Rancho Chrysler Jeep Dodge, Rancho Auto Group discriminatory practices, poor financing policies, poor communication, you're just a number to them. San Diego California

Saturday before last, 9/16, I decided, after a long business trip, to look into buying a new car and trading in my old 1998 Sebring. The car had served me well, but was starting to have problems...too many problems...and I could not afford to pay upfront to pay the majority of things to get fixed. I figured a new(er) car would be the best answer, since I could simply finance and pay monthly. Before I get into my rant, let me clarify a few things for the readers.

I filed bankruptcy in mid-2004, at the same time I bought the 98. Western Funding (the finance company) was happy to fund the loan without issue. There was no run around, no arguing, no "we need the car back", no nothing. They just made it happen. I've financed two cars through that company without a problem. Yes, even though I had a BRAND NEW BANKRUPTCY and tons of collections items otherwise they still funded me.

Fast forward to 9/16. I chose Rancho Auto Group after seeing a car I wanted on ----. The sales person, "Chris", claimed he was a "manager" and could finance me, since he had some "special finance lenders" who could help. Mind you, my BK is scheduled to be discharged next year and my Experian shows nothing but positive accounts and the BK. So I went down there to test drive the car, it had some idling issues. They claim to only sell certified and I was getting a super warranty anyway, so I didn't care - if something broke I'd just get it fixed under warranty.

So he goes to Finance, comes back and tells me that he can't get me in the car I want, which was $12,000, but he CAN get me in the next year up, a 2005, for $14,000. I test drove the 2005 and it was a lot more stable than the other one. The monthly was obscene - $459 - but I understood that a lot of banks would balk at the BK. So I went ahead and closed the deal with that rate, full warranty, keyless entry, alarm, the works. Drove off.

Little known fact: If you read the back of the contract the dealer has exactly 10 days to rescind the contract. After that, they're stuck. Now, a smart dealer will get pre-approval on financing BEFORE letting the customer drive off with the car. And I know Rancho does this, because they did it for another customer today (more on that later) but not for me. So when I drove off, on day 10 (today) they did this song-and-dance through "Chris" to get me to drive down to the lot and leave work. Mind you, I can't afford to leave my job for very long.

I get there, and I see them whispering. Then Chris tells me that he can put me in one of two Stratuses - $11,000 for one, $10,000 for the other. Then I'm thrown with a seedy guy named "Frank" who, I found out later, is yet another sales guy. Ultimately, I can't keep the 2005, even though I'd already gotten settled into the car. Then, "Frank" tells me I can't have the $11,000 one, the only car on the WHOLE lot I can have is (1) an ugly little Neon (I'm over 6 foot tall. I don't think so) or (2) a Stratus with over 76,000 miles on it, 2001. Or I can have my old car back.

Since the car is certified anyway, I figured I would go ahead and just do the deal, even though it's blatantly stupid, my old car just wouldn't cut it anymore. I needed to have something more reliable, even if for the short term, and then do like a personal loan or something later. So we go to sign the paperwork - and they stick me with ANOTHER guy who "just got to work" and knows absolutely nothing of what's going on. Meanwhile I'm at hour #4 now, my work day's shot, I'd been at the lot for 4 hours total doing nothing but waiting around for the inevitable.

But it gets better. Oh, it gets better. THIS guy tells me that I get the absolute crappiest warranty they offer, but at the same price as the top notch one I had on the 2005. Absolutely bull. This warranty basically makes sure the car won't stop working and that's it. Nevermind the fact that Stratuses and Sebrings are known for three problem areas: Suspension (tie rods), Air conditioning, and transmissions. Everything else always works fine, trans is covered, engine is covered, nothing else is. Great. I won't even get into the fact that the fog light was broken and the shifter was loose. Better yet, yes I will. Later.

So anyway, I'm stuck with the crap warranty, but even worse...the sticker clearly shows (and is standard from the manufacturer) that this car should have keyless entry. Apparently the previous owner decided to keep it, because it wasn't there, and the guy acted stupid when I asked him where it was. But get this...when I asked about keeping the dealer's alarm (which has keyless entry), it's $200. No big shake, right? Wrong. They wouldn't let me add it to the finance, I'd have to fork over the cash up front. Err? For a feature that's ALREADY INSTALLED? Come on now. I must have looked at him like he was stupid. So I had to sit there (at the end) and watch them uninstall it. All that effort because the dealer is an idiot.

So I ended out my day by refusing to sign the Due Bill until they added the fog light and loose shifter to be fixed (remember I mentioned those earlier?). "Frank" says "oh we'll fix it, don't worry". Funny, since they have 5 signs in the place that clearly say not to take anyone's spoken word and to get it in writing. So I demanded an updated Due Bill. They walked off ranting. Whatever. That's what you get for screwing me. "Frank" comes back and says "the shifter's fine". I said, "no, it's loose". He said "No, it's fine". I said, "you need to get your medication then, because it's loose". They went to check, "Frank" comes back and says "ohh ok it was loose, I tightened it". No apology for calling me a liar. Fog light was never fixed, but at least I have a signed Due Bill where they promise they will fix it.

Think I'm done? Hardly. Now the warranty is for 2 years. Yes, I said 2 years, for a 2001 car. And it's only powertrain, meaning it's basically useless. Wonderful.

I couldn't help but notice another lady who must have had a 700+ credit score, because she was in and out in an hour, AND they took the time to find financing for her BEFORE letting her drive off the lot. They gave her a warranty that would make Hyundai jealous - 10 year, 120,000 miles or some crazy mess. Threw in the Lo Jack for fun. Catered to her every whim, and even helped her move her stuff to the new car. She even got $3,000 in rebates to pay for her down payment.

What's the moral of this story? If your credit is stellar, they'll treat you like you're golden. If your credit is less than 700, they treat you like a common criminal. Don't mind the fact that I'm walking in there with a $400 Blackberry Pearl, $200 Blackberry from my job, $80 Bluetooth headset in my ear, dressed in a two-piece, with a $4000/month income. Don't mind the fact that I've paid off (read that - PAID OFF, not traded in) two cars with two fully paid car loans within a span of 6 years. All that doesn't matter, all that matters is that your credit is flawless.

If you want to be treated fairly and your credit is average to bad, STAY AWAY from this lot. You're just a number, they don't care about you as a customer. And before someone chimes in and says "no lot cares about you!" that's just not true. This is the first lot I've ever bought a car from where they didn't secure financing BEFORE I left the lot with the car. Even if it takes slightly longer upfront, it makes sure that the deal is solid and I don't have to come back later, which is what I thought they did due to the fact that they told me that approval was guaranteed. I've learned my lesson.

If your credit is perfect, you'll love these jokers, I'm sure. Then again, if your credit is perfect, you probably won't want one of the cars they're selling, you'd probably go to a more reputable lot.

Marcus
San Diego, California
U.S.A.

sorry, allowing you to give a competitors name would instigate others to just file against their competition, to only come back later to suggest their company your comments on this policy are welcome! CLICK here to see why Rip-off Report, as a matter of policy, deleted either a phone number, link or e-mail address from this Report.