Little bit of round about backstory:
So dad (age 67) caught the car bug about a month ago...he found a small patch of rust on the undercarriage (nickle-quarter sized, which he sanded down and sprayed Flex Seal Brite over), on his '05 Ford Freestyle. it is also approaching 100k.
so he decides to buy another vehicle.
Makes up his Mind, that he wants a Newer Dodge/Chrysler minivan, with the 3.6l, because he's driven some earlier models of this gen, with the older engines, and liked the handling, and the new 3.6 models get better hwy mpg, than his Freestyle.
"But it has to be able to Pull My boat" (~2000lbs, non braked trailer)
the local dodge dealer doesn't have any vans with the towing package in stock, warn him that adding his own hitch on a non equipped van "might void the warranty", etc. but they agree to look around their network and see if they can find one to his needs.
after that, he heads to the Ford Dealer (where he's bought their last 3 cars, all from the same salesman)they too don't have anything in stock that suits his punch list, but will "keep an eye out"
couple weeks go by, no word from dodge.
few days ago,(Saturday) the ford salesman call him up, says he has a car for him.
One owner, (he sold it to the folks who returned it/traded it in, i'm not sure)2012 Explorer, with the Locally built 3.5l V6, with the trailer package, and all the other toys on his list, only like 6800 mi on the Odo., and it gets SLIGHTLY better Mpg(1-2), than his Freestyle. for about $25k.
well, they are getting ready to leave on a moth long trip, "no Problem, it Should be done in the body shop by then"
What?
"Nothing Major, small Cosmetic Fender Bender, we'll be Glad to hold it for you until you get back from your Trip"
so that night, I drive over to the Dealer, to see if i can spot this car. it's parked, in the secured, fenced in portion of the lot, nose first with other cars on either side, so you can't see the front(where the damage is).
I tell him what i saw, they go over sunday afternoon, and do a little more poking than i did, still haven't gotten a clear description of the damage.
Monday, calls the dealer ship, his salesman not in that day.
Tuesday, dad goes back, talks to the salesman, they go look over the car, Salesman applies Light Pressure to go ahead and make the sale now (end of the month), and Dad Agrees to pay, their first price, never having driven this car, or even taking a "similarly equipped" model out on a test drive....
so...what should we look out for...
So dad (age 67) caught the car bug about a month ago...he found a small patch of rust on the undercarriage (nickle-quarter sized, which he sanded down and sprayed Flex Seal Brite over), on his '05 Ford Freestyle. it is also approaching 100k.
so he decides to buy another vehicle.
Makes up his Mind, that he wants a Newer Dodge/Chrysler minivan, with the 3.6l, because he's driven some earlier models of this gen, with the older engines, and liked the handling, and the new 3.6 models get better hwy mpg, than his Freestyle.
"But it has to be able to Pull My boat" (~2000lbs, non braked trailer)
the local dodge dealer doesn't have any vans with the towing package in stock, warn him that adding his own hitch on a non equipped van "might void the warranty", etc. but they agree to look around their network and see if they can find one to his needs.
after that, he heads to the Ford Dealer (where he's bought their last 3 cars, all from the same salesman)they too don't have anything in stock that suits his punch list, but will "keep an eye out"
couple weeks go by, no word from dodge.
few days ago,(Saturday) the ford salesman call him up, says he has a car for him.
One owner, (he sold it to the folks who returned it/traded it in, i'm not sure)2012 Explorer, with the Locally built 3.5l V6, with the trailer package, and all the other toys on his list, only like 6800 mi on the Odo., and it gets SLIGHTLY better Mpg(1-2), than his Freestyle. for about $25k.
well, they are getting ready to leave on a moth long trip, "no Problem, it Should be done in the body shop by then"
What?
"Nothing Major, small Cosmetic Fender Bender, we'll be Glad to hold it for you until you get back from your Trip"
so that night, I drive over to the Dealer, to see if i can spot this car. it's parked, in the secured, fenced in portion of the lot, nose first with other cars on either side, so you can't see the front(where the damage is).
I tell him what i saw, they go over sunday afternoon, and do a little more poking than i did, still haven't gotten a clear description of the damage.
Monday, calls the dealer ship, his salesman not in that day.
Tuesday, dad goes back, talks to the salesman, they go look over the car, Salesman applies Light Pressure to go ahead and make the sale now (end of the month), and Dad Agrees to pay, their first price, never having driven this car, or even taking a "similarly equipped" model out on a test drive....
so...what should we look out for...
