Help... what should I do?
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Joined: Jul 2005
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Help... what should I do?
Not sure where else to post this so here goes...
This Saturday, my wife and I went to a local dealer and purchased a used 2005 Durango SLT. The vehicle had been used as a rental vehicle from it's "purchase date" of 11/24/04 until the dealer purchased it on 5/23/05. The odometer had 8096 miles on it. The vehicle was sitting on the used lot with 4 other "matching" Durangos all previous rental vehicles. Prior to picking one, I test drove 2 of them and looked them both over as best I could in the light I had (late evening). My wife and I decided on the white one. The price of all 5 Durangos was the same... $23,996. I asked the salesman if the vehicle had ever been in an accident. He said "No... it has not been in an accident." The vehicle was more or less loaded... leather, premium stereo, stering wheel controls etc... It also has the majority of it's original warranty. I thought this was a pretty good deal considering the retail was around $29,000. I figured the markdown was due to the fact that they had new Durangos sitting near the used ones with "employee pricing" between 26,000 and 34,000.
We purchased the vehicle and drove it home. After loading all of our junk into it, I walked around the vehicle (in better garage lighting) to check it out. It had the typical small door dings etc... Upon looking near the drivers front fender I noticed there was some paint flaking off and a little rust. I also noticed that the 3 platic "screws" that attach the bumer skirt were missing. It appears the fender is slighty bent where it meets the bumper skirt. I grabbed onto the bumper shirt and pulled on it... It was very loose and moved up and down a few inches. I took a closer look at the paint on the drivers side... it appears the entire drivers side has been repainted. You can see where the overspray hit differnt parts that were not taped well. Now... I am no mechanic, but it is obbvious this thing has been in an accident!
I checked CARFAX and consumer reports and both came out clean. Although I have read articles that CARFAX is not always accurate and many accidents are not reported to them.
What should I do? I love the vehicle... it drives wonderfully. The engine sounds fine etc... Should I take it back and ask them to see all the info they have on it? Should I take it back and walk away? If it was only minor cosmetic damage and they fix it for free, should I keep it? Should I ask for additional money off the purchase price?
If it has major damage (framework) I will walk away from it and will ask for a refund!
What if they won't work with me? Do I have any legal recourse? I need advice!
Thanks!
This Saturday, my wife and I went to a local dealer and purchased a used 2005 Durango SLT. The vehicle had been used as a rental vehicle from it's "purchase date" of 11/24/04 until the dealer purchased it on 5/23/05. The odometer had 8096 miles on it. The vehicle was sitting on the used lot with 4 other "matching" Durangos all previous rental vehicles. Prior to picking one, I test drove 2 of them and looked them both over as best I could in the light I had (late evening). My wife and I decided on the white one. The price of all 5 Durangos was the same... $23,996. I asked the salesman if the vehicle had ever been in an accident. He said "No... it has not been in an accident." The vehicle was more or less loaded... leather, premium stereo, stering wheel controls etc... It also has the majority of it's original warranty. I thought this was a pretty good deal considering the retail was around $29,000. I figured the markdown was due to the fact that they had new Durangos sitting near the used ones with "employee pricing" between 26,000 and 34,000.
We purchased the vehicle and drove it home. After loading all of our junk into it, I walked around the vehicle (in better garage lighting) to check it out. It had the typical small door dings etc... Upon looking near the drivers front fender I noticed there was some paint flaking off and a little rust. I also noticed that the 3 platic "screws" that attach the bumer skirt were missing. It appears the fender is slighty bent where it meets the bumper skirt. I grabbed onto the bumper shirt and pulled on it... It was very loose and moved up and down a few inches. I took a closer look at the paint on the drivers side... it appears the entire drivers side has been repainted. You can see where the overspray hit differnt parts that were not taped well. Now... I am no mechanic, but it is obbvious this thing has been in an accident!
I checked CARFAX and consumer reports and both came out clean. Although I have read articles that CARFAX is not always accurate and many accidents are not reported to them.
What should I do? I love the vehicle... it drives wonderfully. The engine sounds fine etc... Should I take it back and ask them to see all the info they have on it? Should I take it back and walk away? If it was only minor cosmetic damage and they fix it for free, should I keep it? Should I ask for additional money off the purchase price?
If it has major damage (framework) I will walk away from it and will ask for a refund!
What if they won't work with me? Do I have any legal recourse? I need advice!
Thanks!
