OK, well, I'm just really fed up with this dealership ... their anex location had given me bogus info on my old Blazer: "the middle lap belt is fine for a carseat" (manual & manufacturer say NEVER install carseat in the center) & "it's because of the automatic retractor" (nope, wrong again, it's because of the width of the seat belt anchors).
Anyway, so I went in today during my lunch break, showing the owner the paperwork I have stating this '04 limited Escape is worth $10,000 less than my '05 hybrid Escape, said I've been advized to write the NYS Attorney General & Federal Government, have the letter waiting, but am willing to let them make it up to me before I mail it - gave him the choice of writing me a check for $7,000, puting me back into the Hybrid (because they weren't willing to have the engine totally replaced while I owned it, but did so after they gave me the limited & it currently has a sticker price of $1,000 more than they sold it to me before) *or* swap the limited Escape for a 7 passenger vehicle of equivalent value.
They were unwilling to acknowledge any of this & I ended up walking out in a huff, but not before noticing that I'd had quite a few customer's undivided attention
They called me 20 minutes later, kissing butt - I again explained that I am angry I'm paying almost $600/month for a vehicle that isn't worth it, that the crash test ratings are worse & as such my insurance went up, that the gas & maintenance cost is higher, & most importantly that I had requested a full refund when they offered to make the exchange & they said they couldn't do that ... I found out after that if I request a refun when my vehicle has been in the shop for more than 2 months that I'm supposed to get it. Period. No questions. No nothing.
I explained that I'm opening a daycare & because I owe so much more than this vehicle is worth I can't trade it in or sell it privately in order to get the vehicle I need for transporting the kids (I'm offering a service where I'll bring mothers' infants to them on their lunch break so they can continue nursing) ... he offered to do an even swap for 1 of the Freestyles or Freestars on the lot, all of which have an equivalent sticker price, side curtain airbags, low miles, free extended warrantee & salt/rust protection
I'm still waiting to check them out & make my choice, but I'm pleased with their crash test results compared to the '04 Escape (no airbags) - worn out emotionally, though, being a bully for the 1st time in my life!
Sooooo ... any advice between the Freestyle or Freestar??? (Other than 6 vs. 7 passenger seating -- I'm likely to only need 4 carseat positions anyway)
