i bought a car today!

jerico2day · 12-07-2005, 10:51 AM

I bought a used car today.

An '88 Volvo. Manual transmission, four cylinder. Paid too much, drives beautifully.

Took it on a test drive, drove like a champ. I pay for it, drive it off the lot, and two blocks away the cd player turns off. Stopped the car, shut it off, tried to start it, no power x_x

OoNikFraleyoO · 12-07-2005, 11:46 AM

Alabama has a law to deal with things like this. Don't know where you are, but here you have 48 hours and if you have evidence that the car is not in the condition as stated, the dealer must take it back.

BoyNextDoor · 12-07-2005, 11:54 AM

CRAP... those cars are tanks. I have a friend wgho owns one and has ~250K miles on it... He drove it from NYC to Cali... Still working like a charm, no problems... I gotta get one of those...

jerico2day · 12-07-2005, 01:12 PM

They are checking it out right now. I'm going to go have it checked out by my mechanic after I get it back. Appeared to be an electrical problem, don't know what exactly caused it.

Needless to say I *walked* back to the dealer, was literally two blocks away.

LowMileLude · 12-09-2005, 03:41 AM

Damn, that sucks.

Dad had a Volvo 240. It was a beast. 4spd with electronic over drive... Pretty much the same motor that was in my Pinto. Just a lot more power to move 2 tons of metal.

jerico2day · 12-09-2005, 10:48 AM

ye, mines a 740, they're gonna put a new alternator, and, I quote, "I'll see what the boss says about helping you out on some of the cost"

Remember kids, always, ALWAYS, bring the car to a mechanic before you sign!

84RegalRider · 12-09-2005, 10:56 AM

Eh you got to remember that a mech will not find an intermediate problem unless it happens in front of him and probably the most elec work he is going to do is make sure the alt is charging and starter/ac/etc work.
haha
And after that he might do a compression test and ign scope, as well as a scanner dependin on the year of car and if he has one for something older like that.

but i guess it would of help here, might just be a dead alt.... but if thats true they probably knew about it and were just keeping a charger on the batt.
haha
gl and have fun with the car once u get it working.

migel628 · 12-09-2005, 11:25 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by jerico2day

ye, mines a 740, they're gonna put a new alternator, and, I quote, "I'll see what the boss says about helping you out on some of the cost"

Remember kids, always, ALWAYS, bring the car to a mechanic before you sign!

They're trying to make you pay for the repair? That's some BS right there. I'd fight it, used car or not. You drove it off the lot, turned it off, then on again. There is no way you have any fault in this, as they had to know there was a problem. I'd try to get me money back on this one if I could...

jerico2day · 12-09-2005, 02:57 PM

I would if I could, but according to state law, I can't do anything about it. Now if they charge me for the alternator, and I get the work checked out, and they only replaced the battery, then I'll sue:P

turbocad6 · 12-09-2005, 03:04 PM

you mean your going to pay for an alternator after only making it two blocks from the dealer.... that's nutz.... I'd be screaming so much they'd have me in a rent-a-car while I waited for them to fix it

binary.h4x · 12-09-2005, 03:15 PM

So the lesson of the day is to bring a voltmeter with you when you check out a car.

partyharty · 12-09-2005, 03:42 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by jerico2day

I would if I could, but according to state law, I can't do anything about it. Now if they charge me for the alternator, and I get the work checked out, and they only replaced the battery, then I'll sue:P

I am not a lawyer (and this is not legal advice) but.....

What state are you in? The reason I ask is that some states have laws on the books regarding major purchases. I am not sure how much the vehicle was but if its over a certain dollar amount then it may (or may not) be covered. Some states specifically omit vehicles from these codes. I have not researched this in some time but here i believe it is 3 days from time of purchase unless otherwise noted on the sales contract.

These particular clauses are not usually listed within the so called "Lemon Law Statutes". They are usually seperate.

I hate to hear that you had the problems though. Hopefully it will only be the alternator and not something different.

c-ya
Chris

migel628 · 12-09-2005, 03:45 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by jerico2day

I would if I could, but according to state law, I can't do anything about it. Now if they charge me for the alternator, and I get the work checked out, and they only replaced the battery, then I'll sue:P

Wow, that is seriously backward. There has to be something you can do, since you only drove it 2 blocks. Obviously they knew there was a problem & for them to charge you for anything is ridiculous. I'd contact a lawyer, b/c this buyer beware crap is total BS...

jerico2day · 12-09-2005, 03:59 PM

Trust me, I'd love to:P

I'm here in ND, and every reference I see is that once it's signed it's yours, unless you got an extended warranty or something in writing saying you can bring it back.

They're basically milkin' me now. I checked with the better business bureu website and they have only 3 complaints in three years.

turbocad6 · 12-09-2005, 04:04 PM

the sqeeky wheel gets the grease... your to passive, they see doormat.... I don't screw anyone & by the same token, will not accept geting screwed....

if you got the car cheap, or knew it was a fixer upper.... then fine, but if you paid a dealer what the car is worth I'd raise hell....