A little knowledge can keep you from the mistakes I made

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2006 Sonata. 1998 Accord.
In January of 2010, my 1998 Honda Accord blew a gasket behind the water pump. It had lasted for 214,467 miles without a major problem, but this one was going to cost more than I wanted to spend for a twelve year old car. It also had a purge valve that needed replacement ($700), or it wouldn't pass the next inspection in August. I was wanting to wait until the 2011 cars came out to buy a new car. Bluebonnet had offered me $300. I decided to donate it to NPR. In March I received an email that my car sold for $2100 at auction.

We decided to go to the Bluebonnet Supercenter in New Braunfels, because they had a large selection, and their motto is "Bluebonnet - where price is the difference". They also had a way to get the credit check on line, and their website had a "negotiate on line" feature, so I blindly filled it out and waited. And waited....And Waited. Finally, a computer generated email came, and I called the salesman named in the email. He doesn't work there any more. Tell me why anyone would have an internet marketing tool that makes them look stupid?

I talked to someone in sales, and told them I had filled out the credit information, and would like to know if I would qualify for the payments on the Focus I had selected.
"No Problem, come on down.", the salesman said.

How dumb it all seems now. I've been buying cars for forty years. I should have known better.

The Focus on the website had been sold, so after hours of driving, testing the fit of my son's wheelchair in the trunks, getting gas mileage estimates, we decided on a the Ford 500. Well, they just couldn't make the payments low enough. Try again.

As we looked at other cars in the lot, I kept asking the salesman what the payments would be, because I had a budget to maintain. We tried a PT Cruiser, a Fusion, and a few others. Finally a car with good gas mileage, a large trunk, good seating room, and some style. The 2006 Sonata. They told me the Hyundai would be in my budget. Besides, the salesman told me, "it has almost new Michelin tires, I think. The Hyundai also had 58,500 miles on it, and had a bumper-to-bumper warranty through Hyundai up to 60,000 miles. If there is anything wrong, I can take to the Hyundai dealer. Of course with my driving 84 miles round trip each way to work, the warranty was going to run out quick, but it sounded good.
When I went in to the finance manager's office, I was surprised with a monthly payment of $265.00 per month, not the $225.00 per month I had targeted. The finance manager said it was ONLY $40.00 per month. Gosh ANYONE can come up with $40.00 a month. I reminded him that it was a bit harder to come up with $40.00 when you also have to come up with $225.00 first, but if he thought $40 was easy to find, he could mail me forty bucks a month. How about extending the term to 60 months? The finance manager told me on Saturday that on a 2006 car, 60 month loans were not available. He suggested we keep looking. I said "Not today", and said I would think about it, and left.

On Monday, my wife got a call from the salesman. He said that the sales manager was ready to meet my price to make the sale. Wow, I guess they decided to sharpen their pencil. I called the salesman, Mr. XXXX, and asked him about the deal.

"Did they add more months to the term?" I asked.

"They said they would meet YOUR terms", he replied.

"48 months at $225.00?" I asked.

"Come in as soon as you get off work, and we will get you signed up", he replied.

This salesman had his cubicle decorated with crosses, and had some phrases like "The Lord works in mysterious ways", and other sayings to imply that he was a religious person, and of course he would not lie. I bought his religious act - hook, line, and sinker.

I asked him again when I got to the dealership, "48 payments at $225?" "See the finance manager" was his reply.
So, I asked the finance manager how they got the payments down. He went through a well practiced pitter-patter routine about calling in favors with the lending institution, but he never mentioned the fact that instead of giving me the terms I wanted, they were just extending the payments by 12 months. He told me that the payments actually "dropped down to $224.00 per month". Now he omits the fact that they were able to extend the number of months from 48 to 60. I think this is called lying by omission.

Lets analyze what they did. Lets compare finance amounts, Interest Rates, and monthly payments.
 Amount  Rate  Term  Mo. Pmnt.  Deal/Nodeal
 9,555.00  14.95  48  265.17  NO DEAL
 9,555.00  9.95  48  242.11  Interest drop
 8,879.74  9.95  48  225.00  I assumed
 9,555.00  9.95  60  202.78  SHOULD HAVE BEEN!
 10,705  9.95  60  227.19  Deal I got!

These calculations are available on line. You can enter the monthly payment, terms and interest to get back to the amount financed.

Why didn't they keep the amount financed the same? They knew I was only looking at the monthly payments. So, instead of reducing the payments, they raised the price of the car by $1200.00, extended the loan by 12 months, and got my monthly payment to match what I wanted to pay. They just didn't tell me the wholestory. The finance manager offered to reduce the payments another percent if I took the Guardian protection plan that protects me from road hazards on the tires, paint chips and dents, and will do windshield repair. "It only raises the payment to $226.00 per month". Thinking that all of the terms remained the same, I took the deal.

