Remember John Cleese's pet parrot salesman? Well, I met that salesman.
The following takes place in Australia...
Hi Jamie,
I have been a monumental fool and have made a complete mess of my car purchase.
Unfortunately the following story is long, but I think it's necessary in order for you to get the full picture.
It's not critically urgent, so maybe put it aside until you have a spare moment, hopefully sometime this week.
When I got to Sydney, I initially liked the Isuzu, but by 4 pm on Friday 19th June it was too late to complete the transaction.
Forced to stay in a motel over the weekend, I continued my research and discovered that the Isuzu didn't meet my 4 basic requirements.
My earlier research via various online car magazines had provided false info.
I found the correct specifications for that year and model on the Isuzu website.
On Monday 23rd June, I went back to the dealer, told him why I didn't want the car and that I wanted my deposit back. Instead, he typed my wish list into a computer, and offered me another car, a Mercedes. I was hesitant but he assured me that it was a 4WD, 6-cylinder turbo-diesel, rated legal to tow 3.5 tonnes. The test drive wasn't great. Not used to an automatic with so many electronic doodads and a right hand gear control on the steering wheel, I found myself very timid, not wanting to risk damage and not testing the car's limits. It seemed okay. Somehow I let him talk me into it. I wanted to order a full check by an NRMA approved mechanic, but he said no, a 3 year Warranty would guarantee that everything was okay, so I paid for that too. It was getting cold and I was booked to arrive at a motel in Uralla that night, a 400 k drive. While he organised the green slip, 3rd pty comp insurance and rego plates, he also dealt with other clients coming and going. It took about three hours. The sun was getting low and I feared driving an unfamiliar car at night. Finally, one of his workers brought the car to me and handed me the keys. I caught a flu on the Virgin flight to Sydney, and was now feeling tired, aching all over, head in a vice, running nose, cough, and (in hindsight) hadn't been thinking clearly all day.
By 7 pm, I'd reached Tamworth and it was full dark. I pulled in at the first motel (1 star). I began reading the manual.
1. It's only legally rated to tow 3.3 tonnes, and that only if fitted with the correct towbar design.
2. It's a rear-wheel drive.
3. It cannot be driven off-road on dry grass because the exhaust (being very close to the ground) would set fire to it, and the fire would climb back through the pipe and cause the car to explode.
(Since I live in the country. An off-road vehicle is necessary on the farm, to escape bush fires, and to tow 3 horses and their gear on all-dirt fire-trails. Not setting fire to grass is crucial.)
On Tues 24th, hitting the New England Hwy and a few straight stretches, I put the car in Cruise Control at the legal limit of 100 kph. When I saw a bend or a slow truck up ahead, I touched the foot-break.
Instead of automatically returning to Drive, it flipped into neutral. I was coasting at 100 kph with no control. I had to restart the car to regain Drive.
I'm ashamed that this happened 5 times before I realised it wasn't safe to use the Cruise Control.
After that I stuck to Drive until I got home, a trip of 890 kms.
Wed 25th, Ari and I drove into town in the Benz for our usual weekly shopping and chores.
On the way home, after 5 pm, and on a straight stretch of road, a red light message appeared on the dash, "without changing gear, consult workshop". In a rural area, it's impossible to talk to any mechanic after hours, so I had no choice but to continue driving home.
Thurs 26th, the car started, but wouldn't go into gear and the wheels were locked.
I called two mechanics, both European car specialists. They gave me advice on how to test what might be wrong. These tests failed.
I called the car dealer. I told him I'd discovered via the manual that the car didn't meet my needs and that I wanted to sell it back to him (to which he replied, "that's not possible"),
and I told him about the locked wheels.
He coached me through another test (back-up battery) which also failed.
Then he got a Mercedes specialist to simulate another test on the same model of car, and sent me 4 video clips (via Whats App) of this procedure, showing me how to find and replace a fuse relay in the "cambus". This also didn't work.
I called for NRMA road service. He also couldn't fix the problem.
Calling the NRMA for a tow truck, I discovered that a tow was not possible due to the locked wheels; it would result in severe damage to the underside of the vehicle. The only answer was a drop-&-slide-tray truck which could carry the car on a flatbed.
I called four Mercedes Benz specialists on the Gold Coast, one in Ballina and one in Lismore. Of them all, only one had enough space for unloading and could attend to the car within four days (the others anywhere up to 4 weeks).
On Friday 27th, the NRMA truck arrived and carried the car to Advanced Automotive Services Lismore.
I asked them to please find the problem with the Drive and send me a quote for the cost of fixing it, and a quote to do a thorough mechanical and electrical check for roadworthiness and safety.
