I bought a used car last week from a dealership that my parents have always taken their cars too. I didn't have it checked out by a third party (please no lectures) partially because we always use that dealership for our cars. There were a few little things (loose fuse, air conditioner was "low") that I noticed when I checked out the car. At the time, the sales manager said those things could be written into the contract that they would be fixed even though the car was bought "as is". I took the car home that day without those things being fixed and brought it back a few days later. Six days later, I had driven the car only back and forth to the dealership and to work (less than 5 miles away) for a total of less than 30 miles, when the "check engine" light went on.
I took it back to the dealer, but they couldn't look at it for a few days. Turns out the spark plug wires need to be replaced and the engine was misfiring. They told me it would be $375. I talked to the sales manager and he said it was normal wear-and-tear and wouldn't pay for anything because it was sold "as is".
I understand that I don't have much legal recourse because I bought the car "as is." I'm not going to give my business to this dealership anymore than I have to and have picked it up to take it somewhere else. However, I feel that this is bad business and would like to complain. I have talked to the used sales manager and called the general manager, but what else would you do? Do I have any recourse for either having them pay for repairs of things that should have been checked out beforehand or simply exposing the shady business?
I took it back to the dealer, but they couldn't look at it for a few days. Turns out the spark plug wires need to be replaced and the engine was misfiring. They told me it would be $375. I talked to the sales manager and he said it was normal wear-and-tear and wouldn't pay for anything because it was sold "as is".
I understand that I don't have much legal recourse because I bought the car "as is." I'm not going to give my business to this dealership anymore than I have to and have picked it up to take it somewhere else. However, I feel that this is bad business and would like to complain. I have talked to the used sales manager and called the general manager, but what else would you do? Do I have any recourse for either having them pay for repairs of things that should have been checked out beforehand or simply exposing the shady business?