm an idiot for not taking the time to read what i signed but that really would have taken hours with the size of these documents. In short my $6000 down payment became $1000 tire warranty (are stock rubi tires even worth $1000?) and $5000 of total loss coverage for 5 years. This is going on big time in NY area, i've since talked to 2 other people (one a ford customer and one a hyundai customer) and they had the same exact thing.

My fault, that's life. Its like a mousetrap. Just when i have a little faith in humanity the metal bar of reality comes slamming down on the back of my neck, and some punk at Major Chrysler handily swindles me out of 6k. My rubi (i still love it) will cost me 46k if i make min payments for the life of the financing. (they only give out 6 year loans now i'm told, even with a 750 credit score) I'm so pissed. This is part venting but more so you can make sure this does not happen to you!!!


As someone who grew up in auto sales and made a career out of it. I have to say, if that is all true. You were lied to and f***** over severely. I won't say you're not telling the truth, but from my experience, there is usually another side to that story. If that is true however, you should consider legal action. The slipping in of paperwork has gotten some of the largest auto groups (ie Sonic Automotive = 100's of dealerships) there own Dateline special. And you can get a loan for as little as 3 years from most major banks, some even shorter. You're either paying 550/ mo plus your 6k or 640/m plus your 6k. Either way, that's not right. Refinance that at your bank, and the stupid stuff you got had on can be pro rated back to you. 6000 = atleast $100/mo

[Tonka]

When I bought my Jeep, I put money down on a factory order. When the Jeep came in, there were runs in the paint which I pointed out to the dealer. I was told that they would take care of it. Long story short, I ended up taking it to the body shop (an independent shop) they use. I took it to the shop, they looked over it and said they could take it on another day. On that later day, I had to leave the vehicle so I had to arrange for my own transportation from and back to the shop. :mad: That was really :hi-lift:!

Also, when I was picking the Jeep up, they tried to sell me more warranty than I was told there was going to be. One was to "buy" numbers that are on the body parts (:confused:). I told the guy if they are already on my vehicle, I own those numbers and should not have to buy them. Besides, the numbers are in plain sight. :rolleyes:

[The Duke]

If I read wrong, and you meant you wanted a shorter term than 6 years, then yes, they lied. You can go as short as 12 months or less. That said, 90% of the time, you can just pay off the 6 year loan in 1 year or whatever without a prepayment penalty.

Another thing which I learned, but you may have known it, is that you can and should negotiate your interest rate. I don't know what the law is where you live, but here, the dealer is allowed to jack your rate up by 2 points above what the bank tells them.

There are dozens of ways for dealers to screw you, even after you have agreed on a price, etc. Do NOT even let them ask you what payment will work for you. If you allow them to work you on a payment, you will get soooooooo screwed it is not even funny.

At the dealer I worked at, I saw dealer profits on a single trade/purchase deal of over $10,000.

As Lawers say, there are Car salesmen, and there are lawers. As a Salesman would say, there are Lawers, and then there are salesmen.

[Liz's TJ]

My husband and I just bought a 02 Dodge Neon. We paid 3800 for the car. They tried to get us for more but we told them that is all we are paying with ANY type of fee they had to add. Need less to say we still had to fix taillight seals, trunk seal and window switch. We filed a complaint with the BBB here in Tulsa. So maybe something will come out of it.
I would also think you could cancel things like that. Worth a look at. Good Luck!

[rockyjeep]

i got lucky at the dealer. I happen to walk up to the jeep at the lot the same time the office manager was coming out. i asked him about the jeep, and he said let him sell it to me. It was his last week of working there, and he said he was bored. He told me not to get all the crappy extra stuff. the jeep booked at 21k (i checked it myself). He said we can sell it at 17k. He gave me 6k for my trade in (97 GMC SLT with 150K miles). I drove off the lot paying 11.5k. I told him to begin with i wanted payments under $300 and i would buy it today. So he got it $270/month and that was that. I'm still under factory warrenty till the end of this year. I never saw him again.

[tjmudjeeper]

You truly are one of the lucky ones rockyjeep. I dont get warranties on ANYTHING other than what is provided. Why in the hell would you want an extra warranty on a vehicle? "So you are telling me that this vehicle is guaranteed to turn to a bag of hammers in three years? So remind me why I would want to buy this again?"

[knightscape]

I've had it both ways. I had a salesman say to me once "I don't think you're serious about buying a truck today." I told him "Well, since you put it that way, not from you." Then I left and went to a place where the salesman was zero pressure. Before I could try to talk the price down he offered me the truck I bought for $1000 less than I was going to offer, which was $3000 less than the tag. He asked if I was interested in a warrantee, and I said "Not really" and he said "OK, didn't think so" and left it at that. I loved every minute of driving that truck.

I got royally hosed on my Jeep. I traded in another truck for it and after a bit of fast numbers I ended up actually paying them to take my old truck rather than me getting money back. I didn't realize it until the loan paperwork arrived in the mail. Talk about pissed. I won't ever go back to that place.

[The Duke]

I told him to begin with i wanted payments under $300 and i would buy it today. So he got it $270/month and that was that. I'm still under factory warrenty till the end of this year. I never saw him again.
You probably got screwed on the back end then. Interest rate may have been jacked. Not saying you did, but pretty much any time you start talking in payments instead of in the vehicle price, you will get screwed.