The quote came to a little under $3,700. I gave them the go ahead. Those jobs have now been done and I've paid for them.
There turned out to be a further 10 items that needed fixing, and the quote for these is a little over $11,000.
I asked the head mechanic whether it was possible for this car to pass a Green Slip inspection in this state. He said it isn't. I asked how the salesman could have got a Green slip signed. The mechanic said, I don't know, bribery maybe, or cronyism.
I asked AASL to please itemise the bill and send it to Integrity Car Care Pty Ltd (ICC), the company which provided the 3 year warranty.
Yesterday, ICC rang me to say they won't pay for any of the repairs because they don't fall into any of the categories specified by the warranty.
I rang the car registry department at Services NSW. They said legally they could not give me the details of the mechanic who signed the Green Slip, only the former owner of the car could do that (ie the salesman). They also recommended that I immediately tell and get advice from the Department of Fair Trade (DFT).
The DFT told me how to download a form letter asking for specific actions to correct the problems by a reasonable and specific date (to be decided by me). If the offender didn't respond appropriately by that date, I am to resend the same letter again, with a new date set at the same reasonable length of time.
They also told me that it is illegal for a salesman to sell a car that is not roadworthy,
and that he already has two public red flags for wrong-doing against his business name,
and that a third legitimate complaint will cause him to lose his license.
The salesman at Mr Car Proprietary Ltd (in Rouse Hill, Sydney) is Mohammed Shammus Iktihar, and he is the owner, chief executive and manager of the business.
Yesterday and today, his phone is not picking up.
I have asked Shammus to send me:
a copy of the Green Slip and the details of the mechanic who signed it,
to refund me the deposit for the Isuzu,
and to buy back the Mercedes for the price I paid less his commision & the warranty,
and I asked him to phone me by 5 pm on Tues 12th August.
In the meantime, I am downloading the DFT form letter,
and I have to decide whether to pay for the repairs to make this vehicle roadworthy.
According to carsales.com., a 2012 Mercedes Benz ML350 CDI Bluetec is worth a maximum of $20,000 in best working condition.
This means I'm up for a total of $14,700 in expenses to get it roadworthy.
I no longer have that much money available, having spent it on the car and the horse float.
Feeling stuck between a rock and a hard place,
I wonder if you have any advice or suggestions.
Feeling ashamed,
Manna
Hi Jamie,
I have been a monumental fool and have made a complete mess of my car purchase.
Unfortunately the following story is long, but I think it's necessary in order for you to get the full picture.
It's not critically urgent, so maybe put it aside until you have a spare moment, hopefully sometime this week.
When I got to Sydney, I initially liked the Isuzu, but by 4 pm on Friday 19th June it was too late to complete the transaction.
Forced to stay in a motel over the weekend, I continued my research and discovered that the Isuzu didn't meet my 4 basic requirements.
My earlier research via various online car magazines had provided false info.
I found the correct specifications for that year and model on the Isuzu website.
On Monday 23rd June, I went back to the dealer, told him why I didn't want the car and that I wanted my deposit back. Instead, he typed my wish list into a computer, and offered me another car, a Mercedes. I was hesitant but he assured me that it was a 4WD, 6-cylinder turbo-diesel, rated legal to tow 3.5 tonnes. The test drive wasn't great. Not used to an automatic with so many electronic doodads and a right hand gear control on the steering wheel, I found myself very timid, not wanting to risk damage and not testing the car's limits. It seemed okay. Somehow I let him talk me into it. I wanted to order a full check by an NRMA approved mechanic, but he said no, a 3 year Warranty would guarantee that everything was okay, so I paid for that too. It was getting cold and I was booked to arrive at a motel in Uralla that night, a 400 k drive. While he organised the green slip, 3rd pty comp insurance and rego plates, he also dealt with other clients coming and going. It took about three hours. The sun was getting low and I feared driving an unfamiliar car at night. Finally, one of his workers brought the car to me and handed me the keys. I caught a flu on the Virgin flight to Sydney, and was now feeling tired, aching all over, head in a vice, running nose, cough, and (in hindsight) hadn't been thinking clearly all day.
By 7 pm, I'd reached Tamworth and it was full dark. I pulled in at the first motel (1 star). I began reading the manual.
1. It's only legally rated to tow 3.3 tonnes, and that only if fitted with the correct towbar design.
2. It's a rear-wheel drive.
3. It cannot be driven off-road on dry grass because the exhaust (being very close to the ground) would set fire to it, and the fire would climb back through the pipe and cause the car to explode.
