dkRX20

So suffice to say that this was a shock. I found out at carfax that my car was listed as a "problem car" in my area, they had my car at the top of the list and the vin #, so I checked mine and it matched. So then I tell my dad and he of course flips out. I get ahold of the dealership, and says I have to speak with the owner of the car, but of course, he convienently isn't there, and now the salesman that sold me of the car isn't there anymore either of course, but he's supposed to be back soon, so I'm gonna call him back tonight. I'm surprised that my insurance company didn't see that this car was listed as a "total lose" when I got it insured. So then my dad called up his insurance company, since he didn't want mine to drop me and then lose out on my $$$ that I've already payed them to start my insurance, and he gave his the VIN # and they told him that the car is on there records as totaled, that it was in a wreck. The weird thing is, car fax got the "total lose" info on Oct. 23rd, I saw the car shortly before then, but that same week. The car had been on that lot, for about 2 weeks prior. A few things since I've had the car for the past 2 weeks have caught my suspision; first the paint job looks like it was done in about an hour and for really cheap, 2nd is the fact that he put a Turbo II hood on this car, 3 that the car was originally white, you can still see the white paint on the firewall and on the VIN plate on the firewall has the car's color code listed as "WY", the car is now red. and 4, In the trunk, we found many broken peices of glass in the rear speakers, where the jack is stored, and all over the back under the carpet. The insurance company said that the car was paid for and then fixed. Explaining maybe why the car was given a rush crappy red paint job and the Turbo II hood install? Isn't it illegal now that they didn't tell that this car was totaled and then fixed and now sold to me? The agent told me not to drive the car anymore and get rid of it. I'm assuming that his insurance company listed the car as a "total lose" on Oct. 23rd, 1 week before I bought it. I just now want to get my $$$ back for the car and get a different one, I have no idea what else is different on this car that I don't know about. Maybe the engine was taken from a junkyard? Who knows. So thats why I just want to get my $$ back and get a different car. Sigh, I hate this whole situation.

Icemark

A read end accident that takes out the rear window and the bumber would classify the car as a total loss (about $3500-$4500 in damage if you use new parts).

I'd take the car to a body shop and have the frame checked before I did anything. If the frame is straight then I wouldn't worry about it at all.

Digi7ech

iTrader: (1)

Yup, Car dealers are slippery thieves.

Like Icemark said. Sounds like a rearend.

If the frame is striaght then it should be ok. You might want to take a magnet over the body paint. If some places stick while others are barely gripping with the magnet then you can determine where filler or something like fiberglass has been patched in. Since the thickness between the metal and magnet will be different you can tell big problem spots.

dkRX20

Yeah it does sound like the rear end...the thing that confuses me is that the passenger side lock is like...half broken. To the point that when you try to open the door, it wont open it, so obviously also the key wont work. Yeah it doesn't appear that there's anything wrong with that engine, clutch, tranny, etc. It runs fine, nothing sounds wrong with it, brakes fine, etc. Except for the obvious and common 3500rpm hesitation. I'll have the car at my uncles shop on sunday or monday and see what he can tell me. I don't want to give up this car, so I hope its alright.

Digi7ech

iTrader: (1)

Maybe it was side swiped at the sme time and they replced some thing there.

Icemark

It doesn't take much damage at all to total a FC. they are too cheap right now.

TheMysteriousCarlosX

The damage was probably the entire passenger side. The "body shop" that did the repairs took a hood from a a TII so they probably took the pass door from the same car. If they bothered to swap the door handle assemblies, they didn't hook them up right. As for the broken glass left behind- that really sucks! Everything about this points to a butcher shop job.

A vehicle is declared "totaled" when the cost of repairs reach 75% of the retail value of the car. The owner can elect to keep the car and receive a slightly smaller check. He can then have the car repaired on his own. In most states, the car must be re-titled as a salvage vehicle. Apparently, this was done because it shows up on CarFax.

In most states, it is illegal to sell a salvage vehicle without informing the purchaser. This responsibility becomes less clear as it passes from one owner to the next, but a dealer should want to cover his assets, and be up front about it. You should have recourse. Call the Better Business Bureau. You got raped. If the paint job and the clean-up are any indication, the repair work is probably sub-standard.

Sorry to hear that, man.

dkRX20

Update: So I payed for the carfax report and this is what I found out.

The car was declared a "total lose" in '92 after an accident.
Car was recovered from theft in Sept. '93
Car was a "total lose" on Oct. 4th '93
Car was purchased on Oct. 28th '93
The car wasn't registered by that owner, the guy who I just bought the car from, until Sept. '96

The car was declared a "total lose" twice by the Insurance Bureau of Canada. So I can assume now that the guy who I bought the car from, took 3 years to fix this thing up since it wasn't registered for 3 years after he bought it. I have the reciept from when he bought the engine to for it in Feb. '96. So I guess I can assume some sort of a front end collision because of the hood and the new engine. Maybe it was hit also by a side swipe or broken into with the deal on the lock. His title was never registered as a "salvage vehicle". I believe thats now because he never bothered to register the car until after it was completed and ready for the road, and they saw the car as nothing's wrong with it. So they never knew. This is all guess work. But yeah the dealer and the owner never told me about this "total lose" twice in canada. If I inform the Better Business Bureau, what can they do for me? Get my money back or something more? Thanks for the help guys!

