Worst Car Dealer Ever!

<p>My Fiance and I were planning our first trip to Mozambique for our December holiday and thought it a good idea to invest in a small second hand 4wd vehicle to tour across the border with. </p> <p>We wanted something lite on fuel and not too sophisticated with low maintanance costs. The old Daihatsu Terios was our vehicle of choice as it suited our budget and had good soft offroader reviews for what we required.</p> <p>We decided to look in JHB for a vehicle as we are from Kzn and wanted to eliminate the possibility of the rust factor of coastal cars.</p> <p>We took a few days off work and drove through after finding a few vehicles on the net available in close proximity in the JHB area. One after the other we crossed them off until we saw one outside Markon motors for sale for a little more than we were hoping but it looked in original condition with no visible paint jobs or alterations and the piece of mind from buying from a reputable dealer?</p> <p>We went in and spoke to the sales guys and explained exactly what we were after and the use we were going to need the vehicle for. We were reassured that the vehicle was exactly what we needed, 4wd etc. having the diff. lock switch on the dash as only the 4wd Terios,s did we were happy that we were getting what we were looking for.</p> <p>The price was high for the model but we were told we would get all On The Road Costs included at that price.</p> <p>The test drive was ok with a clanking noise when you let the cluctch out, the only thing we could tell by in the short test drive that was an issue but again the sales Rep said it would be taken care of. I wanted to test out the diff lock but was told there is not terain nearby that would suffice but that when the diff. lock button was pushed the Dash light came on to suggest it was engaged so it must be working, right?</p> <p>So our mind was made up and we were convinced that this was the vehicle we needed and set back to Markon Motors to sign the documents.</p> <p>We did an EFT and paid the balance in cash but the delay for the money clearance held everything up as the Dealer did not accept a bank issued proof of payment and insisted that it must clear before anthing could progress.</p> <p>The clearance took longer than anticipated and we were running out of time so we went back to the bank, cancelled the transaction and asked my Fiance's dad for a loan into the relevant bank that would clear straight away and it did.</p> <p>Having paid we got our reciept and the vehicle was taken to get prepared for delivery and a mechanical checkup to sort out the noise we had complained about. With confidance we went back to our B&B and waited for the dealer to call us to pick up our "New" car.</p> <p>A day went by without a call so we followed up by calling them. It was not ready as COR had not yet been done but would be carried out asap.</p> <p>Again waiting the next day till noon I called Markon motors again but this time apparently the vehicle was having the noise we noted sorted out at a propshaft repair centre.</p> <p>With our leave run out and needing to return to Kzn we urged Markon to please have the vehicle ready for us which they said would be done latest Saturday afternoon.</p> <p>Come Saturday we drove to Markon to see first hand what the delay was and we were told that the vehicle was still at the propshaft centre down the road. We were taken there by the rep to witness it standing there work in progress. The repair centre were made aware of our time constraint and we were assured the vehicle would be ready in a few hours so he waited around for it, and when finally it was ready it was taken back to the Markon parking lot where we received a register book and some documents to sign acknowledging acceptance, but no vehicle register papers where available, we were told because it was a Saturday that all the Admin ladies were off and that the papers were locked in the offices but were guaranteed that the docs would be speed mailed to us first thing the following Monday.</p> <p>With only reciept in hand and the keys to our new car and new Markon floor mats and a Markon sticker on the rear of the car we set off and said our good bys to a Grinning sale rep. and headed back to Kzn in convoy with my Fiance in the vehicle we drove through in and myself in the "New" Terios. </p> <p>At first chuffed with our very first "awd" vehicle till our first half way fuel stop when I noticed that the licence disc on the vehicle was expired. I phoned the Rep and once again was reassured that it would be in the post come Monday. </p> <p>We set home and it got Late and Dark as we approached the worst part of the road home, Sani Pass! The Terios swayed left and right on the uneven road and was worryingly unstable on the slightest change of camber.</p> <p>When we finally got home late that evening I thought of all the possible causes for such instability in the little Terios and decided to take her in for a alignment and shock absorber test first thing Monday morning.</p> <p>Monday came and off I set to have the Terios checked out.</p> <p>At the tyre centre the Terios was raised on the ramps for a visual inspection and low and behold, the front drive shafts from the front Diff to the front wheels were missing with only the outer cv's holding the hubs in place and the diff where the drive shafts go in completely open to the elements. This, obvious from the old grime and dirt on the hubs was a very old existing occurance to the vehicle rendering it not only NOT 4wd but also dangerous to drive.</p> <p>I immediately phoned Markon Motors sales rep and reported my findings, He said he would follow up and get back to me asap.</p> <p>No response for a day and also no Documents from the dealership.</p> <p>I phoned back the following day and was told that Phillip a director was handeling the situation and that the documents for the car were with him and we would be contacted soon.</p> <p>Three days later Phillip contacted me and said unfortunately they cannot help or be held reliable as we had purchased the vehicle as is and refused to give us the time of day with any further enquiries.</p> <p>To ad insult to injury when the documents for the car finally arrived, we learnt that it was 3 years behind in licencing and with no COR as promised, how could it in this condition?</p> <p>We complained and followed up with the Ombudsman for many months to no avail. we were left with a unlicenced and unsafe vehicle just parked off and all our money lost.</p> <p>With all hope lost, a year or so later and as a final resort I took it upon myself to source second hand parts and try repair the vehicle to a usable state. I did and when it was in a condition to take through COR I followed up with the licencing department as to the outstanding back dated licence and learnt to my surprise that the vehicle was still dealer stocked at Markon and no back fees were required.</p> <p>COR passed and lots of unnecessary stress and money later I now have a running vehicle and have removed any trace of Markon Motors (Stickers, matts etc.) from the vehicle and a bitter taste in my mouth and loss of trust for any car dealership.</p> <p>DO NOT BUY FROM MARKON MOTORS!!!</p> <p> </p>