yank_my_chain

I bought a '93 RX7 in December off EBay and have had nothing but problems with the car. When I picked up the car ( I flew to Philadelphia from Cincinnati to get it) the owner did not have the title but told me he would have it within a week and send it to me. I paid him $9,500 for the car and drove it home. To date, I still don't have the title (they can't get it released from the state because the state says the car has deep tinted windows which it does not, I have sent them several rounds of pictures).

The car has many electrical and other problems that I won't go into here. I just took it into a good local shop with RX7 experience and the mechaninc called me back within an hour telling me to return it if possible. I thought it was a base model. It has cruise control that does not work, leather seats and no sunroof. He said it is the R1 package (dual oil coolers). I verified with Mazda based on the VIN number that it is the R1 package. From what I know cruise control is not even an option on the R1. My mechanic thinks the entire instrument cluster was replaced with one from a different vehicle with cruise. The odometer currently reads 54xxx miles and the mechanic said there is no way this car only has 54K miles. If the instrument cluster was replaced then I don't think the mileage could be correct for this vehicle. I checked CarFax and I can't absolutly prove any odometer fraud. The car was issued a salvage title in March '99 with 53xxx miles so it is possible it has been driven less than 1,000 miles in the past 4 years.

I think most of the bizarre electrical problems I have are a result of the instrument cluster being from a different model. The VIN number is JM1FD3317P0204096.

Does the ECU keep track of mileage independently from the odometer?

Anyone have any suggestions? Do you think I have a legal stand to return this car? The Yahoo ad certainly made it sound like this car was in much better condition.

I have put about $1,000 into the car mostly for body work and to try to get some of the problems fixed. I hope to get back the amount I paid plus the $1,000 I put into and ship it back at their expense.

I know I never should have bought it so go ahead and rip on me for that...I didn't know about this site until after I bought it.

Thanks in advance for any advice or insight you may have.

-Brad

s4play

buyer beware you have ABSOLUTELY NO RECOURSE, get the title as fast as you can, he could report the car stolen and you would really be SOL. Good luck.

dgeesaman

iTrader: (7)

Title, title, title!

Never drive away a car without the title in hand, correctly transferred by signature, notarized if necessary. You have no proof at this point that your vehicle wasn't stolen, and if anything happens you're probably f***ed. Don't contact the seller until you've contacted the PA DMV or whatever state the title is from, and whoever can answer how to withhold or reclaim your payment. Put your actions on paper and get the story before this seller could get nervous and screw you before your *** gets covered. Probably worth a $100 sit-down with a lawyer.

Is there any way you can put hold on your payment? Make the seller get things straightened out with his state before transferring the title to your state, and make him do it now. He could be hiding something very illegal, which if you initiate the investigation I think you won't be liable for anything. Send letters, work in paper, and copy to people so you have your *** covered. If you just accept what he's telling you and something ugly is going on, you could also be indicted (I don't know, I'm not a lawyer). You cannot afford to get caught here, and right now it's a noose.

Then again, he could simply be trying to sell the car without getting it inspected or paying for an overdue registration, which isn't legal but less worrisome.

Either way, make sure you can get that money back by force if necessary and insist that things get done in correct order. Payment and title should exchange at the same time, IMO.

Regarding what your mechanic is saying, here is my deal. I own an R2 (R1). It is not difficult or invasive to install the cruise control components in an R2 - I did it just last week. The instrument cluster is identical - only that on the R1 the buttons for the cruise on/off have a blank piece in its place. All of the wiring is already in place. The mechanic may also be surprised at a 10yo vehicle with 54k miles, but that's how many mine has - they do exist.

David

rxrotary2_7

who was the owner? please dont tell me that car-nu in berlin NJ is where you got this. this sounds like one of there *doings*. (switching guage clusters, holding the titles and all that BS.) do you have a name and address or telephone number of the privious owner? do you haev their driver liscence number? if you dont have any of this info, then i hate to sound like a dick, but it almost serves you right. why the hell would you give anyone anywhere that kind of money without a way to track them down?

dgeesaman

iTrader: (7)

These are the folks you need to get in touch with now. I think if you start your investigation process in paper, according to any suggestions these folks have, you'll be ok. Call them and get the story.

