I stopped at Universal out of impulse, on my way to another dealership- I should have kept going. The sales person helping me was high pressure.. I did like the car and the price was good, so I decided to stick it out. I will mention that the warranty guy was very knowledgeable, efficient and helpful- so it wasn't completely miserable.
But here's why I'll never be back: A full 3 weeks + after the sale, I got a call from my old financing company: Universal had never paid off my trade in??!!!!!?!!! I was told my credit rating was in immediate jeopardy because of this. I called the dealership and it took more than 2 hours and 4 phone calls before I was able to reach someone who would deal with me. Evidently the check to my old financing company had just been sitting there this whole time. UNBELIEVABLE. Not to mention they were rude, short with me, no apology...
Then, I tried to drive the car on a 2 hour trip. It broke down (overheated). I called Universal and was given the 1-800 number for the ESPBasecare Warranty I bought. WHen I called the number it said they were closed. I ended up paying $540 for a waterpump. thinking I'd be reimbursed by my warranty. Wrong. Since Universal didnt tell me to get towed to a Ford dealer, and I was in the middle of the road with 2 little kids, I got to the nearest Mechanic. The dealership declined to help me with this.
When I got home I took the car in to Universal to have the seats fixed and check the overheating problem, and find out why the check engine light is coming on. I get a call saying the car needs $1800 of work NOT covered by by warranty. The car is not even 30 days off the lot!!! I told them I thought they should cover this- I went all the way up to the GM, but they wanted nothing to do with me. Their final answer was that it was a ""used car"" and they shouldnt be expected to cover that.
They offered to pay part of the bill, but I would have been stuck with over $800 of repairs on a car I just bought. Thanks but no thanks. Since then, the car has had a battery problem as well.
I don't know how you can treat people like this and keep your doors open. Buy your car somewhere else. Pass this one by- they are rude, dishonest and a shame to the name Ford.
more