The 'Cadillac' of Headaches

I hate cars. They hate me just as much, if not more. My first vehicle was a Hummer H2, this was NOT my idea. The $720/month car payment would have made more sense if a bathroom and a queen sized bed had been included with the Navigation Package. I sold the Hummer to my nephew, and bought a modest Buick Rendezvous, this vehicle was reliable and my husband said it would last us a good chunk of time. The Buick was my 'mom-van', it was very good to me, got me from point A to point B.

I always did like the look of the Cadillac CTS-V but it had to be black with a black interior. I started an internet search (just for fun) and quickly realized that I would need a car loan. Since we are non-citizens of the US with brand new Social Security Numbers, we did not get a good interest rate. Originally, we were approved with State Farm Bank for 12.5% and only 85% of the sale price could be financed. I gave up the on the idea until Feb 1st 2020. On this day, we were at a 1 year old's birthday party and I received an email from the used car site that a vehicle matching my criteria was for sale in Buford Georgia. I decided to try the online application for the dealership’s financing and I was approved instantly for 10%, not a great rate BUT I needed to get credit history so we made the plan to drive to Georgia the next day. We had to drop off Zeus at the kennel and wake up at 5am to start the 5.5 hour trip to Buford.

The following events are exhausting, annoying and at some points, enraging so instead of a wordy explanation here are the facts in chronological order:

*We test drove the vehicle with the sales guy

*We liked the car and sat with the Sales Manager

*We were offered a few different warranties but we declined

*We were told to pick two of the optional warranties and there would be no change to the payment

*We laughed and said "okay"

*We reviewed the electronic documents and noticed the loan term had been extended by 12 months

*We said no and wanted the original deal with the quoted payments

*We were asked to wait (approx. 15mins - with awkward chit-chat while trying to figure out what was going on)

*We were told the price was the same, the term of the loan changed only by 3 months but our interest rate went from 10% to 7%

*We agreed and left with our new (used) car

*Kevin noticed on the drive home that the car needed some work

*We got insurance on the vehicle and waited for the Dealership to send the information and registration to the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (SCDMV)

*Our Georgia Dealer Plate was good thru March 16th

*The Sales Manager started asking for documents to prove my income

*Then they wanted 3 months of my bank statements

*The Salesman called to tell me that since my bank records had both mine and my husbands name, I needed to sign new documents for the financing

*I asked if it would help to add Kevin - I was told no, the interest rate was lowered to 3.99% to "make the deal work"

*I looked over the documents that were backdated to Feb 2nd, 2020 and the Term had been extended AGAIN by 6 more months. I wrote a not-so-friendly note about my experience thus far and FedEx'd the papers back

*I started calling the SCDMV and the Dealership every other day, wondering when I could go to get my plates

*The plate ran out and with COVID-19 things were delayed even more

*On March 19th we got the car plated in South Carolina

*We took the car to Myrtle Beach Cadillac on March 25th where they did a full inspection

*The car needed a new Drive Shaft, the Super Charger replaced, drivers side window Regulator, and the front passenger side Strut and Strut Mount

*Everything was covered, one way or another, except the Strut and Strut Mount

*We called the Georgia Sales Manager and he said the warranty would cover that, he gave me the Warranty Policy #

*I called the Warranty Company and explained the situation. They said my policy is effective on the 91st day after purchase. Since the damage was found prior to that date it would not be covered - it is "pre-existing damage"

*The Service Manager from the Georgia Dealership gets involved and talks to Kevin

*The Myrtle Beach Cadillac Dealership felt bad for us and called GM directly to get approval on decreasing the cost. The $706 was reduced to $302 which the Georgia Service Manager said they would cover

*MB Cadillac emailed me Monday April 13th stating the parts are in and the car will be ready soon. They would send the invoice of $302 to the Georgia Service Manager as planned. Once Cadillac receives proof of the payment (a photo of the check to be mailed) then I can pick up my car

*On April 15th, 3 weeks from the date we dropped off our car, I got fed up, called the Georgia Dealership Service Manager, left a detailed message and then called MB Cadillac to say I’m on my way to pick up my car

*I paid the full bill, Cadillac said they would write me a check once they receive the payment from Georgia

*I rolled down my window when I got home and noticed that it was NOT fixed and the 'Service Suspension System' was still on (the error code had not been cleared)

*Around 6pm last tonight I got a call from the Georgia Dealership that they are going to mail the $302 check

The moral to this story is NEVER buy a vehicle in another state and avoid financing at all costs.

(I see why Car Salesmen get a certain reputation)

PS - This was the short version of the story