Tips on Buying Cars: Mz3 purchase (more problems), verbal agreement, finance co

Question
Well, things have just blown up in my face! The dealership that I've been dealing with locally is really unhappy about my finding a better deal elsewhere. They have started the "hardball" tactics. They've tried to explain that my verbal agreement to them is binding, especially with the credit card deposit and the fact that the car is currently in my possession. They've also claimed that the trade has been sold. I called the finance co. to see if it had been paid, and of course not. When I confronted the dealer on this, he said they sell wholesale without a title all the time because of the amount of time it can take to receive a title. He is claiming that the trade sold 3-4 days ago. He has offered to drop an additional $500, but will not go for the entire $1000, and if this isn't workable, he will pursue legal action against my mother, she will be responsible for the past two days of usage on the new vehicle, the cost of getting the trade back, and any other fees they aquired including costs of detailing and repairs to the trade. OMG!!! What has just happened?!?

Answer
What a way to do business. And you were worried about the morality of doing what is your legal right under the terms of a loan agreement.

Christi, you're beyond the help on how to save money buying this car now, and with the basic sales advice that I based my book on. Personally, I would call my attorney and let him handle it at this point, and let them work on trying to enforce the verbal agreement through him. But what you and your Mom do is up to you, and how much you want to push it. It's a shame that this is what it comes down to, especially when all you were trying to do was work out a reasonable deal with them in the first place.

I would still appreciate hearing how it works out for you.

Regards,


Ron