Bought a new TSi, did I just totally get screwed?

[One Equals Two]

So guys. I know I've posted a few times already, so, I'm trying to stop honestly. I am just trying to keep this as anonymous as possible so I am not pointing fingers at anyone.

However, I am wondering if I totally got screwed. I think I did.

So, I had no daily driver. My GST wasn't running well, and my SRT4 is in the middle of being sold. I also have no cash on hand. I needed a daily driver ASAP, and I found a local guy on the local forums asking $5,000 for his automatic TSi. It only had 78K miles, and was a one owner car. I was like, not bad! And I was asking $4,600 for my Eclipse so I figured, maybe he'll trade? So, I offered to trade, and told him what my car had. Keep in mind, my car has $12,000 in parts alone and his is bone stock. He said, "Sure, I'll do it." We talked about the details and stuff, but he agreed. I explained exactly what I had done to the car and what it needed to be a good running car. I also explained that I didn't have the time to make it so. I also had no money. Anyway, so....

So, he brings the car down and I am inside the gas station where we're meeting. He texts "I am here." So I told him I'd be a minute. I came outside and he was at his other Talon with his friend and the Talon he was trading me was parked somewhere else. I got to it and it was still running. Thought it was a little odd, but whatever.

Anyway, I drove it, and it drove okay but it wasn't nearly as nice as my GST. But being desperate, I figured it was fine because it ran well. The tape deck was screwed up and the check engine light was on, plus he said the tire was leaking a little. I thought, no biggie, when I get paid in 2 weeks, new tires, new stereo, and I'll clear the code by getting a new O2 sensor (which was the problem). I traded, signed the papers, and off we went. Well, I started the Talon and GRRRIIIINNNDDDD and then it fired up. Flywheel (or flexplate) is totally screwed up (which he didn't tell me) and I'm going to be out $1,000 cause I have to have the trans pulled. Also, it didn't pull up one code for the O2 sensor (I trusted his word), it pulled up three! And the tire wasn't slowly leaking, it lost all it's air in one day and that tire is toast. It barely holds any air, so I have to get a replacement set of tires NOW just to drive (cause they're all the same tires), and ready to crap out.

I know, shame on me. I really should have checked everything closely, so, I've learned my lesson. But, come on! Doesn't it sound like he knew the car was totally f'ed up? And not only that, it's maybe getting 18 mpg right now on the f'ing freeway, which he swore it was getting great gas mileage. I know I was dumb to go for the trade, but I think he took advantage of me for a few bucks.

What do you guys think?

 

[ian_maham]

you should call this guy out before he screws somebody else. it's still not right.

 

[dsmdeliveryboy]

Ya I really think you need to call this guy out or something, you got really screwed over and if DSM's mean anything to you I think you would do something about it. Ya your trying to be the mature one but this guy will keep doing it because you didn't do anything about it. Don't be such a pushover and put your foot down, post some pics of your old car so we can all see it and REALLY see how badly you got burnt over.

 

[toofast82]

You screwed yourself. A car for sale is open for inspection for how deep into it you want to look, if the seller is shady or refusing, move on to the next car
You must always keep in mind that people are selling a car for a reason, whether its the car being/is/has a problem, change in income(up/down), or wanting/needing an upgrade or new car or cheaper car.
You just traded a dsm with thousands in upgrades that needs work you said, for a stock dsm that needs work. You live and learn, next time be more cautious in your decision
When he already had the car running already, that should have been your first "red flag" The second sign you could say is the "check engine light"
Also try to ALWAYS bring a second or third set of eyes. My friends hate dsms, so if they think its good, I take that into consideration!

 

[Friend-O]

This is with all good intention and no hostility....but.... You work at a car dealership and dont know the scams people pull to get a car into someone elses hands?...for shame....

On the other hand, when I buy a car I bring a rag, stheoscope, and ODB reader at them minimum. Shady people get scared when you start playing doctor with their POS car.

 

[rock1t]

well honestly everyone needs to just understand, that it is a DSM. what do you expect? a brand new car thats not going to have problems?