(Since I live in the country. An off-road vehicle is necessary on the farm, to escape bush fires, and to tow 3 horses and their gear on all-dirt fire-trails. Not setting fire to grass is crucial.)
On Tues 24th, hitting the New England Hwy and a few straight stretches, I put the car in Cruise Control at the legal limit of 100 kph. When I saw a bend or a slow truck up ahead, I touched the foot-break.
Instead of automatically returning to Drive, it flipped into neutral. I was coasting at 100 kph with no control. I had to restart the car to regain Drive.
I'm ashamed that this happened 5 times before I realised it wasn't safe to use the Cruise Control.
After that I stuck to Drive until I got home, a trip of 890 kms.
Wed 25th, Ari and I drove into town in the Benz for our usual weekly shopping and chores.
On the way home, after 5 pm, and on a straight stretch of road, a red light message appeared on the dash, "without changing gear, consult workshop". In a rural area, it's impossible to talk to any mechanic after hours, so I had no choice but to continue driving home.
Thurs 26th, the car started, but wouldn't go into gear and the wheels were locked.
I called two mechanics, both European car specialists. They gave me advice on how to test what might be wrong. These tests failed.
I called the car dealer. I told him I'd discovered via the manual that the car didn't meet my needs and that I wanted to sell it back to him (to which he replied, "that's not possible"),
and I told him about the locked wheels.
He coached me through another test (back-up battery) which also failed.
Then he got a Mercedes specialist to simulate another test on the same model of car, and sent me 4 video clips (via Whats App) of this procedure, showing me how to find and replace a fuse relay in the "cambus". This also didn't work.
I called for NRMA road service. He also couldn't fix the problem.
Calling the NRMA for a tow truck, I discovered that a tow was not possible due to the locked wheels; it would result in severe damage to the underside of the vehicle. The only answer was a drop-&-slide-tray truck which could carry the car on a flatbed.
I called four Mercedes Benz specialists on the Gold Coast, one in Ballina and one in Lismore. Of them all, only one had enough space for unloading and could attend to the car within four days (the others anywhere up to 4 weeks).
On Friday 27th, the NRMA truck arrived and carried the car to Advanced Automotive Services Lismore.
I asked them to please find the problem with the Drive and send me a quote for the cost of fixing it, and a quote to do a thorough mechanical and electrical check for roadworthiness and safety.
The quote came to a little under $3,700. I gave them the go ahead. Those jobs have now been done and I've paid for them.
There turned out to be a further 10 items that needed fixing, and the quote for these is a little over $11,000.
I asked the head mechanic whether it was possible for this car to pass a Green Slip inspection in this state. He said it isn't. I asked how the salesman could have got a Green slip signed. The mechanic said, I don't know, bribery maybe, or cronyism.
I asked AASL to please itemise the bill and send it to Integrity Car Care Pty Ltd (ICC), the company which provided the 3 year warranty.
Yesterday, ICC rang me to say they won't pay for any of the repairs because they don't fall into any of the categories specified by the warranty.
I rang the car registry department at Services NSW. They said legally they could not give me the details of the mechanic who signed the Green Slip, only the former owner of the car could do that (ie the salesman). They also recommended that I immediately tell and get advice from the Department of Fair Trade (DFT).
The DFT told me how to download a form letter asking for specific actions to correct the problems by a reasonable and specific date (to be decided by me). If the offender didn't respond appropriately by that date, I am to resend the same letter again, with a new date set at the same reasonable length of time.
They also told me that it is illegal for a salesman to sell a car that is not roadworthy,
and that he already has two public red flags for wrong-doing against his business name,
and that a third legitimate complaint will cause him to lose his license.
The salesman at Mr Car Proprietary Ltd (in Rouse Hill, Sydney) is Mohammed Shammus Iktihar, and he is the owner, chief executive and manager of the business.
Yesterday and today, his phone is not picking up.
I have asked Shammus to send me:
a copy of the Green Slip and the details of the mechanic who signed it,
to refund me the deposit for the Isuzu,
and to buy back the Mercedes for the price I paid less his commision & the warranty,
and I asked him to phone me by 5 pm on Tues 12th August.
In the meantime, I am downloading the DFT form letter,
and I have to decide whether to pay for the repairs to make this vehicle roadworthy.
According to carsales.com., a 2012 Mercedes Benz ML350 CDI Bluetec is worth a maximum of $20,000 in best working condition.
This means I'm up for a total of $14,700 in expenses to get it roadworthy.
I no longer have that much money available, having spent it on the car and the horse float.
Feeling stuck between a rock and a hard place,
I wonder if you have any advice or suggestions.
Feeling ashamed,
Manna
