Re: Dealer Horror Story - Need advice.

["Osman Parvez" <oparvez1@nycap.rr.com>]

> 
> Jeez, that is no way to start off with a new (to you) car!  I wish you
luck.  
> 
> It sounds to me like the dealer you purchased the car from just brokered
the
> car from the other dealer.  Why else would they send it so far away to be
> fixed?  It would also explain why the 2nd. dealer didn't want to spend
any
> money on repairing it, they probably didn't get much for it to begin
with.

I doubt the car was "brokered." When a car is sold wholesale from one
dealership to the next, which requires a wholesaler license in NY,  I don't
think it includes any warranties at all. If the car is retailed then a
minimum warranty is required by the state (30d/1000 miles). This may not
apply to vehicles which are older than 10 or 11 years. 

Is there a possibility that the other dealership has the same owner, and
perhaps a more qualified shop? Even that idea seems extremely remote. I
think it is highly irregular that an Audi dealership wouldn't be able to
handle a kitty problem or a brake back up lights problem without
outsourcing. We occasionally have work performed elsewhere but usually it's
done by a "sister" dealership, and that is never anything mechanical only
cosmetic (or stereo/cell/windshield glass related). 

I think the advice that has already been given on the list is pretty good.
However, I recommend that you try to reach a happy ending with the
dealership *before* you move to legal action. 

It's really bothering me why a Audi dealership would send a driver 200
miles for repair work from another shop. It doesn't add up. Something is
missing from the equation here because the cost of sending drivers back and
forth to another dealership is prohibitive. 

Here is a remote guess. The two dealerships are owned by the same guy. The
new car department needed to swap cars wiith the other dealer, so they used
your car as a "chase" car because the service department of the original
dealership was overbooked? I dunno, even that makes so little sense and is
highly unethical. 

If the car you bought doesn't pass state emissions, it really shouldn't be
sold to you. Laws vary by state, but every used car that leaves my
dealership in a retail transaction must have a inspection sticker. I
believe that non-working rear brake lights is grounds for an immediate
failure. 

Was the car you bought in the same state as where you live? Do you have any
documentation of the warranty? Have you read it or looked into 	Consumer
Protection Laws yet? If you know your rights *before* you go in again, you
will be much better off. It isn't the dealership's duty to inform you of
your rights as a buyer and it's certainly not cost effective for them to do
so. If you know what you are talking about with some degree of certainty,
then you stand a better chance of getting satisfactory results. 
Get all your paperwork out and read the fine print carefully. 



If you are unhappy make a stink about it (without being obnoxious, my own
pet peeve) and you can rest assured that the squeaky wheel will get
greased.  Stop with the phone calls, go there in person. It's much harder
to ignore someone who is standing there waiting. Don't be afraid to ask for
a supervisor. A problem like this is probably over your salesperson's head
at this point. Make sure you go during normal business hours so that the
service department is open and most personell will be there.

It's hard to satisfy every single customer 100%. However, it's very clear
when a customer has a legitimate complaint/concern. Yours seems to be that
way. 

Good luck.

Osman Parvez