Unscrupulous Internet Car Dealer

[Rich64SS]

Beware of Sportscar Gallery of Beaver Falls in PA http://www.sportscargallery.com . I bought my Impy from them sight unseen. Granted, I learned an expensive lesson about ever doing that again. Here is the whole story.

I found the car through traderonline.com. Went to their website, loved the description, and the pictures, which I now realize were photoshopped. I called the dealer and asked first thing, specifically, 'what kind of shape is the frame in?' and 'Is there any bondo on the rear quarters?' as these are notorious problems with these cars. I was assured that the car was show ready as evidenced by the photos and that there was absolutely no rust anywhere! I requested photos of the underside but was blown off for a most likely imaginary customer walking in the door. This call occurred on a Sat. He called me back first thing Mon. morning and said he had a customer really interested in the car, but was holding it for me. I was a fool and took him on his word and the only photos I had seen. When the car finally arrived, I was horrified. The rear quarters are covered in plastic, and even worse, the frame needs repairs at the body mounts and other usual places. I immmediately called to complain and was told "I didn't see any bondo or rust , enjoy your car"
Complaints to the PA BBB and Attorney General yielded the same replies.
So the car is at the frame shop right now. Check http://www.autorust.com in the next couple of weeks for pics. Jerry is going to use my car for his GM display.

NEVER buy a car sight unseen. Pay someone impartial to check it out.
And, watch out for this guy, he's a crook.

[talofa]

You are exactly right! I just bought a car on line, sight unseen. The description was as follows:
ONE OF THE BEST YOU WILL EVER SEE! Thank you kindly in advance for not asking me about body kits or who the builders were. Please CALL ME if you are serious rather than emailing. The emblems are included. This black beauty was very recently finished. This gorgeous vehicle is ready to go and could be gracing your driveway for the holidays and the new year! One lucky new owner is really going to enjoy this one! This is among sharper looking reproductions you will EVER find out there. It is certainly the one that many of you have been waiting for. This beauty is absolutely stunning and will turn heads wherever you go.
Just a fair “heads up”… I have it advertised other places, so I reserve the right to sell it at any time during the auction. A real one would cost you over $250,000! Now with this rare offering, you can get a quality accurate reproduction for a small fraction of the cost. This beauty looks great with only about 80 miles on it since the build and it is done in one of the most desirable color combos for a Diablo. If you are the lucky person to get it, you will experience being one of the rare few to enjoy and exotic like this for a small fraction of the cost of a real one.

No matter where you are, when you pull up to a club, a grocery store, a gas station, a restaurant...you will be the center of attention. When you pull up next to high end cars costing twice as much, this car will make them look boring in comparison. This gorgeous vehicle is very beautiful and accurate. I know you will be impressed with the detail of this reproduction.

This work of art on wheels features a stick shift, CD stereo system and speakers, custom made beautiful interior, beautiful custom exhaust, custom grills, custom seats that resemble Fer*ari seats, custom headlights, removable top that fits snug on the car just like the real thing, all emblems, and very expensive Lorinser chrome 18 inch wheels.

The chassis is an extremely reliable 2001 Toyota MR2 Spider with ONLY 12k original miles on it! The body is made of a combination of steel and fiberglass/carbon fiber. The engine is a strong running and reliable 6 cyl engine. This one features upgrade items such as: custom exhaust. Also remember your power to weight ratio… this body is so light that for example, 230 HP in this car feels like 280 HP would in a steel bodied vehicle. You could do other things to up your HP if you wish.

This car is so rare and so certain to retain its value that you could undoubtedly drive it for a year and sell it for the same price you paid for it! Other advantages to this reproduction besides saving hundreds of thousands of dollars over the real thing are that it is inexpensive to insure and maintain. Parts are readily available and it gets 26 miles per gallon instead of about 8 like most exotics! Another great thing about this beautiful Fer*rari 360 Modena Spider convertible is that your engine should be good for over 200,000 miles if you take care of it, instead of about 12,000 like a typical high end car.

What that means to you is that this beauty could potentially be a daily driver! Do not hesitate to call to inquire and bid if you are able but please be serious. This reproduction is a RARE FIND, and could be gracing your driveway in days so you will be ready for summer. However, with the top up it can be driven in any weather. The car is truly a great conversation piece!

Sorry for the lenghtly description, but I wouldn't this to happen to anyone else. There are also some very impressive photos to go along with this description. I will be happy to send them to anyone.

