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Classics of Heber Kimball Dean Strickland Sold a Car without being told about Transmission Issue Heber Utah
I found a used 06' Jetta with only 64K miles on a local used car website I trust.
I test drove the car after work at 6:30pm for about 20 minutes and then stopped and checked it out at the local Autozone on Main street there in Heber. I noticed the drivers side back door did not work and the motor was in the trunk. Not a big deal. The same door had been spray painted black to cover up some damage but I was not concerned with that. The rear tires were old and cracking severely. However, they never told me about those issues and seemed shocked when I brought them to their attention. They said they would trade them out for better tires which I was okay with. I felt it was a good buy because the asking price was 1400 under blue book and finalized the paperwork with them (all done by hand, not on a computer) and then finalized my finance with the bank across the street.
Came back and paid for the car. I had driven my wife's car up so I couldn't drive it home that day. They told me the car would have the new tires and it would be detailed for when I picked it up that next evening. They were closed when I made it up but the car was there with the key under the floor mat. Only one key. No spare or fobs which seemed strange. It also had no fuel. So I drove to the gas station and filled up.
I drove home with my wife following behind. We live about 28miles from Heber and when I got out of the canyon (about 23 miles into the drive) the RPM's shot to the red when the car was shifting from 3rd to 4th gear. (auto trans) I let off the gas and when the RPM's dropped to about 2000 it jerked into 4th and was smooth. When I was almost home it was doing that from 3rd to 4th and then again 4th to 5th gear. I immediately sent a text to the sales guy and to Dean telling them of the issue. I was told it was an "As-Is" sale. I persisted to tell them this could not be a new issue that just happened after having only driven 27 miles off their lot. They told me to bring it back up the next day so their mechanic could look at it. I had to take the day off from work to drive it back up there. On the way up it did not have the issue until I was again about 23 miles into the drive and almost to Heber. I pulled over and took out my cell phone to record what was happening in case it did not happen when I got to them. I arrived and had the sales guy ride with me so I could show him the issue. He is not a mechanic mind you. Dean had him walk behind his shop to find the mechanic. I guess he works somewhere back there which didn't give me a lot of confidence. I found out in talking with them casually they do not do inspections on their cars they are selling. Had I known that I would definitely not purchased this car without having it checked out. I assumed a classic car dealer would take pride in their cars. They called around and found one of the only European shops to check it out but I had to wait until the next day. They loaned me another used car and tried to talk me into buying it instead. (This made me concerned they knew of this issue prior to selling it)
The next day they said it was only a sensor that was faulty and they replaced it and told me I was good to go. I went up and got the car and to my surprise, the SAME ISSUE happened after the Trans warmed up. I sent them a text yet again and they did not respond. When they finally responded it was back to trying to sell me another car and that it was an "As-Is" contract. I have asked for copies of all my texts and communications between him and I for my records and possible future actions against him.
My wife drove the car up to Salt Lake and when she got there after it was slipping from 3rd to 4th and 4th to 5th it stopped shifting. She was driving up a hill and could not drive. This put her in danger and in harm's way when she should not have been. All because they wanted to make a buck and think that I was not going to do anything about it. It had to be towed to a reputable European Auto Shop suggested by my insurance and they told me that it would need to have a new Transmission. I was FURIOUS! I just spent 5000.00 on this car which is now going to cost me another 4500.00 for a used transmission. My wife called Dean and when she finally got someone to answer he treated her like trash and that she had no idea what she was talking about and again used the "As-Is" crap as his crutch go to comment. When she told him she was going to have to give an accurate and poor review online he yelled at her and hung up the phone on her. He later text back (not even a call) to say he would go half and half with us on the cost. Again, this is something that I feel he is doing because he knows he allegedly is in the wrong and doesn't want another lawsuit or run in with the US Marshall service.
Now, we are to take it to a mechanic he knows in SLC to have them look at it and possibly fix the Valve Box for only 700.00. I trust the shop I took it to and do not think they would tell me I need a new transmission if it didn't really need one. He was the one when I called around, told me to be careful because shops are going to tell you, you need a new one without even looking.
I am looking into contacting my lawyer so that I do not have to deal with him directly anymore and he can try and pass his lies off to him and the judge.
Please DO NOT PURCHASE a car from him or use his services.