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  • Report:  #1429564

Complaint Review: Gateway Classic Cars - Fort Lauderdale Florida

Reported By:
Richard - Guntersville, Alabama, United States
Submitted:
Updated:

Gateway Classic Cars
4020 NW 126th Ave.Suite 108 Fort Lauderdale, 33065 Florida, United States
Phone:
9542274202
Web:
http://www.gatewayclassiccars.com/locations?location=FTL
Categories:
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This documents the problems I incurred after a vehicle purchase from Gateway Classic Cars - Ft. Lauderdale in Coral Springs, Florida. The salesman's name was Tim Luse. He verbally verified the information found in the online advertisement . However, the vehicle listing was unacceptably inaccurate. Here are a few excerpts from the online listing for the 1970 Chevrolet Camaro RS 228 Stock #0234-FTL:

  1. "yellow exterior paint and black stripes are original"
  2. Video shows the car starting
  3. "only aftermarket parts are carburetor, manifold, headers, coil, and distributor"
  4. Video demonstrates car being driven
    1. "un-restored and un-molested"
    2. Video does not show motor skipping

The following is a list of the most significant misrepresentations and issues (and how I had to fix them) with the vehicle :

  • Shoddy exterior paint work - certainly not "original" (will require full body paint)
  • Appallingly poor body work (needs a magician)   
  • Would not start (purchased and replaced battery)
  • Rear shocks broken (bought and installed new shocks)
  • Carburetor inoperable (replaced with new carburetor)
  • Exhaust leak due to crude makeshift exhaust system (required new tailpipes and professional welding to fix)
  • Heater did not work (required new thermostat)
  • Tires decayed and rotten (bought and replaced all 4 tires)
  • Motor skips (replaced carburetor and points, reset timing and tuned engine)
  • Oil leak (replaced valve cover gaskets)
  • Subpar aftermarket radio (needs upgrading or an original version)
  • Molested repeatedly over a long period of time (will need years of therapy)
  • Warped hood hinges (replaced hood hinges and spring then realigned)

I have been in the automobile business for almost 50 years, with 25 of those years spent as a new Ford dealer. Within those 25 years I was the recipient of the President 's Award. I know what questions to ask and I am familiar with the terms used. In the automobile industry, when a car is referred to as "un­ restored and un-molested", it is widely understood that there has been no body work/repair or paintwork done to the car. After receiving the Camaro, I immediately noticed that the car not only had body work but it had been painted as well and the quality was terrible . When I called Tim Luse to discuss the car, he quickly and rudely told me that "there is nothing you can do about it". Based on his sudden defensiveness and aggressive response I assumed I wasn't the first customer with similar complaints. After a quick internet search I found a multitude of damning reviews from people with similar experiences and a meager 79% approval rating. What they referred to as a "dream car" quickly turned into a nightmare.

 In all my years of buying and selling automobiles, this is the most crooked dealer that I have ever had the misfortune of dealing with. I cannot fathom how this business has managed to stay open with the flagrant deception they display. My goal, at this point, is to uncover the unscrupulous business dealings of Gateway Classic Cars so other buyers do not get lied to, deceived and taken advantage of. Buyers, BEWARE!!! 



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