Drive Time Auto Sales AKA Ugly Duckling-ripoff, Should Be Closed For Good. ripoff Clearwater Florida

In Nov 2003 I purchased a 96 Ford Ranger from DT, my credit wasn't so great at the time and I needed a vehicle, A truck worth less than $5K, they're raping me for over $14k, I had trouble with the truck from the start, I had trouble with the passenger side door and window and also reported that I was having electrical problems with the truck, after about a week or so of trying to get them to get the truck into their service departemtnt.

I finally got them to work on the truck, they fixed the door (alittle super glue goes along way) and putting the window back on track, they had done nothing with the electrical issue, I tried numerous times to contact management to get the truck back in before warranty ran out, no luck warranty ran out, getting help from DT was useless, I've had problems with the truck for 2 years now, the truck not wanting to start, engine light came on during 1st week and has never went out even with service done, over-heating, inside lights coming on and not going out, fuses blowing.

I contacted the dealership within a few days of purchase regarding a car fax on the truck, the manager (Rob) advised me to come in and get the fax, after handing me the fax, without me requesting info from him he right away said the truck has had no water damage, which I thought it odd to volunteer this info without being requested for it, finally 6 months ago, my head lights started going dim, battery light flasing after 3500 RPM's, battery level low, I could not run the air conditioner, it drained too much power from the truck, I took it to a garage, they replaced alternator & I had them do a deluxe tuneup 2 see if that would idle the truck more smoothly, and make engine light go off, the garage advised me that the alternator was over charging, work cost approx-($500, 3 weeks ago the truck died on me I contacted a garage, had them tow the truck in, they had to replace the starter, ECM (brain of the truck), many fuses, do emissions test, replaces alot of wires, and advised me that the truck had seen major water damage, asked me were the truck came from, the truck was in the garage a week, 1 week after getting truck back, the garage had to tow the truck back in, this time the alternator had been fried(again) purchased new alternator before truck left garage, something caused this new alternator to get fried again.

I was told it was the battery with a bad cell wall, so I had to get new alternator, and new battery, I picked the truck up from the garage yesterday (keep in mind by this time that truck has had 4 alternator on it in the last 2 years) and before I even got the truck home, I had to call the garage to come and get the truck AGAIN, it has died, turns out the 4th new alternator has fried, battery thus far ok at this point, and only thing else the garage can say is the truckj is nothing but bad connections, and shorts...I contacted DT, advised I was contemplating a lawyer, the Manager got snooty, and advised me to do what I felt I need to do...What's up with this????? In 6 months I've had 4 new alternators on the truck, paid $500 to 1 mechanic and over $1000 to another....so a truck with Blue Book Value less than #k Ive put $1500 into in the last 6 months or so...what's that tell you about Drive Time and the way they do business!

Lee
Largo, Florida
U.S.A.