 

[1993tsigrayawd]

ok so i am who sold the car when i sold it i told u what i knew was wrong. this is the first i have heard of ny problems with the car u have not said a word to me about it. even when u came to my house to get ## opener u said nothing. when i brought the car to u i drove an hour out of my way also. i told u that the ac did not work that it needed to be recharged as far as i know,also that i pulled the codes and it needed a rear 02 which would explain the bad gas milage to. i told u the guy i bought it from was the second owner and the car had been sitting for a few years only drove around the block once in a while and the oil changed every three months which would explain the oil leaks because when a car sits for long periods of time the seals dry out and then once it is started to be drove they tend to crack and leak so that is my guess with that. i also told u the guy i bought it from had just got it back from the dealer were they were supposed to have changed the starter,flywheel, and serviced the t case and rear diff. if u would like i can talk to him and see about getting paper work so it can go in and be fixed if they messed up they need to fix it. the tire i said i paked it and it went flat over night i also told u that if u wanted to wait a day i would take it and have it fixed. but u wanted the car that night.they do not have a trans temp light it sounds like u are thinking of the washer fluid light that is the only one i know of that will blink. the car drove better than any dsm i have ever drove when i delivered it to u. the trans does not need a rebuild unless u have been beating on it which i can pull atleast one post up from the local forum with u bragging about beating some car. i owned this car for two to three weeks were i drove it twice i never told u i would paint it i put that in my post that if someone bought it for 5000 i would have it painted. ## car has several problems that if u would like me to post a list i can.

on another note omar what are u talking about that i have had problems like this before with my wrecked evo that i sold ya except for the fact that i gave the guy money back for the problems. i can give u his number so u can call and verify it for everyone or jake montgomerys number and he can also verify it just let me know which one u would like.

so there is my side of the ordeal u guys all can decide what u think any more probs let me know thanx and have a nice day cupcake.

 

[1993eclipseGS]

I still believe you buy a USED car from a private person, AS IS, WHERE IS. With NO warrenties expressed or implied. Once again, The BUYER needs to CHECK OVER EVERYTHING himself. The car is in a spot for as long as needed, And he can go as deep into as he would like. If he does not like what he see's, Then he can easily walk away.

No one has bent his arm and told him to buy this car. HE made this decision on his own, After seeing the car with his own eyes/hands. I DO NOT understand how people are saying the original owner 1993tsigrayawd ripped him off, or burned him. Have none of you guys' ever bought old sold USED cars, That were as is, where is before? Apparently not.


Either way, Looks like above my post is the other side of the story, Being there are always two sides to every story. Regardless, The original poster of this thread had all the time in the world to check the car over, And he DID NOT.

Basically like going into business with a stranger. Are you going to trust them, Or are you going to check out exactly what is going on , on their side, Before you go into business with them? I know my answer.

 

[NiKKUH_BOViCE]

dude if you lived in my area i would pick you up and we would go meet the son of a bi***. if he didnt want to at least compensate you for lying and some repairs we would fly his nuts on my exhaust.

 

[1twistdtalon]

make sure to really look it over maybe have the shop take a look at it

 

[m1903man]

1993tsigrayawd, sounds like you trade cars on a regular basis, so I have a very hard time believing anything you have just said. You stood to loose money, so you simply omitted some key facts to 'One Equals Two' knowing he was a willing victim through the bad circumstances he was in. He may be exaggerating some on his end of the story, but in all honesty, I know we have all been in that kind of a situation where we needed a fellow human being to show some honour and be straight forward. If we all had the time and resources to 'check the car out' completely, prior to buying it, we would probably be driving Porsches or newer cars. Sometimes the desperation to get to work outweighs our call to be sensible.

I recently sold a car that I had been rally racing for 3 years. At the time, the kid who bought it was star struck in love with the car because he saw me racing it and wants to do rally. He offered me WAY more than it was worth, and I knew he had the cash in hand. Guess what... I didn't take it. I sold it to him for a REASONABLE price that took into account the work that I knew needed to be done to it. From what you and One Equals Two say, you traded him a car that was worth far less than his, and you KNEW it. I can neither abide someone like you, nor can I tolerate you as a human being. One Equals Two was stupid, we all know that, but it appears that his greatest fault here was not in being stupid, it was trusting in the brotherhood that we all have through our DSMs when there are people like you that are included (though undeservingly so) among us.

In closing, it is, for reasons like this, that drunks and addicts will always be in the position they are in; people openly and willingly sell them their devious wares knowing that they need help. Money truly is the root of all evil, and you '1993tsigrayawd' are the lowest of the low.

 

[shockracer]

in some states you can't sell a car that will not pass emission's unless it is sold in a non emission's county, give that a shot if you can then the courts will make him reverse the transaction? what was wrong with the car you first had?

 

[NiKKUH_BOViCE]

1993tsigrayawd, sounds like you trade cars on a regular basis, so I have a very hard time believing anything you have just said. You stood to loose money, so you simply omitted some key facts to 'One Equals Two' knowing he was a willing victim through the bad circumstances he was in. He may be exaggerating some on his end of the story, but in all honesty, I know we have all been in that kind of a situation where we needed a fellow human being to show some honour and be straight forward. If we all had the time and resources to 'check the car out' completely, prior to buying it, we would probably be driving Porsches or newer cars. Sometimes the desperation to get to work outweighs our call to be sensible.

