Maine Chevrolet Car Dealers

The Value Editions and other non-AC basic model cars (Kia Rio, Ford Focus, etc) are produced in small numbers and when a dealer gets one they want to get rid of it quickly and cheaply. So they'll advertise a ridiculous low number and a hundred people will come to get the car but there will be only one to sell and it will be most likely sold for closer to sticker price and well before the ad is placed in the paper. A Kia dealer here in DFW used to advertise their Kia Rios for $5888. Each dealer (they have 3 stores in town) would get one per month and they would run the TV spots all the time. At the time I was living in a hotel behind one of these dealers and I noticed a car with no hubcaps coming off the truck one morning. I checked it out, it had no AC, no radio, no power steering, no nothing. I knew it was the $5888 car and it was even in black. I went inside and tried to buy it for TWO HOURS. Finally they told me they couldn't finance it to me because their minimum financing amount was $5000 and I would have to put a third down, which would mean financing about $4400 and they simply wouldn't do it. I tried to have them add an extended warranty on the car (powertrain was covered 10yr/100K), window tint, floor mats, a radio, etc...I even offered to let them add the $2100 AC package which would have made the car at this point about $10K and even with half down it would be above their minimum and they flat out refused. Then the manager came out and said cash only. I had $3200 to my name at the time and couldn't do it. The car was sold to the next person who walked in the door after me that morning, who also lived in the same hotel and was waiting JUST LIKE ME. So if you want the stripper model, rent a hotel room by the dealership and wait it out!