So, I started signing the contracts, and honestly, I know I should have looked at the number of payments on the Truth in Lending Statement, but I only looked at the interest rate. I didn't even know the term was for sixty months until March. I started doing my annual credit reports, and the car loan showed a 60 month term on my Experian report. If I was dealing with a "tote the note" lot, I'm sure I would have checked everything. But this is Bluebonnet SuperCenter, one of over a dozen in a chain of Auto dealerships. I assumed they were being honest. Certainly a dealership can't grow to that many locations being dishonest. I wrote car finance programs for those "we finance" car dealers in the 80's. If I was dealing with one of them, I would have checked everything very close.

I got out the paperwork, looked at the truth in lending page, and that is when I discovered I had been suckered.
OH! Shucks.

Morality is not determined by the church you attend nor the faith you embrace. It is determined by the quality of your character and the positive impact you have on those you meet along your journey.

In the first month of ownership, I found that the tires are a mix of Yokohama and Michelin, they were manufactured in 2005. I had to have a state inspection done, and the tire shop where the car was inspected told me I really should get new tires. The sidewalls were starting to crack.

I wanted to remove the wheels so that I could remove the black powdercoat on the wheels. I didn't care for the all black spokes, they were ugly. I looked all over the trunk, glove compartment, and couldn't find the lug nut socket to fit the lug nuts on the wheels. If I would have had a flat tire, I would not have been able to put on the spare, because I would not have been able to remove the tire. I had to buy a spline wrench at Advanced Auto Parts for $29.95 plus tax.

The license plate was renewed by the dealership, but only for one month. Now I had to buy a 12 month license renewal after only one month of "ownership". When I took my car to the Hyundai dealer for a broken washer pump, they honored the 60,000 mile warranty, but told me the timing belt on my Hyundai need to be replaced every 60,000 (not 80,000 like my Honda). They said it would run abour $580.00.

On March 1st, I wrote a letter to Bluebonnet, to let them know I was not happy about this. My hope is that I can save someone else the feeling of foolishness that hits when the fact that the wool has been pulled over your eyes hits your.

As the saying goes, "Everyone has a purpose in life, even it is to serve as a bad example". Maybe Church leaders can use this lesson in teaching the commandment "Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain" I don't really expect anything to come of this as far as Bluebonnet is concerned. Think about it. Bluebonnet owns 20 or more car dealerships. And dealerships are profitable, just ask Red McCombs and Tom Benson. They made enough money in cars to buy professional sports teams. Why would the owner of Bluebonnet be any different?

I am going to send this link to local churches and see if they want to discuss this example with their worshipers. I know Bluebonnet's "Christian" salesman needs to learn this.

If you read this, and you think Bluebonnet would like to know that YOU agree with ME, then I ask you to send them an email, expressing your fear of their sales tactics. I,m sure Bluebonnet management will appreciate hearing about why you won't make the mistake I did. Or, just cut and paste the link to this web page into an email, and simply say "Don't look for me, either."


Some Bluebonnet sales and finance people:
Name Title telephone email
Alan Gullett Sales Manager 830-606-8011 agullett@bbmotors.com
Joe DeLeon General Sales Manager(830) 606-8011 jdeleon@bbmotors.com
Bill Farris Service Advisor (830) 606-8011 BFarris@BBMotors.com
Ed Donaho Finance Manager 830-606-8011 edonaho@bbmotors.com
Brad TrasterInternet Sales 830-606-1515 btraster@bbmotors.com
Karen Nance Customer Relations Manager(830) 606-8011 knance@bbmotors.com
Wes R. Studdard General Manager(830) 606-8011 wstuddard@bbmotors.com
Richard Quiroga Director of Internet Sales(830) 606-8011 richardq@bbmotors.com
All of the above Bluebonnet motors(830) 606-8011 All Of the above
San Antonio-based Kahlig Enterprises is Bluebonnet's parent company. Bluebonnet Motors has operated in downtown New Braunfels since 1984. Kahlig Enterprises also owns North Park Lincoln Mercury, North Park Lexus, North Park Subaru, and Eagle Pass Ford Mercury Inc.
Removing the black powdercoat. Before and after Aluminum instead of black.
Thanks for hearing me out. I hope you learn from my mistake.

John Penry
email:

Update: March 17th, 2010.
No word from Bluebonnet, as I expected. Except, they did send me another robotic email from the sales department telling me to give them a call for the best deal. Sure, I would--- NOT.

I drove over to City Auto Service on Austin Street in Seguin to get pricing on the timing belt thet the Hyundai service manager told me I needed. He informed me that the 2006 Hyundai Sonata with 3.3 Litre V6 engine has a timing chain and therefore, I did not have to get a timing belt. He looked at my tires, and confirmed the 2005 manufacture date, and said they were starting to break down, so I will try to find a bargain on tires this weekend.