PA DMV

Address:
Riverfront Office Center
1101 S. Front Street
Harrisburg, PA 17113

County:
Dauphin

Hours:
General Services Mon - Fri 7:30 AM - 4:30 PM
General Services Sat 8:00 AM - 12 Noon (Renewals Only)

1-717-391-6190

Driver and Vehicle Services Customer Call Center
The cornerstone of customer service is accessibility. PENNDOT operates a state-of-the-art call center where customer inquiries concerning Driver and Vehicle services may be directed. Inquiries concerning directions to PENNDOT locations and their hours of operation along with information on the status of vehicle registration and driver license renewals can be obtained 24 hours a day, 7 days a week from the automated voice response system. In addition, extensively trained customer service representatives are at your disposal Monday through Friday (except holidays) from 7 AM until 9 PM ET.

ttb

did the seller tell you it's salvage title? i think there may be a fraud law that if he doesn't tell you it's salvage then you might have recourse.

dgeesaman

iTrader: (7)

some more thoughts...

No state I know of will ever have the title in their possession except for during a title transfer. Call that DMV, they should know the situation if they have it. In PA, tinted windows that don't pass inspection result in a failed inspection and may prevent registration, but they won't have the title. I think it's a lie, and you're dealing with scum.

All of these things are mechanically possible (cruise swap, different seats) and would not worry me as a buyer. Parts damaged in the accident may have been replaced with older/newer stuff. However, considering the other circumstances, I'd be worried for other reasons. I don't know this rotary mechanic, but use this forum to find the best rotary mechanic in your area for a second opinion. But don't take it there or drive it until you have your butt covered on the title.

The instrument cluster is connected with simple plugs. Even if a cruise was installed later, this should not be a source of electrical problems.

I think your money invested in repairs is lost. Hopefully you won't lose your $9500 payment or get in legal trouble, but that's also possible. Like I said before, the laywer might be a very good idea, and also call the DMV, etc on your own (b/c the lawyer may try to take it to court unnecessarily to make money).

Dave

Engberg

if you paid by check with a note in the Memo like like 94 RX7 or something you have proof why you paid him. Which would help with a lawyer. If you paid by cash you have no proof you didn't steal it

Mahjik

iTrader: (1)

He doesn't have to tell if you don't ask.

adam c

iTrader: (2)

It looks like you bought this car sight unseen. Maybe saw pictures on ebay. One of the risks you take when buying a vehicle in this manner is that you might get less than you expected. I'm sure you felt you got a good deal when you won the bid.

Well.......... live with it. You bought it. I'm sure you will be able to get the title eventually. Hopefully it won't be a big hassle. As far as the problems with the car, get to work on it. No one is going to fix it for you, and there is no way you are going to get your money back.

I'm not trying to be a jerk, but I can't understand why ANYONE would buy a car without seeing it, or at least having it checked out first.

mmaragos

Just depends on what your comfortable with. I have purchased three vehicles site unseen. I realized what the potential could be and accepted the risk. Nothing wrong with purchasing this way. Two out of three vehicles were perfect, one (the FD) had some issues, but nothing that would have stopped me from buying the car anyway.

Yank_my_chain...there is some good advice here. Document every move you make and try to write a record of what has happened to date. Let us know how it turns out.

Svelte_7

iTrader: (4)

?!?! Well, what's done is done...

I hope you have a bill of sale stating the terms both of you agreed to - in this case - when he's supposed to turn the title over, number of miles on the car (mandatory), purchase price etc. etc....

Otherwise it's your word versus his and you're going to have an uphill battle in court.

neofreak

What do you expect for a $9500 FD?

DK

iTrader: (5)

Generally true ... but I paid less than that for mine 4 years ago and it's just dandy ... probably because it was for sale forever in Domesticville, USA and no one had a clue what it is.

rotary

take him to judge judy. but i dnot know if you got a shot without the title. pluss when you buy a car from an auction you pretty much get stuck with whatever you buy. good luck.

rotary

if you cant get a title you can file abandonment on it and get a title in like a month or two.

yank_my_chain

Thanks for all the great advice. I contacted the PA DMV and they have no record of the car ever being registed in their state. NJ has it with a salvage title.

I just sent an email to the person I bought it from detailing why I want to return it. I just asked for the original purchase price and to have it shipped back at his expense. I'll let you know when I get a reply.

I expected to get dissed by everyone much more harshly considering my stupidity with this entire transaction. I appreciate your kindness.

Thanks-

Brad

ttb

i'm assuming he asked and was lied to. otherwise, yea it's buyer beware

ttb

do you still have the ebay auction? was there anything in there that was blatant fraud? they might give you some leverage, otherwise i think you don't really have a case, but good luck.