I went in to purchase a 2008 VW on 11/12.2008. After spending 3 hours looking at cars, I settled on a Jetta. But the color I wanted was not on the lot. They would have to locate it. I said Ok.
I was trading in a 2004.5 Volvo S40 T5. It had 24,000 miles on it and in perfect condition. When the dealership came back with the appraisal, they offered me $14000 for the trade-in. I said that was unacceptable, because the blue book value was $17000. I was willing to settled for $16000. The salesman came back and said that if I was willing to take a car instock, they would be willing to deal on the trade-in. I said fine. I would take a car in stock, if I got $16000 for my trade-in. I even signed a note saying that I would purchase the in stock Jetta if I got $16000 for my trade-in, 2.9% financing.
The salesman came back about 20 minutes later and said OK! They would accept the deal. We shook on it and they started processing the paperwork. In the meantime, it took them 2 hours to find the Jetta on the lot. By this time it was after 8pm. I asked if I could go home and come back in the morning and was told it would not take much longer.
Around 9pm, I went in to sign paperwork. The finance guy, sped through the paper signing, but spent 30 minutes explaining extended warranty, which I did buy. The finance terms were not explained to me. I drove the car around the lot and agreed to come back on Saturday to pick it up.
When I got home that night, I pulled out the papers to find the Vin# to add the Jetta to my insurance. As I did so, I noticed on the paperwork that I was getting $14000 for my trade-in and I thought this to be a mistake.
First thing on Tuesday morning, I called the salesman on the phone he said he would talk to the finance guy, because it should have been $16500 for the trade-in. The salesman stated that the finance guy would be in at 1pm and he would call me once he had talked to him.
At about 2pm, I called the salesman back and asked if he had talked to the finance guy. He said he had, but that the deal was signed now and there was nothing he could do. What happened at the dealership, between the 1st time I called on Tuesday morning and that afternoon I do not know. The salesman started explaining to me that he had nothing to do with the financial and that it should
have been something I should have asked the night before. I of course expressed my outrage. The salesman said he would talk to his Manager and call me back.
I called back at 3pm. The salesman said that there was nothing that could be changed, the deal was signed. I then stated if that was the case, I wanted to come pick up my car that afternoon. He said OK and then transferred me to the Sales Manager. The sales manager answered the phone stating that "Customer Satisfaction" was the #1 goal at Autobarn. He then progressed to tell me that $14000 for my Trade-in was a fair deal and that they were not changing it. I explained that was not the deal I thought I was
signing. He started to get abusive in his language with me, that I was wrong. I accepted that I was not going to get anywhere
with this, so I stated that I was coming down to pick up my car and to have the extended warranties removed.
When I arrived at the Dealership, I was told by the salesman that it would be about 30 minutes. I said OK. In the meantime I sat down with the finance guy and rewrote the paperwork, taking off the extended warranties.
I really do like my Jetta and do not regret buying it. I do however have EXTREME issues with Autobarn VW of Evanston. I feel like I was completely deceived on my trade-in. I also take issue with the "AutobarnPackage" that was a dealer add-on. What is fabric
protection on Leatherette seat, which is basically vinyl? I also do not have the sports striping that I paid for. The package is a completely bogus deal.
I would have NEVER signed a deal where I got $14000 for my trade-in. Especially if I was not getting a good price on the Jetta of the color I really wanted.
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