When the car arrived this is what I bought:
1. AC not working
2. Window controls sitting on floor hanging from wires.
3. Rims are from Taiwan, poor copies.
4. Wiper arm missing & wiper motor not working.
5. Custom exhaust consists a false tail pipe and some radiator hose.
6. Paint looks like it came from a rattle can.
7. Clutch slips badly.
8. Engine sounds like a valve is hanging.
9. Tires are of mixed type and brand.
10. Rear tires are rubbing & eating away at the wheel wells.
11. Many cracks and chips in body pieces.
12. Doors scraping when opening & closing.
13. Round emblems are all printed plastic type stick on.

I could go on, but I will give you all a break. By the way, If anyone is interested in buying this fine specimen of a vehicle I will gladly pay the shipping and sell it to you. This guy got me, but Karma will get him.

Thanks for reading this, please be careful as there are many crooks out there waiting to pounce on the trusting.

Originally Posted by Rich64SS

Beware of Sportscar Gallery of Beaver Falls in PA http://www.sportscargallery.com . I bought my Impy from them sight unseen. Granted, I learned an expensive lesson about ever doing that again. Here is the whole story.

I found the car through traderonline.com. Went to their website, loved the description, and the pictures, which I now realize were photoshopped. I called the dealer and asked first thing, specifically, 'what kind of shape is the frame in?' and 'Is there any bondo on the rear quarters?' as these are notorious problems with these cars. I was assured that the car was show ready as evidenced by the photos and that there was absolutely no rust anywhere! I requested photos of the underside but was blown off for a most likely imaginary customer walking in the door. This call occurred on a Sat. He called me back first thing Mon. morning and said he had a customer really interested in the car, but was holding it for me. I was a fool and took him on his word and the only photos I had seen. When the car finally arrived, I was horrified. The rear quarters are covered in plastic, and even worse, the frame needs repairs at the body mounts and other usual places. I immmediately called to complain and was told "I didn't see any bondo or rust , enjoy your car"
Complaints to the PA BBB and Attorney General yielded the same replies.
So the car is at the frame shop right now. Check http://www.autorust.com in the next couple of weeks for pics. Jerry is going to use my car for his GM display.

NEVER buy a car sight unseen. Pay someone impartial to check it out.
And, watch out for this guy, he's a crook.

[kathygarnerville]

All a good site is for is giving you full info on some stock the dealerships have, a breakdown of options, and a stock number that you can all print out and take with you if you do want to purchase it.

Most will offer you a way to email them regarding cars listed on their sites. A reputable dealership will email, or call you, depending on your information offered and always recommend coming in to SEE the vehicle.

One good dealership that does this is Rockland Auto Plaza, http:\\www.rocklandcjp.com

They are meant to browse through, give you an idea of how much per month, before you go INTO A DEALERSHIP.

[Autofreefindersguy]

For best car values always avoid dealers and NEVER buy a car without seeing, driving it in person...

If you don't know cars very well take someone with you who is...

I always wonder how ebay can sell any cars?

NEVER buy without seeing it first!

Good luck/skill in the future.

[CanaMark]

Why would you ever buy a vehicle online in the first place. And why in the world would you buy it sight unseen. When ever I buy a car, I get it inspected. Heck man, when I got my '99 cavalier in 2000 I had it towed to my own mechanic for a visual inspection. It did have some miles on it due to test drives. My dealership expiriences were good, Southgate dealership. I had some exhaust problems, it cracked at a weld. They were quoting a price of $800, I was quotting them no way. I took some pictures, got a little mad and they fixed it under warranty. I notice how dealerships love to leave their mark. You got the stupid licence plate sorround, or the dealer named mud flaps, or the graphics on body. First thing I told em was to get that cheap licence plate cover off my $18,000 ride, get that stupid graphics off the body of my $18,000 ride. And lastly get those dumb looking mud flaps off, and re-install some other.

The salesman at another VW dealership laughed at me, when I told em I wanted my now ex gf's used car inspected by our own mechanic. She was jonesing to cruise in her own car. And this was perfect, good reliability rating. I will never ever ever buy a used car from a dealership. Because I know their prices are thousands of dollars above the nominal price. Goes for brand new cars, you lose thousands of dollars when you drive it off the lot. I would have skipped these punk salesmen, if it were not for my ex gf tweeking out.

[techspecs]

There are car inspection companies that can do a mobile inspection at the dealership. If you're in another state you do have the option to have an independant inspection done for you just check into it and never buy a vehicle sight unseen (even if you aren't the one looking, if you're paying someone to inspect it they answer to you and not the dealer).

