Just when you thought that once you are armed with good data about buying a new car, a new variable get’s thrown into the mix. We have had the new-car horry story experience with Triangle Mitsubishi in 2001. So we thought we would be skilled to handle anything that comes our way on the next new car purchase. We were proven wrong.Initial interest (05.26.2004)

So we get a piece of mail from Mitsubishi on how we can get up to $2900 in a refund to end our lease early, of course if we stick with Mitsubishi. Danyelle and I had thought of this in the past, and we weren’t hot on the idea of keeping a lease. So she goes to Rockville Mitsubishi to quickly eye a 2004 Lancer Ralliart and kind of likes what see sees. So she calls me to negotiate with the salesperson.

So I arrive at the dealership, and it seems to take forever to get a good deal. They had already marked up the car $2995, and it seemed the MSRP was a tad high. This is where the fun began.

Dealer Haggle (05.26.2004)

The initial negotiations with the salesperson seemed to be off to a very rocky start. First I tried to get them to justify the dealer markup and the salesperson noted that this was a hot selling car. Not quite true since there were a few on the lot and not that far away the same car could be had with only a $500 markup. I explained to him I wanted to make sure that he was fairly compensated for the sale, but I wasn’t going to pay for an outrageous sum.

The first real numbers he came back with were outrageous. 6% interest, $2000 down, and something like $380 a month. I immediately became frustrated but tried to maintain as much calm as I could. I explained that I knew my wife’s FICO score and it was in the 700s plus we were just in a Mitsubishi lease for three years without a single blemish.

A couple more times he came back with a different set of numbers. Some with a lower interest, higher down payments, longer terms. He attempted to use one of the slimy tactics that many sales people use; “what do you want your payments to be”. This is a huge misstate for a consumer to focus on and show instead look at the bottom line.

After threatening to walk out of the negotiations, a good deal finally came along with 0% interest but with a markup still. I was satisfied with the deal, like I said I wanted for the dealership to be fairly compensated. I went home for a couple hours waiting for my wife and then we headed to the dealership at night (7pm) and lo and behold the salesperson is anxious to give us the car that instant. Mind you the car still has its shipping tape on it, and we hadn’t gotten things out of the old car. It was decided to pick up the car the next day, and she proceeds to fill out all the paperwork on the car.

Delivery (05.27.2004)

So at noontime, Danyelle goes to pick up the car, but there is a problem with the paperwork. After another hour of redoing it, the car is ready to be driven off the lot. As soon as Danyelle gets back to work in the Lancer, she notices the scratch on the passenger front rim. She brings it home at 7pm, I take photos of it, and call the salesperson. He acknowledges the problem as says to bring it in Tuesday (we were heading to NY State on vacation) and it would get fixed. OK so it doesn’t seem to bad, but wait…

Rust?!?!? (05.28.2004)

So at 4:30pm the next day, after work for Danyelle, we decide to really inspect the car. Mind you this is only 30 hours after taking delivery of the car. Well at the photos on the right clearly show, there are serious gouges in the car, and even rust on the hood. Now why didn’t we notice this before, chalk it up to her being rushed at lunchtime when she picked up the car, and her being short (5′ 1″) didn’t get a good angle on the scratches/gouges till you were right up on it. So I call the dealership once again, and explain the situation. The sales guy says to still bring it in on Tuesday and he will talk to the manager about it.

Dealership Nightmare (06.01.2004)

So after an enjoyable trip up North, and really loving the car, I bring the car over to the dealer at 10am. What happens next surprises me. The dealer will still replace the rim, but the rest of the car they will not repair. Their excuse, well the detailer didn’t notice the problems, so it must have happened after we took delivery of the car. Um OK, so they are blaming us for ruining the car. Never mind that the car Danyelle traded in is in better condition than this brand new car. I talk to the manager, and he reiterates that they will do nothing but replace the rim. I am livid, and threaten calling the Attorney General and the BBB, which doesn’t phase him.

Action Is Taken (06.01.2004)

So, on my word, I call the Attorney General of MD, and they refer me to the Montgomery County Consumer Affairs division. I talk to a representative that lets me know that they can have an inspector come, asses the problem, and take it from there, and if necessary can be called as a witness. I also call Mitsubishi HQ and lodge a complaint with them on the issues at hand, and the lack of any remedy. They let me know that the regional rep. comes to visit dealerships once a month and that they will call to let me know when he will be at Rockville Mitsubishi.

Maybe a remedy in sight (06.01.2004)

So I swing by the dealership once again, to see if they have changed their minds, and if not let them know the avenues I am going to pursuit to resolve this issue. Finally, the manager lets the salesperson know that they will repair the gouges. So in the next few days I should be updating this page with new news.

Finally Fixed (06.09.2004)

We had dropped off the Lancer at Rockville Mitsubishi on 06.03.2004, and was anticipating the car to be done on Monday the 7th. Well two days after we thought the car would be done, finally we get it back. The car is in great condition with the exception of the antenna mast, and to be quite honest I am not all worried about it. We’ll keep a careful eye to make sure the pain dosen’t discolor, but I have to admit they did a great job on it!

Lessons Learned

Well there are numerous lessons learned on this. We had been burned before by Triangle Mitsubishi and their bait/switch moves, and we thought we had enough experience at hand. But as we learned in this experience, you have to have a watchful eye, and plenty of time before you drive off the lot with a car at hand. So please, heed from our experience, don’t drive away without a thorough investigation on the car, be it new or used.

Also, this will be our one and only dealings with Rockville Mitsubishi, and quite possible our last deal with Mitsubishi in general. I am up for a early lease out in 12.2005 and completely finish the least in 6.2006.