This is my first post so please bear with me if I make a gaffo. Also remember this is merely a reporting of my experiences at Carmax, your's may be different (my attorney made me say that... [yes I really have an attorney - this event is not over]) I bought a 2004 Chevy Corvette (C-5) in June of 2007 form the Carmax in Orlando, FL. The salesman said all the right things (e.g. we're different, we'll fix anything within 30 days etc.) Now bear in mind I'm not a stupid person, I hate buying a new car but my SUV was coughing up blood and I had no choice. I had my own financing - no prob. They added the warranty, but after the low-key pitch it sound like a good deal (beside my last Vette was one mechanical disaster after another - when it was in shape it was a joy, but that was infrequent - sort of a love-hate relationship) They offered me $150.00 for my SUV and I was happy. Bluebook was $450 but I was fine with it, one less hassle. The Vette ran great, a few noises here and there, some pulsation with the brakes - but the overall styling had changed so much since my last Vette (13 years ago) I just figured things had changed. My wife stared telling me about the brakes pulsating and we both noticed clunking and grinding from the rear with high-angle low speed turns. Before the 30 day "all inclusive warranty" was up I took it in to be looked at by the Carmax "mechanics" in Orlando. I had five (5) problem areas I wanted them to check: 1. Cosmetic defect in the driver's seat fitting into the seat pan (actually identified by the salesman when I bought it who had said "bring it in and we'll fix it - no problem!" 2. Pulsating brakes that pull to left or right - worse with rapid deceleration. 3. Problem with center console opening 4. Problem with "clunking" noise and "grinding" noise with turns 5. Tire pressure sensors inaccurate need re-calibrating. When I picked it back up later that day I was told nothing was wrong, everything was “within normal limits” and they had lubricated the center console hinge. Went home – the read end noise got worse. Finally, on 27 August, I took it to Courtesy Chevrolet across the street from Carmax, also in Orlando. Turns out t he rear noise was a problem Chevy knew about, a service bulletin HAD been issues, the car was still under Chevy warranty (by one day no less) and they fixed it – FREE. Went home happy. Pulsating brakes started getting worse and the rear end noise came back. Took it back to Courtesy Chevrolet. – Then the bad part started. Rear end – under warranty from previous repair – taken care of. Brakes – disc rotors AND calipers shot x 4 – uneven wear. So bad it would have been clearly visible during the “under warranty” inspection at Carmax earlier when they had written “…checked front brakes for uneven wear – ok… checked front brake pistons and caliper slides for binding – none. No repair required at this time.(sic)” The icing on the cake was rotors, calipers etc. are not covered by the Carmax warranty. Contacted the local Carmax head of maintenance department (whose name I cannot mention but if you were to call Carmax Orlando and ask for the direct of maintenance, it would be him. To do him justice, he DID call back and proceeded to try to ream ME for everything being MY fault. I took his verbal harassment and humiliation as I figured it would be a small price to pay for them to pay for the repairs UNTIL I told him I was concerned about my wife driving a unsafe care for two months that should have been fixed when I first brought it in to Carmax. This “gentleman” began to laugh, yes LAUGHED at my concern for my wife’s safety. I that point I lost my “turn the other cheek” attitude and told him basically to shove Carmax up an opening in his lower body. Two days later I went to pick up my car (Chevy had to get certain parts mailed in). The Chevy repair person, God bless his naiveté,, had still been talking with this director of maintenance at Carmax and gleefully informed me Carmax WAS going to pay the bill. The bill was $1053.19 plus the cost of a rent a car for two days. He said he wasn’t sure if Carmax was going to send Courtesy Chevrolet the check or have me pay and then refund me. The next day, the Chevy repair person, called to say Carmax would be sending me a check and Chevy would charge my credit card. That was fine. I was happy. I was even reconsidering my evaluation of Carmax – i.e. maybe I had been wrong and they were stepping up to the bat to “do the right thing.” Today, Saturday, it has been thirteen (13) days since I took my car in for the repairs. Still no check (there never will be) still no apologies, in fact no communication except from the Carmax salesman who apparently naively believes Carmax will “do the right thing”. Again my experiences may be different from yours, (as my attorney reminded me to write) you might get treated right. The message is BE CAREFUL! Carmax is still just another used car dealership; packed differently, owned by Circuit City (really – look it up) but it’s still the scorpion and frog story. My suggestion, if you didn’t read the above and still choose to buy a car at Carmax. Choose the car, skip the extended warranty, and – no matter how hard it might be to do this – when you drive the car off the Carmax lot drive it directly to your prearranged service checkup with a local dealership. It may cost a dollar or two but you will know right away what’s wrong and be able to return the car to Carmax within 5 days and get your money back or at least force them to fix your car. Be careful, don’t make my mistakes. Personally speaking, based solely on my experiences (my attorney talking again) I would/will NEVER buy a car from Carmax again, in fact I would not buy a $10 bill from them if they only wanted $5. Final Scorecard: Courtesy Chevrolet Orlando = A+ Carmax Orlando = F- Of course your experiences my be different from mine . . . So what are your experiences? Michael

HELLO THIS IS ALL NEW TO ME BUT I NEED HELP ON TIPS AND ETC. ON PURCHASING A NEW 2007 TAHOE. MY BUDGET IS SORTA LIMITED. I WILL BE LOOKING FOR A BASE MODEL. I'VE SEARCHED THE NET SEEMS LIKE THEY ARE RUNNING CLOSE TO MSRP 26500 SOME PLACES A FEW THOUSAND LESS WITH ABOUT 10-120 MILES. I KNOW THAT THERE ARE SOME OFFERS ON REBATES FOR 3750.00 AND I ALSO HAVE THE GM DISCOUNT WHICH I FIGURE MAY BE AROUND 2000 SO MY QUESTION IS IF IT WERE YOU HOW WOULD YOU GO ABOUT THE DEAL. WOULD THE PRICE OF THIS VEHICLE REALLY Y BE 20850????

