By Tessa R. Salazar
Philippine Daily Inquirer
DUE to space constraints, Inquirer Motoring can only print one sob story this week. In the hope that car manufacturers and the motoring public would learn a lesson or two from these real experiences, we share with our readers what others were unfortunate enough to have lived through. All names have been changed to protect their privacy.
Edgar dela Cruz was visibly pleased when the sales agent handed over to him the keys to his wife Kathy’s brand-new 1.8-liter automatic transmission sedan last July 5 at a Shaw Boulevard dealership. But as soon as he opened the car’s door to savor the look and feel of a brand new car, he almost literally smelled a ratty deal had taken place. Edgar noticed that the car seats and sidings were no longer covered with plastic, as was customary with straight-off-the-factory deliveries, and he recalled that the interior “smelled like an old book in the library.”
He initially refused to accept the vehicle, and asked the agent for another unit. No other stock was available, the agent reasoned. Edgar, too eager to deliver the “brand new car” to his wife, settled with the unit and took the vehicle home the next day.
Edgar might as well have brought home a naughty poltergeist. Within the first few days, the key couldn’t be extracted from the ignition slot. No amount of “coaching” from the dealership would help (how hard could removing a key from the ignition be?). Mysteriously, the stubborn slot did give up its key, but then immediately afterward another problem cropped up. One of the power windows started malfunctioning. Two annoying problems, all occurring before the vehicle could reach the 1,000-km initial checkup mark. The Dela Cruz couple demanded a thorough review of their unit’s computer system.
Little did they know that a window malfunction would be the least of their problems. On Aug. 9, after the casa released the unit for its 1,000-km checkup, the couple noticed the car’s dramatic delay in acceleration. The service representative explained that the delay was a normal reaction of the vehicle because of its supposedly “new engine design.” After a few days, the gas cover couldn’t be opened. Frustrated, Edgar brought the vehicle in for further checkups on Aug. 18.
The problems were supposedly fixed the same day. But as Edgar drove off with wife and their two daughters, and proceeded to overtake a slow-moving truck along Pioneer Street toward Boni Avenue, the car acted up anew and refused to accelerate sufficiently. Worse, the engine trembled and stalled abruptly, causing a following truck to rear-end the car.
Edgar and Kathy swear what happened to them along Pioneer Street was not due to driver error. They claimed they had been driving both automatic and manual transmission cars for as long as 20 years, with spotless records in the traffic police logs. And anyone in their right mind would never stop in the middle of a passing maneuver, Kathy stressed.
The couple took their arguments to the Department of Trade and Industry. But after several meetings there, Kathy recently told the Inquirer that they gave up their case. “It’s just going to take very long, knowing the justice system here.”
Out of one delayed acceleration problem, and into another-this time involving the wheels of justice. What can we say?
9 Feedbacks on "Barely overtaking disaster"
boggart
you should name the dealership. we consumers should band together and boycott these types. we pay them our hard earned cash and yet they give us lemons.
g78red
Hi,
Please publish the name of the dealership. As consumers, we have the right to know so that we won’t be caught in the same situation as the De La Cruz couple. Moreover, the publication of the brand/dealership should pressure them to give just compensation to the couple.
doubtful
it would be considered libelous if this blog would include the dealership and brand of vehicle. the dela cruz’s was given a sour deal, but it was also partly their fault accepting a car which is considered as not brand new.
Leo
Shaw blvd. is probably the most convenient places to go if your scouting for your next car. The major car dealers are there: Honda, Ford, Toyota, Kia (inside Pure Gold compound), and General Motors. So take your pick. The dealer from hell may be one of those.
alvin
name the dealership, and let the owners of that dealership suffer. they should maintain quality. in maintaining quality you keep loyal costumers, & the costumers will be your walking talking billboards for life!
sourgrapingly let it be..
& let other people part with their hard earned money.
erwin
you should name the dealership. how else would we know who and where to avoid buying cars from these people. sa hirap ng buhay ngayon dapat lang sulit ang pera sa mga binibili natin. and doubtful hindi naman yata tama na sisihin ang bumili. you know how the people in sales are. kahit ano sasabihin niyan para lang makabenta!
JB
has the industry gone to the plastic for its byyo? how can clusive is it if you Know who makes the car? who is the true owner if not the first owner of it or is it a rental? cars’ they once said are like women some times you take a ride and some times you don’t some times you got that show piece and that’s what is displayed to get the prosctive intrusted and some times you got that cloker> that been faithful and cant’ gett’um from point a- to point b- and some times there’s that hot car that can’t wait to be taken of the lot then there’s that lease that cost to much but its’ re’liable but eventually it must have had a previuse owner then there’s the one that’s bought out right cause its’ an bargain but its’ all’way’es needing work? then ther’s that car that was someone elses that shou;d have been your’s and then you go and get it but’ did it ever leave the lot? that’s the big question when purchessing’ cause even if you now what you get did you’ get what you wanted? then there’s alwyes that car you looked at first….. oh its’s an ol’ sales joke but does the car want U you passed buy when you walked in and only glanced? that’s the funny is thing ever but does the car Know? does a maker
Herbey
What a shame. Lemon laws or not, it was obvious the dealership did not take the proper course of action for selling lemons.
I would not have given up the fight so easily. Any decent lawyer, would’ve had the matter settled in days!
Ann
I can attest to that. The consumer complaint I filed in DTI is taking forever. I bought a City in 2006. In less than 2.5 years of city driving (normal condition: house - office), the unit has severe rust formation - 4 doors, trunk lid, engine compartment. My complaint reached a stalemate with Honda Cars Phils, and Honda Cars Pasig. Honda agreed to replace the doors, repair the trunk lid and engine compartment, but NO WARRANTY on the replacement parts and workmanship. No detailed info what caused the SEVERE rust formation. They call that value for hard-earned money.I don’t know where else to take my complaint.
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