Findlay Honda

I went down to Findlay Honda (in the Automon) on April 2, 2011 to purchase a car. After being there for almost 5 hours, we came to a deal. My mother and I were the last customers in the store, as they were about to close (around 10:00 PM).

I bought (or so I thought) a 2008 Scion. My credit is not the best, so I accepted the very high interest rate in hopes that making the payments would build my credit. My salesman, Jeremy **, was very cooperative. However, his car manager, Kevin **, was not.

He was immediately very rude and portrayed the stereotype of a "car salesman" very well. We came to a deal where I was going to put $250 cash down that day then another $250 the following week. He said I needed to put down the $500 so it looks better to the banks trying to finance me. I handed him the 250 cash. We had a deal finally!

After being there for hours, and it almost being closing time, I was ready to get out of there. After the deal was made, Kevin returned over and told me I would not be allowed to drive the car off the lot until I had full coverage insurance. I agreed to get it and he called one of his friends, who obviously had an agency in town, and she told me she could get me the insurance I needed for another $201.

The lady told me to go ahead and give Kevin the money and I would have insurance and could be on my happy way! Or so I thought...

A week later, I got a call from the dealership saying I couldn't get financed and needed to return the car. I was extremely upset to say the least. A week later I brought the car back. Jeremy showed me a few other cars that he thought he could get me financed for. But I ended up not liking them and leaving frustrated.

I immediately stopped looking for a car because of the stress I had gone through at Findlay Honda. I just now had started thinking about buying another car and remembered that I had put money down at Findlay that I had never received back!

I still had my contract, so I pulled it out and read where it stated I had put down $500 cash. I called Findlay, spoke to someone in finance named Jeff who told me to come down with the contract and they would review it. I went down today, Monday August 15 around 11:00 AM. At first, we pulled in and Jeremy was standing outside. I had explained to him that he never gave me my deposit back and he apologized stating, "We were probably just too busy looking at other cars."

I spoke to Eddie, the finance manager. He was very cooperative and understanding. He was going through his receipt books when I entered his office. I explained to him that I didn't give him the cash, it was Kevin the manager. He then went and got my file. We went through it and it clearly states $500 cash was received, yet they have no receipt of this.

And on top of that, I am admitting I gave them $250 cash with agreement to pay the other $250 later. Eddie, the finance manager, then called Kevin into his office. Kevin came in and told me he remembered me and my mother being there but that "he doesn't accept cash" so he couldn't have taken the money.

I was shocked! I then remembered how I paid Kevin the $200 for the insurance also and, all of the sudden he remembers taking that, but not the cash for the car. How convenient. I looked him in the eye and told him he took the money and with his slimy grin he just shakes his head.

They all left the office then Jeremy returned asking for my contract (when they should already have a copy of). I gave him the contract then sat waiting longer to talk to another manager. All the while I'm asking for my contract back because it seemed "shady" that they needed mine also, which was my only proof of my deposit.

Finally, we got pushed to Emmanual, after waiting 30 minutes. He was very unpleasant upon first meeting. He seemed to immediately doubt my claim because I had waited 4 months. He told us to call someone else who wouldn't be back until Thursday.

I feel like I came in there trying to be forthright and honest. I don't expect the $500, as stated on the contract, only the $250 I gave the car manager, Kevin **.

Findlay Honda reported that my 2003 Chevy tracker was involved in an accident, referencing a carfax report using the VIN. I'm the original owner and I bought this vehicle new off the dealer lot in 2003 and I know for a fact it has never been in an accident. The salesman indicated an animal accident on 19 Sept 2005. However, it also contradicts itself by specifying a two-vehicle accident with damage to the right quarter panel in another area of the report.

I certainly would like to see an accident report or some explanation on exactly how this supposedly accurate data entered into this system. Because of this, I walked off the lot while trying to work a lease/trade in.

2003 Honda Odyssey unexpectedly broke down near Henderson Honda while we were out there visiting family. Had it towed to them. They took it in June 19th to repair. They replaced the motor twice while there. I picked up the van July 9th. Headed back to Virgina via 40 east. 500 miles in to the trip the engine light began blinking. 1200 miles and less than 24 hours of driving the engine light came on and stayed on. We stopped at a O Reillys auto part store ( Sunday morning the only thing open and the only business we came upon in Ozark Arkansas). They found 8 missfires but felt we would be safe to finish our journey home.

We sputtered the next 1200 miles and used double the fuel to get home. We emediately took it to our Honda service center and they kept the car until July 27th. They found a few crimped wires in the wiring harness and one wire completely unplugged from the pcm connector. They had to remove engine harness to find this and the wires with in the sheild were crimped. The service advisor indicated the damage and unfinished connection was done at the last service time which was at Findlay when they replaced the entire motor twice. It seems that perhaps the engine or another heavy object bumped in to or squished the harness during installation of the two different motors. The service center spelled it out and put it on the ticket as well as contacted Findlay to make them aware and responsible for the problem. Findlay said it was not anything they did or did not do so they would not be paying for it. I paid for the work and got my van back.