Someone sent me this joke, which pretty much says the same thing.


A man was being tailgated by a stressed-out woman on a busy boulevard. Suddenly, the light turned yellow, just in front of him. He did the right thing, stopping at the crosswalk, even though he could have beaten the red light by accelerating through the intersection.

The tailgating woman was furious and honked her horn, screaming in frustration, as she missed her chance to get through the intersection, dropping her cell phone and makeup.

As she was still in mid-rant, she heard a tap on her window and looked up into the face of a very serious police officer. The officer ordered her to exit her car with her hands up. He took her to the police station where she was searched, fingerprinted, photographed, and placed in a holding cell. After a couple of hours, a policeman approached the cell and opened the door. She was escorted back to the booking desk where the arresting officer was waiting with her personal effects.

He said, ''I'm very sorry for this mistake. You see, I pulled up behind your car while you were blowing your horn, flipping off the guy in front of you, and cussing a blue streak at him..... I noticed the 'What Would Jesus Do' bumper sticker, the 'Choose Life'license plate holder, the 'Follow Me to Sunday-School' bumper sticker, and the chrome-plated Christian fish emblem on the trunk; naturally...I assumed you had stolen the car ..''

Priceless
Update: March 18th, 2010:
I started pricing tires. Can ANYONE tell me why a 17 inch rim tire, that uses less rubber than a 15 inch tire costs more? The best price I have gotten so far is about $550.00 for a set of four. So the savings on not having to replace a non-existant timing belt now will be used to buy a set of four tires.
I sent the "bumper sticker" joke to about 20 friends, and the Bluebonnet people above. It included a link to this page.


Update: March 19th, 2010:
One of my friends from my days as the Northern Hills Webmaster wrote "all of the above", so Wes Studdard, the General Manager, called my wife. She told him to put what he had to say in an email. I guess this is what Wes Studdard had to say.
When I got home, I replied that I would only deal with Bluebonnet in written form, because it was believing what they said on the phone that got me into this sitution.
A second person, Karen Nance from Bluebonnet called my friend to let her know that she was going to see to the matter. I copied her on my response to Wes.

Believe me, I don't talk nice on the telephone. I stay calmer when I write. Contact me via email, it is a nice way to prove what has been said. Phone conversations lead to misunderstandings.

Update: March 20th, 2010:
I received an email from Wes Studdard, and he suggested that I may want to bring the Hyundai in and buy a less expensive car. I responded to him that I had tried to do that when I was there, but the sales system they had doesn't work out that way. Later in the day, I recieved an reply from Wes telling me that he will reimburse me for the six spline lug nut wrench and also telling me that he will make good on the tires by reimbursing me for new tires. I think we made some progress. I will update the website again after I send the invoices to him, and we will see if he keeps his promise.

Update: March 21st, 2010:
I wrote an email to Mr. Studdard, telling him that I had been pricing tires, and that the Michelin tires were a lot more expensive than other brands, and I wanted to be sure that if I replaced the tires with Michelins, it would be considerably more than the price quotes I had been getting. Surprisingly, he answered that he would allow me to make that decision.

On the way home, I stopped at two tire dealers. I got the price for four Michelin HX MXM4 Pilot (the same as the 2 Michelins now on the car), and it would be a total of $955.78 "out the door". The other dealer (within walking distance of my house), and one where I take my cars for oil changes, gave me a price of $522.95 for a set of Bridgestone Insignia "Touring" tires, which they say would be just as quiet as the Michelins, and they tell me they actually wear better. If you are a tire expert, please contact me!

I need to do some research on tread life, tire wear, etc. I want to know all about tire noise. I'm going to take some time, and maybe not even buy the tires until next week. I'm still wondering why a tire made with less rubber sells for a higher price.

Update: April 2, 2010:
I decided on the Bridgestone tires. I can't see paying almost double the price for the Michelin tires. I also read some reviews that mentioned that the material used to make the tires quiet also makes them wear a little faster. So, I picked the $522.00 package deal from the dealer across the street. I scanned the invoice, and emailed it to Wes. It's Easter weekend, I don't expect an answer until next week.

Update: April 6, 2010:
In a reply to my email about the invoice for the tires and the tire tool, Wes Studdard replied that he will pay the invoice. Now, when the check comes, I'll be only $700 off what I was told.

Update: April 10, 2010:
The check from Bluebonnet Motors arrived.
That's a good start, but because I am paying 60 months instead of 48, still I am paying $25.00 more per month than I should. Maybe I could get the salesman and the F & I guy to send me $12.50 each per month. After all, it's just "a few cups of coffee per month" for each of them. Honesty should be the company policy.
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