Interesting story that may be a warning to others. Last month I purchased a new DD (Honda Accord) in Sacramento CA. Car had a clean Carfax report. My brother who lives in that part of CA looked at it and gave it a thumbs up. So to be sure nothing was missed we took the car to the Honda dealer in the area. He provided a PPI in which he indicated it was a good car. A slight collision in the left front required the bumper to repainted. The service adviser did not mention that there was axle shudder (noted by the mechanic) on the phone when reporting the results of the PPI. I only saw this later after the deal was consummated and the paperwork for the PPI was included with the car. Had the adviser mentioned axle shudder it would have triggered an immediate response of let's look at this a bit closer.
My brother delivered the car to me. When driving it he felt it was "slightly" out of alignment and I noticed the same thing. I brought the car to a Honda dealer in the Monterey Bay area. The shop foreman looked at the car. In 7 minutes he said, "the impact in the front was substantial, there is frame and sub-damage, the entire car has been repainted and this car is suspicious and looks like a salvaged auto". He further commented, "I would never suggest a client buy this car."
Later the car was brought to the DMV. DMV said, "the car was reported as salvaged by an insurance company 1/2013."
We spoke to the dealer who failed to provide info about the axle issue and the flawed PPI and they indicated they would only refund the PPI cost. After constructing a press release documenting their efforts and a request to their operations mgr asking about who accepts legal service in their company for court filed documents they changed their tune.
They apologized and offered to buy the car from me.
I purchased a different DD two days later after the dealer picked up the salvaged car and provided payment for it.
I hope this story provides some helpful info to others.
My brother delivered the car to me. When driving it he felt it was "slightly" out of alignment and I noticed the same thing. I brought the car to a Honda dealer in the Monterey Bay area. The shop foreman looked at the car. In 7 minutes he said, "the impact in the front was substantial, there is frame and sub-damage, the entire car has been repainted and this car is suspicious and looks like a salvaged auto". He further commented, "I would never suggest a client buy this car."
Later the car was brought to the DMV. DMV said, "the car was reported as salvaged by an insurance company 1/2013."
We spoke to the dealer who failed to provide info about the axle issue and the flawed PPI and they indicated they would only refund the PPI cost. After constructing a press release documenting their efforts and a request to their operations mgr asking about who accepts legal service in their company for court filed documents they changed their tune.
They apologized and offered to buy the car from me.
I purchased a different DD two days later after the dealer picked up the salvaged car and provided payment for it.
I hope this story provides some helpful info to others.