Grand Kia

About two weeks ago I decided my 14 mpg vehicle needed a better home so I went car shopping. The day before I went to the dealership I did some research. I checked in to financing to make sure I qualified, to see what my price range was, and then what the cars I liked were that were in that price range. I also looked for safety features, and convenience features I wanted. I wanted to get the most car I could afford, especially, since due to my poor credit I would be ultimately paying at least twice what the car was worth. I even got pre-approved for financing so I knew what my budget was and was looking at cars that were under that by at least $5000. I called Grand Kia and spoke with Michael C. and he seemed nice enough. He suggested I fill out an online credit app and we go from there. (I was honest with him about my credit situation as I believe honesty is the best policy.) He called me back and said that went through just fine and we set up a meeting time for Saturday morning. At this point I had narrowed down my choices to a few different models, checked their website to make sure they had them on the lot and made my list of must haves, and most importantly set two numbers for my budget, my top number I was going to tell them I willing to go for my monthly payments, and the real number I could comfortably go to. When I arrived for my appointment my first impression was not good. He seemed like he was in a bad mood and it just went downhill. Normally when people are buying a car they pick the car and then get the financing done. That's how I've always done it and I end up with a car payment that's $50-$100 higher than what I wanted to pay and I go for it because at that point I'm emotionally invested in the car and I wanted to avoid that completely this time. So I explained this to Michael and he made me fill out another form that had almost the exact same information and then he took it into an office. While they were processing it he asked me what I was looking for and I told him my short list of must haves and the cars I was thinking about. He told me I couldn't get a new Kia and I would be looking at a used car. I thought, ok, I can live with that. He then went back into the office and came out and said they had one car that I qualified for. It was a Mitsubishi Lancer (which he kept pronouncing Lansing.) I asked about the cost, technical specs, etc, and he had to go back twice to get the basic information on the car. It didn't meet a single one of my criteria, but I figured I'd test drive it anyways. It was horrible. I also looked up the fair market value on Kelly Blue Book and the dealership was asking over $3000 more than it showed on KBB. When I mentioned this to Michael he didn't care. After we got back from the merciful short test drive, I asked him to make sure there were no other vehicles available and he said no. I said fine and walked out the door (after wasting an hour on a beautiful Saturday) and went a block down the street to another dealer and walked out of that dealership with a much better car, lower interest rate than I could have dreamed of, and so much happier in only an hour and half. This leads me to their deceptive advertising. Almost everyday on the radio I hear them advertising "bring home $350 a week and your credit's approved no matter what, and we will give you $5000 for your trade no matter what you owe, or what it is worth" (It does have the disclaimer that credit affects terms and interest I think, but if you bring home $350 a week you can get approved for a car loan, you may be paying a 22% interest rate for 6 years.) Well I bring home more than $350 a week and have no monthly bills and was fully willing to accept a 22% interest loan (I know that it is my fault my credit is so horrible.) In addition I had an 1984 Mercedes that I wanted to trade and they wouldn't accept it at all, thereby going totally against their claim that they accept any trade no matter what you owe or what condition it is in. (Btw it was actually in good condition with only 160,000 miles on it, downside was it only got 14 mpg and I commute about 50 miles a day to work.) The topper came today when I received an email from Michael C. with "internet specials" they have going on. I would never go there again, nor would I recommend them to anyone. I am actually in the midst of trying to find a copy of their radio commercial so that I can file a complaint with the Motor Vehicle Department Board for false advertising. I have never been treated so badly at a car dealership as I was here. Honestly after this I will probably never buy a Kia either, or shop at a Dealin Doug dealership.