buying a car questi...
 
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buying a car question

(@CAtoSTX)
Posts: 591
Honorable Member
Topic starter
 

WHY does everyone think Caribbean Auto Mart is evil?
Seriously, There are so many negative comments about them on here, but no real explanations... what's up.

And beyond here and craigslist - is there a "dealer" you all would recommend.
We are not finding what we need/want from private listings.

Thanks.

 
Posted : January 29, 2014 6:01 pm
(@speee1dy)
Posts: 8867
Illustrious Member
 

i heard from others that they would charge you for an oil change but not really do the work

 
Posted : January 29, 2014 6:10 pm
CruzanIron
(@cruzaniron)
Posts: 2533
Famed Member
 

CAM is now advertising on Craig's List - and they won't put the price of their cars.
I did inquire and their reply was "DO YOU HAVE A TRADE IN?"

I replied with a NO, and I haven't heard back from them.

I once tried to buy a used car from them. It had a cracked windshield, which I said was OK.
We settled on a price, I left a deposit. Came back 2 days later and they said the price was now $1500
higher since they changed the windshield. I argued, offering to pay the cost for the glass only, and they
absolutely refused to budge. I took back my deposit and went straight to Honda and bought a car that day.

And 7 years later is still runs very well.

I will never buy a car from them again. And I take my Dodge to a private shop if I need work.

 
Posted : January 29, 2014 6:34 pm
(@trainwreck82)
Posts: 285
Reputable Member
 

I've had nothing but great experiences with CAM on STT and I don't buy cars from anyone else. If I had a dollar for every time someone told me a story that began with "I heard from x/y/z" and it turned out to be bullshit I'd own St John.

 
Posted : January 29, 2014 6:42 pm
(@speee1dy)
Posts: 8867
Illustrious Member
 

i was talking about the one on stx, very reliable source on what i heard.

 
Posted : January 29, 2014 6:46 pm
CruzanIron
(@cruzaniron)
Posts: 2533
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My experience was on STX.

 
Posted : January 29, 2014 6:55 pm
(@BeachcomberStt)
Posts: 1018
Noble Member
 

My experience with CAM was just with their auto repair/service department and they were not honest about repairs that my car needed.
So in my opinion, I wouldn't put too much faith with the sales department.

Caveat Emptor.

 
Posted : January 29, 2014 7:32 pm
(@BeachcomberStt)
Posts: 1018
Noble Member
 

Keep an eye out in the Daily News and Island Trader for the car rental agency's car sales. You can get a good deal on a good car.

 
Posted : January 29, 2014 7:38 pm
(@CAtoSTX)
Posts: 591
Honorable Member
Topic starter
 

Keep an eye out in the Daily News and Island Trader for the car rental agency's car sales. You can get a good deal on a good car.

Thanks, I've gotten listings from Avis + Budget - but no.

Anyone have experience with the place next to the car-wash in Tutu?

 
Posted : January 29, 2014 10:04 pm
(@loucypher)
Posts: 275
Reputable Member
 

WHY does everyone think Caribbean Auto Mart is evil?
Seriously, There are so many negative comments about them on here, but no real explanations... what's up.

And beyond here and craigslist - is there a "dealer" you all would recommend.
We are not finding what we need/want from private listings.

Thanks.

They treat their employees bad and their customers worse. If you want all the details about their hiring practices and what they do to customers I'll elaborate. (PM me) Just trust me when I tell you if you want the worst experience possible buying and servicing a car then by all means go there.
Calling them evil is an insult to evil people.

 
Posted : January 29, 2014 10:27 pm
(@trainwreck82)
Posts: 285
Reputable Member
 

WHY does everyone think Caribbean Auto Mart is evil?
Seriously, There are so many negative comments about them on here, but no real explanations... what's up.

And beyond here and craigslist - is there a "dealer" you all would recommend.
We are not finding what we need/want from private listings.

Thanks.

They treat their employees bad and their customers worse. If you want all the details about their hiring practices and what they do to customers I'll elaborate. (PM me) Just trust me when I tell you if you want the worst experience possible buying and servicing a car then by all means go there.
Calling them evil is an insult to evil people.

Have you talked to Jay Matthews on STT about your concerns?

 
Posted : January 29, 2014 11:23 pm
CruzanIron
(@cruzaniron)
Posts: 2533
Famed Member
 

STX CAM will not answer any e-mail about their 'no price' cars on Craig's List. You have to call them and then get a sales pitch.

That alone speaks a lot for their reputation and business practice.

 
Posted : January 30, 2014 1:27 am
(@watruw8ing4)
Posts: 850
Prominent Member
 

Had a negative car buying experience (STX), and ended up going elsewhere to buy. I won't go there any more because the service is terrible. Had to wait almost 2 hours for 2 replacement keys. This after having to make two trips, because they were out of blanks the first time (they were the authorized dealer at the time). Another time, I went in needing an emergency repair and they wouldn't take the car any sooner than 5 days later. Went down the road to Honda, who recognized I needed the repair that day. They took my car 1/2 hour later, and had it fixed in 30 minutes.

 
Posted : January 30, 2014 4:40 am
(@BeachcomberStt)
Posts: 1018
Noble Member
 

Does CAM own the Mazda dealership in Sub Base?