One trick that dealers have is getting you to commit to a certain payment. Once you have done that, a flurry of paperwork, and they will jack the vehicle price to get you "UP" to the payment you wanted. Many a naive person has paid thousands more than they thought they were by this method.

[wrangler X]

When I bought my jeep I was in and out within one hour. I walked in handed him one of my pay slips, he looked at it. I then said thats a week. Next thing I know everything was sir. I said thats my trade I want 10k, I want that yellow jeep for 11k, it booked at 21k. Hour later I was driveing my new jeep home at chrysler's 1.9% intrest with 36k warrenty and 100k powertrain. My jeep is a 2002 and it only has 36k on it now. I get a christmas card every year.

[rockyjeep]

You probably got screwed on the back end then. Interest rate may have been jacked. Not saying you did, but pretty much any time you start talking in payments instead of in the vehicle price, you will get screwed.


i was smart enough to ask. Its at 9%. :D

[The Duke]

i was smart enough to ask. Its at 9%. :D
Is it in your name only or did you have a co-signer? Is this the first car loan in your name? If so, that is a pretty good rate for ya.

[rockyjeep]

Is it in your name only or did you have a co-signer? Is this the first car loan in your name? If so, that is a pretty good rate for ya.

yeah i had the mom co-sign. i was going to do it on my own, but my credit wasnt strong enough. I only had a credit card for a few months (keep in mind i was 19 when i bought the jeep) I'm still primary, but it defaults on her if i split town. So far i havent missed a single payment on my card, phone bill, jeep payment, medical bills etc. and have perfect credit. I dont have very "strong" or "built up" credit, but what i do have has no negative marks. Should make buying a house easier when that comes around.

Oh and to answer your question, yes this is the first loan i've taken out in my name. The other vehicles were in the 'rents names and i paid them back.

[HelmetTester]

Thanks for all the replies but I know I'm not going to see this money again. People in my area have tried and all with the same results. I really posted this so others might not get screwed as bas as me. I went in thinking negotiating the price was #1 and i overlooked the ass pounding i was about to take after the paperwork started. I'm sure it was illegal for the guy to imply the warranties were included with the car, but it's impossible to prove and i signed the papers. I'd love to grab his tie and slam his head into the desk but that wont get me anywhere. FWIW i wanted less than a 6 year loan but he said it's all the banks are giving now. (I have 750 credit score). I plan on paying it off in half the time so at least i'll save on financing, unless he lied to me about this too.

The worst part to me is i'm already a bitter person living in NY all my life and this doesn't help. I'm still happy as all hell with the actual jeep but i can't help but get a little pissed when i look at it. Some day these scumbags will get theirs, and i will have clean hands.

[The Duke]

yeah i had the mom co-sign. i was going to do it on my own, but my credit wasnt strong enough. I only had a credit card for a few months (keep in mind i was 19 when i bought the jeep) I'm still primary, but it defaults on her if i split town. So far i havent missed a single payment on my card, phone bill, jeep payment, medical bills etc. and have perfect credit. I dont have very "strong" or "built up" credit, but what i do have has no negative marks. Should make buying a house easier when that comes around.

Oh and to answer your question, yes this is the first loan i've taken out in my name. The other vehicles were in the 'rents names and i paid them back.
Sounds like you got a pretty good rate, from what I have seen around here.

[The Duke]

FWIW i wanted less than a 6 year loan but he said it's all the banks are giving now. (I have 750 credit score). I plan on paying it off in half the time so at least i'll save on financing, unless he lied to me about this too.

That is completely a lie. Unless in the last month or so since I left there, the banks changed, 6 years is the LONGEST term available for most people. This also means they screwed you on interest rate since the longer the term, the higher the rate(in general).

You should check the the financial institution, but you should be able to pay it off as soon as you can without a prepayment penalty.

You could also try getting your own financing and refinancing it.


Just go wheeling and get 'er dirty. You'll forget soon enough :D

[jphrse]

The wife a I just bought a 2008 Honda Civic 2 days ago at 2.9% for 5 years and yes we did buy an extra warranty (6yrs. 80K) for $1045, the main reson for the extra warranty was it included towing to the nearest authorized Honda dealer which for us is 250 mile away so I think the towing alone was worth the extra cash for the warranty.

When I bought my Jeep they tried to sell me the extra warranty but I told them what is the use I will just end up voiding it in the first week with a lift and tire they just stared at me with a questioning look. When I came back in to get my plates 3 weeks later I had the SOA & 33s.

[Tonka]

When shopping for a car, a sales person was trying to get me to buy I car I said "no" to. They told me to take it for a test drive and if I said no, they would accept my "no". I test drove it and said "no". They wanted to know why and I told them "I don't want it". This went all the way to the sales manager who tried to get me to buy the car. They wasted my time and theirs.

Same shopping, different dealership. I take a car out for a test drive. The car runs out of gas. The sales person calls the dealership to pick him up. When the service person comes, he tells me to wait with the car and he will be right back. I cannot remember how long I waited, but it was quite a while. I was eventually picked up by someone else from the dealership. I walk into the dealership, and the sales person who left me with the car was talking with a couple on their purchase! :mad:

What I should have done;

Locked the keys in the car and walked back to the dealership and left.

Upon returning, made a scene in the showroom about being left with a stalled car and made sure everyone knew who the sales person was.