I recently sold a car that I had been rally racing for 3 years. At the time, the kid who bought it was star struck in love with the car because he saw me racing it and wants to do rally. He offered me WAY more than it was worth, and I knew he had the cash in hand. Guess what... I didn't take it. I sold it to him for a REASONABLE price that took into account the work that I knew needed to be done to it. From what you and One Equals Two say, you traded him a car that was worth far less than his, and you KNEW it. I can neither abide someone like you, nor can I tolerate you as a human being. One Equals Two was stupid, we all know that, but it appears that his greatest fault here was not in being stupid, it was trusting in the brotherhood that we all have through our DSMs when there are people like you that are included (though undeservingly so) among us.

In closing, it is, for reasons like this, that drunks and addicts will always be in the position they are in; people openly and willingly sell them their devious wares knowing that they need help. Money truly is the root of all evil, and you '1993tsigrayawd' are the lowest of the low.

+++123 totally agree

 

[mainerdsm]

I wouldn't of traded in the first place. Why did you want to trade your gst? Couldn't you have used that as a daily driver?

 

[pdub42]

sorry to hear this happened to you, I had similar thing happen to me. Bought a 95 eclipse rs, guy told me ac didnt work and that he just did the timing belt and everything, CEL was on for a sensor which he kindly replaced for me before i bought the car. I buy the car about 10 min after driving away cel comes on, get home it says something with the timing is off. Engine starts ticking after a few days rod bearing was bad and the bolts holding the cap on were stripped so the bearing had already been replaced as a temp fix to sell the car. Found out wrong cams were in the car. My dad called the guy he said that he put a new head on the engine and denied knowing anything about the engine being bad he said I must have "drove it to kill it". About $1000 later and after a lot of learning and squezing time working on the car in between work and classes and driving my v8 mustang 100+ miles a day because of not having the use of the eclipse as my dd which is what I bought it for, I finally got a new engine, clutch, all new timing components for the new engine and various other tools parts etc, and learned how to swap the engine out with the help of a friend. I guess we all learn the hard way some time or another some worse than others.

 

[EclipticalGS]

Lol my life in a nut shell.

A. I went to look at and buy a 97 Eclipse Gst for $2500 had mods, desperate for a DD, seemed like a good idea. Bough it and souned fine, until about 13 minutes down the interstate it through a Rod cap through the pan, leaked all of the oil, connecting rod through the block, bent valves.

B. The guy changed his number would not be honest with me even though he told someome else who was looking at it that it spun a rod, but he replaced the bearing.

C. Did not take him to court, just didn't want to waste my time (worst decision Ive ever made)

D. $2500 Long block built buy a shop that leaks oil

E. Practically lost my job.

F. Have not driven my car that much yet that i bought for a "DD" since the day i blew it up about 5 months ago.

G. Really lost my job.

H. Paying people to get around day to day because I ran out of funds

I. Car caught on fire last week, harness was messed up

J. Is this worse yet???

Lol. so much for a DD am i right?

 

[pdub42]

Lol my life in a nut shell.

A. I went to look at and buy a 97 Eclipse Gst for $2500 had mods, desperate for a DD, seemed like a good idea. Bough it and souned fine, until about 13 minutes down the interstate it through a Rod cap through the pan, leaked all of the oil, connecting rod through the block, bent valves.

B. The guy changed his number would not be honest with me even though he told someome else who was looking at it that it spun a rod, but he replaced the bearing.

C. Did not take him to court, just didn't want to waste my time (worst decision Ive ever made)

D. $2500 Long block built buy a shop that leaks oil

E. Practically lost my job.

F. Have not driven my car that much yet that i bought for a "DD" since the day i blew it up about 5 months ago.

G. Really lost my job.

H. Paying people to get around day to day because I ran out of funds

I. Car caught on fire last week, harness was messed up

J. Is this worse yet???

Lol. so much for a DD am i right?

wow I thought I had it bad.... sorry man

 

[rock1t]

It's all about knowing how to check out cars before you buy them.

Also researching the car model you are looking at.

DSM's are not known for their reliability.

 

[LandoAWD]

DSM's are not known for their reliability.

...thanks to the asshat kids that can afford them. Not once in 100k did my old Laser leave me pissed and stranded, yet I read on here every day about "DSMz r unreliablez" and " mah car suckz".