 
Posted : January 30, 2014 5:07 am
(@CAtoSTX)
Posts: 591
Honorable Member
Topic starter
 

For the record I'm in STT and not looking for a service place (I got to Sibley + Bryan in Contant)

Aside from that....
nobody's answered the question of anyone have experience with LTB Adolfo Auto next to the car wash at four winds?
They have a couple of interesting prospects in their lot.

Any favorites beyond the HONDA dealer? - is that the one next to Toyota?

 
Posted : January 30, 2014 6:50 pm
(@alana33)
Posts: 12366
Illustrious Member
 

I bought my 1997 Toyota Tacoma PU from Community Motors in 1999. Great price and conditon and still have it running, in excellent condition to this day.

I have used Lenard's Auto to maintain it (as well as all my prior vechicles) over the years since have been going to him since he was a shade tree mechanic 30 yrs. ago before he had his newer facility. I always take the truck in annually for a complete servicing with them and NEVER have had a problem with their service.

 
Posted : January 30, 2014 10:47 pm
(@loucypher)
Posts: 275
Reputable Member
 

WHY does everyone think Caribbean Auto Mart is evil?
Seriously, There are so many negative comments about them on here, but no real explanations... what's up.

And beyond here and craigslist - is there a "dealer" you all would recommend.
We are not finding what we need/want from private listings.

Thanks.

They treat their employees bad and their customers worse. If you want all the details about their hiring practices and what they do to customers I'll elaborate. (PM me) Just trust me when I tell you if you want the worst experience possible buying and servicing a car then by all means go there.
Calling them evil is an insult to evil people.

Have you talked to Jay Matthews on STT about your concerns?

Jay Matthews doesn't care at all. Last year my friend left the island for a couple of months. She asked if I could have a brake issue with her car fixed while she was gone. I called Advance Auto in Tu Tu for an estimate and got a call back within a half hour. It took 6 hours for CAM to get back to me after calling them 2 more times. I finally got a call and got an estimate nearly $500.00 higher for the EXACT same repair as Advance. Jay told me you get what you pay for. Really? The brake drums alone were $280.00 higher and the labor $200.00 higher for the same job. You can't convince me their parts and labor is that much better. Who the hell is he kidding?

 
Posted : January 31, 2014 12:16 am
(@BeachcomberStt)
Posts: 1018
Noble Member
 

For the record I'm in STT and not looking for a service place (I got to Sibley + Bryan in Contant)

Aside from that....
nobody's answered the question of anyone have experience with LTB Adolfo Auto next to the car wash at four winds?
They have a couple of interesting prospects in their lot.

Any favorites beyond the HONDA dealer? - is that the one next to Toyota?

I have no experience with LTB Adolfo Auto. If they have a couple automobiles that you are interested in, why don't you take them to Sibley or Bryan, so they can look them over and give you a mechanical report on them. If you think the report is good enough, then you can decide if you want to buy the automobile and start negotiations. Good luck!

 
Posted : January 31, 2014 7:37 am
(@CAtoSTX)
Posts: 591
Honorable Member
Topic starter
 

I never would've thought of that - never would think a dealer would LET you do that...
Thanks.

 
Posted : January 31, 2014 11:40 am
(@sunshinefun)
Posts: 681
Honorable Member
 

I only use mechanics that let me buy and supply my own parts. When you compare the cost of what you can buy on RockAuto.com versus what a dealership or garage would charge, the savings are truly incredible.

 
Posted : January 31, 2014 11:56 am
(@BeachcomberStt)
Posts: 1018
Noble Member
 

I never would've thought of that - never would think a dealer would LET you do that...
Thanks.

I don't know if you are being snarky or not, but that car dealership is a USED car dealership and I see no reason why they wouldn't let a mechanic look it over, if you are truly interested in buying an automobile from them. If they won't let a mechanic look it over, I would be suspect.
Maybe I didn't explain clearly because I was up late, I didn't actually mean bring it to the mechanic, but bring the mechanic with you, if that is possible. It would be better if the mechanic can put the car up on a lift though.

It is that little lot to the left of car wash, correct?

 
Posted : January 31, 2014 12:47 pm
(@BeachcomberStt)
Posts: 1018
Noble Member
 

@ CAtoSTX

Sent you a PM.

It would help the members on this site if you would mention what kind of automobile you are looking for.

 
Posted : January 31, 2014 2:06 pm
(@CAtoSTX)
Posts: 591
Honorable Member
Topic starter
 

Not being snarky... i've seriously owned the same car since it was new in 2001.
I have very little experience with buying cars and even less with dealerships.

 
Posted : January 31, 2014 5:07 pm
(@BeachcomberStt)
Posts: 1018
Noble Member
 

Not being snarky... i've seriously owned the same car since it was new in 2001.
I have very little experience with buying cars and even less with dealerships.

Sorry, running on very little sleep. I misread and a misunderstanding.

 
Posted : January 31, 2014 5:53 pm
(@Tiberius)
Posts: 205
Estimable Member
 

I only use mechanics that let me buy and supply my own parts. When you compare the cost of what you can buy on RockAuto.com versus what a dealership or garage would charge, the savings are truly incredible.

What happens when your part fails? Do you expect your mechanic to do the job over again for free because you supplied a defective part?
When I had my garage in the states I made it perfectly clear that if I let the customer bring their own parts I would not guarantee the labor. That's the risk they took. But, again, I discouraged them from bringing in their parts. Most of the time I just said no.

 
Posted : January 31, 2014 10:08 pm
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