[Newbomb Turk]

I too bought a car from Sports Car Gallery using only digital pics and trusting the guys description. I also got the same results. My car is a toilet. Rust, bondo, wrong motor etc. I and another guy are suing them and are currently in litigation. Anyone else deal with these guys? PLEASE get ahold of me!!!

Tim

[Newbomb Turk]

I have now contacted 2 more people and discovered this thread. Beware people.

http://216.178.81.108/forums/showthr...84#post2388184

[chicago moparman]

[quote=Newbomb Turk]I have now contacted 2 more people and discovered this thread. Beware people.

http://216.178.81.108/forums/showthr...84#post2388184
I have bought three cars from Sports Car Gallery of Beaver Falls in the past four years and my fellow club members have bought an additional six. These were all muscle cars and we are all very happy with our purchases and our experiences. The cars we bought were exactly what was described and the prices were great. I realize that you cannot please everybody but feel that they are getting a bad rap. Everyone is entitled to their opinion but I know a guy who has bought seven or eight cars there so they must be doing something right. I give them a double thumbs up!!

[rrmofpa]

I also have purchased cars from Sports Car Gallery and I'm supprised to read all the neg. comments about them.In the last 40 or so years I have owned 16 antique and classic cars the last 5 of witch I bought at Sports car Gallery.Over the years I have looked at cars in different parts of the country from both dealers and private owners.I always make it a point to go and look at them for myself because what the seller thinks is nice may not be what I think is nice and after all its my satisfaction that is most important.The cost of going to look at a car is a small investment compaired to the total cost of the automoble.I am fortunate to live close to Sports Car Gallery and have stoped quite a few times to look at there inventory and I can't say that I have ever seen bondo queens, rust buckets,or junk.If I had I would not have bought any thing from them.As far as getting a car inspector I guess that is better than nothing but again your getting another persons opinion and it may not be the same as yours.As for buying another car from them,yes if it meets with my standards and pocketbook of course.I hope all of your problems get resolved so you can get back to this great hobby.

[sickcallawayc12]

Never EVER EEEVVVEEERRR buy a car unless you see it or drive it yourself. Too many crooks/dirty bitches out there tryin' to make a buck selling junk. A few tips:

Always do research on the vehicle BEFORE you see it (recalls, common problems, etc.) online on a site like AF where current owners can inform you of what to look for in the vehicle in question.

Get a carfax report on the vehicle in question. ANY AND ALL VEHICLES COST MONEY. the 20 bucks or whatever ridiculous charge it is is worth every penny.

Make a checklist of what to look for when you're ready to see the vehicle yourself.

Even killing your own mother (okay, maybe not that drastic), but do what it takes to see it yourself so you can do a test drive regardless of where you're buying the vehicle. One of THE most important things in buying a used car as a lot of problems can be hidden without a test drive (worn steering/suspension componenets, engine leaks, bad brakes, speakers are blown, etc.).

Can't think of anything else, but basically you can't let someone dick you around when getting a vehicle. They're very expensive serious investments we all rely on so it's good to know how to take care of them/what to expect.

[frankpantangeli]

Autofreefindersguy
"For best car values always avoid dealers and NEVER buy a car without seeing, driving it in person"

it is amazing that people will try on shoes before the buy them and spend 20-30K on a car without a test drive. I used to have to make people test drive and naver skipped the basic steps to a sale. Test Drive Test Drive Test Drive....

[Rich64SS]

Originally Posted by rrmofpa

I also have purchased cars from Sports Car Gallery and I'm supprised to read all the neg. comments about them.
I am fortunate to live close to Sports Car Gallery and have stoped quite a few times to look at there inventory and I can't say that I have ever seen bondo queens, rust buckets,or junk.If I had I would not have bought any thing from them.As far as getting a car inspector I guess that is better than nothing but again your getting another persons opinion and it may not be the same as yours.As for buying another car from them,yes if it meets with my standards and pocketbook of course.I hope all of your problems get resolved so you can get back to this great hobby.

Give me your address and I can send you the huge chunks of bondo and nasty patches welded right over the rust that I'm cutting off and replacing daily (on every single panel)

And for all the smartasses who just have to say "Why would anyone buy a car sight unseen?", I said "NEVER again". I was a trusting person before this but I learned a valuable lesson.

In the end, I only posted to warn people to cover their asses because no one else will and there are people out there who will take advantage of you every chance they get.

[Alpinediamonds]

I always get a paid report about a car give it a drive but i think it can be good getting a car from a dealer they get them in cheaper and have no personal attachments to the car you just gotta know how to play them.

['97ventureowner]

Time to close this before it gets resurrected once again.