Sure, I'll sell you an 06 Impala SS for $29000, and give you 1.9% financing to boot. Treat you just like a 780 fico score and I'll include wheel locks, fabric and paint sealant, undercoat, floor mats and a date with the girl at the desk (who will cancel due to her mothers sudden illness). Sorry about your troubles --jjf said PLEASE STOP IT DEALER. Let me explain something to you, I have already received a price in writing from Frank Chevrolet at $21,600, nevermind the fact that I can get an 07 for $2000 less than your quoting me for an 06. Mad In short, he tell's me "Well, if we got you financing, we have to make some money - "Plus it WILL ESTABLISH YOUR CREDIT" LMAO. I told DEALER, if I wanted to establish my credit, I would apply for a secured Visa, not buy a $30,000 vehicle that's valued at $22,000. He then tells me, "why do you want to buy an 06? Don't you know it will only be worth $18,000 when you drive off?" YES DEALER. WHICH IS PRECISELY WHY I DON'T WANT TO PAY $29,000 FOR THE CAR. I TOLD FINANCE MANAGER UPFRONT, I DON'T EXPECT YOU TO LOSE MONEY, BUT IF YOU CAN HELP ME, I WILL PAY A LITTLE MORE SO YOU CAN MAKE A PROFIT. NOT $7-8,000 MORE. HOW INSULTING!

Bad news gentleman. So I received a call from Frank Chevrolet that GMAC had turned me down. I know my credits not all that great, but I was pre-approved in December, and my credit's only improved. But wait - it get's better! So I call back the dealership I was pre-approved at in December - Country chevrolet (warwick NY). I speak to the Finance manager (XXXX) and I explain the situation and that I was pre-approved a few months ago at his wonderful establishment. I was straight up with him in that there was an 06 SS at another dealership I wanted to purchase, and that the dealership had no problem swapping the car out so I wanted to see what he can do. He says no problem, and that he'll call me back in 20 minutes. Finance manager calls me back within 20 minutes and BANG pre-approval from GMAC at their low incentive financing. (Which I find something funny about that, but that's neither here or there.) He says he can do that because he's a PLATINUM DEALER. HOLLA!! He tells me he'd rather me purchase an 07, (Of course) I say thanks but no thanks, I'm already set on the on the Black 06. So he tells me to come by the next day, I take a 1 hour ride to Warwick NY. I finally get there driving over mountain after mountain, and guess what? XXXX the finance manager's not there today. (Mind you my impatient wife, and agitated 1 year old daughter in the car with me) He has a dealer by the name of Tom expecting me with a brand new white 07 that has my name on it. I immediately explained to XXXX that I was upfront with FINANCE MANAGER about only wanting to do business purchasing the 06. XXX says "FINANCE MANAGER said he was clear to buy a car here on this lot or the deal is off". BS This morning, I call FINANCE MANAGER and asked him one last time, Can you pick up the 06 SS and finance the gosh darn car for me? He says to me as long as the other dealership has no problem he'll sell me the car. He'll call them and get back to me in an hour. 8 hours later I receive a call from XXXX, another one of his dealers. This guy was th most moronic, insulting individual I have ever spoken to in my life. He tells me "Hi. My name is XXXX and I've been a dealer for 14 years. Wayne asked me to call you." We will pick up the 06 and we are willing to sell you the vehicle for $29,000. Laughing I almost drove off the Tappan Zee bridge driving home from work. I said PLEASE STOP IT DEALER. Let me explain something to you, I have already received a price in writing from Frank Chevrolet at $21,600, nevermind the fact that I can get an 07 for $2000 less than your quoting me for an 06. Mad In short, he tell's me "Well, if we got you financing, we have to make some money - "Plus it WILL ESTABLISH YOUR CREDIT" LMAO. I told DEALER, if I wanted to establish my credit, I would apply for a secured Visa, not buy a $30,000 vehicle that's valued at $22,000. He then tells me, "why do you want to buy an 06? Don't you know it will only be worth $18,000 when you drive off?" YES DEALER. WHICH IS PRECISELY WHY I DON'T WANT TO PAY $29,000 FOR THE CAR. I TOLD FINANCE MANAGER UPFRONT, I DON'T EXPECT YOU TO LOSE MONEY, BUT IF YOU CAN HELP ME, I WILL PAY A LITTLE MORE SO YOU CAN MAKE A PROFIT. NOT $7-8,000 MORE. HOW INSULTING! So basically, this dealer is using GMAC as leverage to get me to pay MSRP on a vehicle. I told him I'd rather keep my 94 Vigor. What do I do now? I thought a decent sale for them is better than no sale.