I need help. ..please read!

[Qualitywires.com]

I had posted a long time ago about a used car dealership selling me a viper 1994 rt/10 that had been wrecked. Well, now it's in the process of going to court. The owner of the dealership got a hold of the body man that fixed the Viper and may have told him to lie. I don't know. I guess the body guy has done a lot of business with him in the past. Well anyways, this body man told in his deposition that the wrecked Viper was in better condition as if it was new because of the worked he had done on it...which it isn't..look closely and paint is bad and doors don't really match. This is stuff I didn't know since I was a novice about buying cars. I learned that carfax is not a reliable source to tell about the history of the car. Of course the body man will say that cause he did the work on it. I had a hard time getting the car appraised because people didn't want to get involved. I went to this one car appraiser and he said that in the book he uses to appraise cars that the Viper wasn't listed. I have a hard time believing that because there were over 10,000 vipers made and there were cars in there that were rarer that the viper. Any thoughts on that? Well the frame of the car was damaged too, but looks like it was pulled on a rack.
This body man doesn't know what he is talking about, because as far as I know, once the frame has been damaged, it's not as good as it was originally. Does anyone have a contact in Louisville KY that could help me out on this? I need to prove that the car is not as good or better than before it got wrecked. This body man is obviously cover for the owner of the small dealership. I decided to keep the car because I can not sell the car for what I paid for it which was retail. This car dealer took me bad..and I'm not going to do that to someone else like he suggested I do. So I guess I'm stuck with the car and I'm going to see what can be done in court about it, but I need as much help as possible to prove that the viper is not worth the same as a non-wrecked viper.
Thanks guys and gals.
ab

 

[Fred(DrivingSchool)Kinder]

To define the condition of a Viper take it to a Dodge dealership that is authorized to service and sell Vipers a Five Star dealership if possible and ask their Viper tech if he/she can evaluate the frame and body. You may need to get help from a regional Dodge zone manager. As far as paying to much that is in your responsibility. Your VCA president may also be able to help. Are you a VCA member?

 

[Qualitywires.com]

I paid too much because I was not told about the damage up front. I would have never bought the car if I had known. Just another fool taken by a slick cars salesman. (I know all car salesmen are not the same).

 

[John N]

ab,

In addition to Fred's suggestion, I would recommend a 'professional" appraiser. A good one wouldn't balk at all because the issue is in court, that's why they are in business in the first place. Don't know how many there are in your area, but in addition to the yellow pages you might try publications like Hemmings and Old Car Price Guide for advertisements. There are a lot of them that appear in Hemmings every month. Your attorney should have some idea/sources on reputable appraisers who have appeared in court in the area also.

You never answered Fred's question on VCA. If you are a member I think they could probably help you out.

 

[Qualitywires.com]

I'm not a memeber yet. I didn't join yet because I am a little bit embarrassed about my situation about being had. I will need to look into it. I think all (bad) car sales men go directly to hell. Grr!

 

[Charlie]

It's only $100 a year and it may well pay dividends to join. As many times as I've seen your posts I'm suprised you aren't a member.

Just my .02

 

[Qualitywires.com]

Thanks Byron:
I asked this man who owns the car dealership if it was ever wrecked..he said "no". So he lied from day one. It's going to be a jury trial. This guy is telling everyone he told me this up front. Well, I'm hoping for the jury to use their common sense that I wouldn't go buy a wrecked and repaired viper knowing the facts before hand. We will see I guess.

 

[Qualitywires.com]

oh, yes I do have a lawyer. I have to go for my deposition soon..yucko! I guess that means it's time to be harrassed by the other attorney. I wish people could be honest in business dealings.

 

[JonB]

Caveat Emptor:

As a Tech Inspector at ViperNational's #1, I discovered two cars that hade been wrecked and repaired. One horrified owner was clueless, and had been lied to. It took Sandy Emerling of Team Viper to convince that owner I was right. In neither case was it a DODGE dealer, but "exotic" dealers.

One of these owners had gotten it "IN WRITING" on the sales contract that the car had "never been damaged in any way, other than normal road-hazard damage." He received an out-of-court mediated settlement in excess of $5000 from the seller. (His Entry fee was $150 !?!?)

Now, at PartsRack, I am AMAZED at the number of Vipers being rebuilt around the country. (We wanted the hulks!) LOTS! All potential nightmares. Some of these shops don't seem to care WHAT they put back on/in a Viper ! (others DO care....)

KNOW YOUR SELLER.......GET ANY CLAIMS IN WRITING.

JonB

 

[Jay H]

Im a friend of AB and he's telling the truth. I have seen the guys pics that did the body work that he had taken while fixing it. He said it was hit pretty good but he had thought that he had did a good job doing the repair,had to order a new door and things like that but overall he said you wouldnt even know it had been wrecked. I also have talked to other people who have heard of this Sour Viper, so AB has all the info I have but if more can give some advice that would be good,Hes a pretty good guy.