Hopefully some of this info will save someone here from going through the same BS that i had to with this dealer. I had been looking for a specific 97-03 Bright Red Grand Prix for a few months. I had found a few locally but every one ended up with rocker panel rust and or some type of body damage. I finally found one via Autotrader in Oklahoma City at Hudiburg Chevrolet with 54,000 miles, 1 owner. I began an email conversation with Hillary Ford the internet sales representative for Hudiburg. I explained that I was some distance from them and could not easily make the trip....just to see the vehicle. I also explained that I am looking for a vehicle with NO body damage what so ever and NO rust. She reponded with:
"I had Ronnie Ainsworth check on the 2001 Grand Prix for you. He said the vehicle is absolutely flawless and he rated the vehicle a 9.5 out of 10. There is no rust nor or there any scratches or dings."
I also explained to her about several negative experiences with other dealers. To this I got the response:
"I know this will sound hard to believe, but we are 100% upfront and honest with our customers about every aspect of our vehicles."
She even went so far as to put the car on a lift and get some pictures of the undercarriage (which is rust free....woohoo). After all of this I was starting to feel fairly comfortable that the vehicle was as described, so I went ahead and put a deposit down and began making travel arrangements. I then spoke with Mario Landeros, used car sales manager, and we came to an agreement on a price based on how the car was described. I still thought the price was a little high, but willing to pay it if the vehicle was in the condition they were describing it.
Skip ahead a few days and I have purchased airline tickets, and I am looking over the pictures a little closer. Having had a 00 GT and belonging to this forum I know most of the trouble spots for this model year. It appeared there was the usual delamination in the tail lights, and a tear in the leather drivers seat. So i send another email...asking about these issues. And this is the reponse I received:
"I have taken a close look at this vehicle. I have even been under it! There are no rips or tears in the leather anywhere in the vehicle. I checked the headlights and they do not appear to have delaminated but there is condensation in one of them. There is no curb rash anywhere on the vehicle including the tires."
Not only does she not address the tail light question but obviously doesn't understand what curb rash is.
Ok, the day we arrive in Oklahoma there was no one at the airport to meet us, even though Hillary was told 3 times the date and time of our arrival, the last time being the day before. We waited roughly 45 minutes for someone to pick us up....which isn't a big deal. We get to the dealer lot to find the vehicle covered in dust....which i guess is common in Oklahoma...but knowing we were coming they could have at least rinsed it off.
Upon the initial walk around the vehicle. Even covered in dust I could pick out a "ding" on one side and a decent size scratch on the other. And there was obvious touched up damage to the rear bumper. My first thought was how do two people walk around this vehicle and not see these? On the interior, the leather was ripped....right where i thought it would be, that Hillary obviously could not find, even though I told her exactly where to look. One of the bulbs in the DIC is burnt out. The radio has the Theftlock tripped, so it just says "LOC". The plastic cover that surrounds the drivers side door handle was visibly loose. Upon driving the vehicle there is very slight whine that increases with speed...and greatly increases when turning the wheel (My mechanic seems to think its just the tires....should know more tomorrow when i rotate them)
So we get back to the dealer with all of these issues with the vehicle and explain to Mario Landeros that the price we negotiated was on the vehicle being in near perfect condition. Not only did he refuse the come down in price, he refused to repair any of the problems.
I still took the vehicle at the first negotiated price. Most of the issues I can repair myself very inexpensively....and its still one of the cleanest 01's that I've seen and being rust free underneath is tough to find.
It just really burns me up to be flat out lied to. I'm hoping that maybe by posting my experience here that it gets the word out about this dealership and how they do business.
Mario Landeros - Hudiburg Used Car Sales Manager 405-409-6147
Hillary Ford - Hudiburg Internet Sales 405-869-4100
Thanks for letting me rant!Now back to modding....