TheMysteriousCarlosX

Jeez, a two time loser...

I don't know about Canadian law regarding selling a salvage vehicle. Apparently the accidents occurred in Canada before the car was sold "south of the border."
The dealer should have seen it and should have disclosed the status of the car. The BBB or any other consumer watchdog group in your area might be interested in this.

My prayers are with you, my friend.

Icemark

FYI this is killing me I have to say something:
Loss is spelled L-O-S-S

Lose is if you lost something.

You lose your way.

The car was listed as a total loss.

introVert

Thanks, ice- that was buggin' me too.

ViperKillerWannabe

dunno about canada, but here in MO they have to tell you what kind of title the car has. They also have to tell you where they got it from.

dkRX20

Sorry about the spelling errors, lol

Anyway, the car doesn't have a salvage title, no where on mine does it say salvage title, and I called up the notary, and said it would say "salvage" in big bold letters at the bottom, mine lacks this. Could the guy have gotten away with it by repairing it over 3 years and then registering it? I asked about the glass to the dealer, and he said, it was broken into and I didn't think about it twice. Also, when I had to go to the notary when I bought the car with the owner of the car, I asked him why the motor was changed, he said that the motor seized up because of something with the apex seals?? So in other words, he lied to me 'cause that engine was replaced because of being totaled 2 times in 2 years, and he couldn't afford the $2k he shelled out for a new motor until '96. What do you guys think I should do? I will call the BBB on monday, damn sundays!! But what could they really do for me? Get me my $$$ back, get me $$ for the car.....or? Should I keep the car guys if I have to, or get rid of it? I might have to, because I HAVE TO go back to school this upcoming week, on either tuesday or wednesday, and its a 1500 mile drive. I'm getting my uncle to check it out either today or tomarrow, whenever he can. I'll keep updating whats going on. I feel bad for my poor RX
though, what a shitty life in the great white north.

Icemark

In some states a salvage car can get a clean bill if the car is inspected by the state.

Then it can be sold as a normal car instead of a salvage.

introVert

If the frame is straight and everything else checks, keep it. If it is bent, scream like hell till you get paid.


My .02, fwiw.

Cody

You know what you must do now. Kill them. Kill them all. Don't stop, and don't look back. All of them. Go.....go now.

skydivr73

ok--you bought this from a dealer in America?? Keep this in mind--it is ILLEGAL as far as I know for a dealer to sell a car without disclosing if the TITLE has an attachment such as salvaged, flood damage, etc. You need to find out why your title is not branded if the car has been totalled twice. Get a LAWYER. seriously. If a dealer does this, they can be fined a ton of cash, so maybe you can use this as a bargaining tool with them. When I bought my last car, it was from a dealer. I found out that they screwed with the odometer, and I went to them about it. They said that since the car was over 10 years old that it didnt matter because it was "mileage exempt" in Kansas.....but the federal laws still prevailed, and when I told them that, I said I wasnt paying another cent for it. Turns out that I got out of paying the rest of the car off and I got to keep it!!!! lmao


you really need to check with an attorney about this I think.....If you play your cards right, you could end up with a lot more than you think haha.....and also--see if you can find out when the latest work was done on it....if the dealer KNEW about the damage and didnt disclose it, then you may have some recourse there too. Check out the laws in NY about consumer protection and fraud. The BBB will not be able to do much in my experience--they can take a complaint and keep it on file for others who call them and check out that dealer, but they might not do much else. Did you get anything in writing about the glass, the story about being broken into, etc? If you did, that is the last nail in their coffin. Let us know what happens

dkRX20

Oh I knew that the dealer knew this car was totaled before 'cause he knew the previous owner for the past 4 years, so he knows. Working on getting a lawyer and reporting to a couple of different Agencies today that can get me some recourse and having the car checked out today. More updates to follow.

DomFD3S

Assuming that you purchased the vehicle in the state of NY.

How to file a complaint w/ a dealer.
http://www.nydmv.state.ny.us/vehsafe.htm#complaint

FAQs about dealers.
http://www.nydmv.state.ny.us/repairshop.htm#Deal
Read section "Can I sell a retail vehicle "as is"?"

NY DMV Consumer Services
http://www.nydmv.state.ny.us/vscontact.htm

NY DMV Consumer Complaint (telephone numbers)
http://www.nydmv.state.ny.us/vscontact.htm#Complaint

Read the links that I have provided. You can get their business license suspended or revoked. Just do your homework and know who to contact.

BTW, if I was in your situation, I would get every penny back. The car is cheap, and can easily be purchased elsewhere. I would rather shut them down.

Savington

I agree w/ the above: If the frame's not bent, and you don't mind fixing the minor stuff that the original shop didn't do, then keep the car. You might ask the dealership for a check covering the small repairs, but don't count on it.

If the frame is bent, take pictures, get a lawyer, track down the owner and the salesman, and rip them both new ********. ******* fraudulent *****.