Thrifty Car Sales

My wife Donna and I saved our hard earned money for 6 months to get Donna a new Audi A4 (Well, a used A4…as we knew that couldn’t afford the payments on a new one). After searching for 3 months; we found the prefect car at Thrifty Car Sales. They approved our financing; but could not deliver the car as it was being serviced in their in-house service department. They told they would have it ready the next day; and we both were very excited. After a week (9/7/10 financing approval and down payment of $1500 – 9/14/2010 Delivery) when they pulled the car around; the check engine light was on. When we questioned them about it…they stated: “There’s no problem there….it’s on because of the work that was just done on the car….the warning light will go off in 15 ignition cycles…the computer will reset itself”. And if it does not go off in 2 weeks bring the car back. The warning light did not go off. The 1st return, they hooked a computer up under the steering wheel and diagnosed the car….telling us they are ordering the needed part (A transmission control module (TCM)), 3 weeks of excuses later… the part was still not in, another week later AJ service manager, and Brian a tech conveniently did not remember what the car needed and told us we needed to bring the car back in for diagnostics again. This time we were told they need to research to error codes. After 3 total months of this… they now paid for our trip to the Audi dealership ($126) to professionally diagnose and fix the problem. When the estimate came in at $2000-$3000 (as this is a severe problem), they are now refusing to do anything at all. We drove this car off the lot with a promise from them and they are now turning their back on us, and seemingly smiling.

I think a very important fact here: is that Brian the service advisor at the Audi dealership (A great guy) showed me an estimate prepared 12/2009 a year ago; with the exact same issues listed as Audi diagnosed today. This cars problem has been there before we ever dreamed about an Audi. Thrifty is also turning their back on their 30 day warrantee, stating if it were only a couple hundred dollars for the repair they would step up, but not with such a costly one.

(We were told the decision... "Sorry, you're on your own" was made collectively by: Mr. Michael Kastrenakes and Mr. Dan Rasoi)

This company claims to be their own bank. They are not! They will lie and say you are pre approved with No Money Down... But when you go to their so called dealership, they then come up with excuses as to why the Banks can only approve you if you come up with money down. This company has several complains on the Pinellascounty.org website. Please do your homework before visiting this dealership.

Very unprofessional group of people. Not sure how they remain in business when they are such scam artists...