 

[beating4g63s]

Normally I don't respond to post like this when someone feels like they have been hosed, but to the OP, I blame you 100%, I work 80 hour weeks, have a new born, and my wifes little sister is staying with us, I have many many of times went to go finish work on my car at 2a.m. in 10 degree weather with a shop light, and had to be at work again at 8a.m, prioities sir.... now as far as the car you bought that is your own fault yet again, you could have taken the car to any autoparts store damnear and they would have been able to pull the codes for you to tell you exactly what is wrong with the car, and also when you saw the car still running why didn't you turn it off and back on, that was just on your part. I mean honestly do you need a check list of things to do when buying a car, I'd assume the number 1 thing to do would have been try and start the car your self, and you would have known the car didn't act right.



also to all that say dsms are not reliable guess what yet again I blame the owner 1 million percent, not the car, dsms have been givin a bad name as long as I remember, and it's simple maintance, people want to throw 16g turbos, bigger fuel pumps, spend money on a tune, but they never think oh well I need to replace my timing belt, head gasket, water pump, oil pump. and when the car takes a crap at 20lbs of being abused guess what you deserve to be stranded.

 

[Fabian]

...thanks to the asshat kids that can afford them. Not once in 100k did my old Laser leave me pissed and stranded, yet I read on here every day about "DSMz r unreliablez" and " mah car suckz".

I'm 100% with ya on that one. I have a buddy who always says "it's a dsm what do you expect?". I maintain my cars ridiculously. I have full access to a shop with two lifts and plenty of tools. My DD gets taken care of and washed more than any other car I know. For this reason, it's never given me a single problem. I've got over 13x,xxx miles on my DD and its never left me on the side of the road for any reason. I drive it at 15psi everyday.

To the OP and the guy who sold you the car. I honestly can say that this is on both of you guys. The seller obviously didn't take enough time to tell you things that you should have known about the car, and you were in such a hurry and desperation to get the car that you didnt do your proper "buyer beware" checkover. I work for a dealership full time and we still get hosed sometimes when we go to the dealers to buy wholesale or even the auctions. There are truly just some things you won't see that will go wrong. Transmission slips can always be temporarily doctored, engine bays can always be sprayed down hours in advance and run at idle to erase any signs of degreaser or cleaners.

Just learn your lesson on this one buddy. Things will work out for ya and hopefully you'll get this car turned out to be a good DD for yourself. Just do things right the first time and you won't have to deal with so many headaches down the road. Life throws curve balls at ya for a reason. Whether its dealing with a lying douche bag, or your car breaking down on the way home. Sometimes both! Just keep in mind that things will work out the way that they're intended to.

 

[TJCTalon]

It's forsure the buyers own fault. Never rush into a buy with a dsm or any car older then 10 years. On the other hand, the seller should have acted like human being with the circumstances of knowing the car was needed for a dd. He knew the car was shit. I got taken advantage of with my dsm. But it's my fault. It just sucks there's people out there that don't have the respect to be honest to a stranger. People are just too shady these days. Trust worthy people are hard to come by. Goodluck bro. Keep us updated.
Taran

 

[black_gst]

i have been on the bad end of a deal before and you live and learn. sure i wanted to go to that guys house and take a baseball bat to his knees but in retro i had no one to blame but myself. and to the OP if you didnt have the time and/or abilty to give the car a GOOD once over you should have waited. live and learn my friend!

buying on impulse is the worst thing you can do. its an emotional buy not a logical buy.

just think of all the emotional females you know, when they get all emotional do they do logical things?

i hope everyone reads the bold print again!

 

[One Equals Two]

Lol, I didn't know this was still going. Yeah. lesson already learned etc etc. My StrAtus also got stolen so that added salt to the wound, and my Saturn is totalled, but it's alright. I took it to get inspected by a second mechanic (one of my good friends and very competent) and he told that it wasn't so bad, but the transmission is out on the car now. It took a dump about 900 miles later. I am having the car completely done.

In case anyone cared, it needs cam seals (leaking a ton), new turbo oil line, new heater hoses, new MAF sensor, new tires (too cracked to hold air), new A/C compressor, new front Cvs, and the last but worst, a new transmission or rebuild. I raced it twice, but that's definitely not enough to kill it.

It's not as bad as the original diagnosis because I think Precision Auto wanted some big bucks outta me....But I decided to pull my friend's chain and have him inspect the car, and he after a few weeks. I am somewhat relived it's not that bad. The starter was indeed replaced, but incorrectly install so it destroyed the flexplate, not saying it's your fault but it's hard to miss the grinding sound. The timing belt had been done (so, it was true) but the rear diff hasn't been touched, so someone lied. It's all good, I have the whole story, and I am fixing it. I think he got hosed in the first place, cause whoever had the work done had it done by total morons.

It'll total me $3,000 but the mileage is low still, and I'll have a reliable car once it's all done, I hope.

And , I've never bought an Evo from him, I wonder if he knows who I am? Either way, it's not the first time he's done this stuff, but you're all right, Buyer Beware, and I've got no hard feelings. I am glad it was on a $3K car than a house or something.