AutoNation Ford Katy

Buyers Beware. Located a used vehicle at AutoNation Ford Katy (online) on a Friday evening right before the dealership was closing. Spoke to a salesman and made arrangements to see the vehicle at 9am the following day which coincides with the dealerships opening hour. Got there at 8:45. Drove the vehicle and started the negotiations to trade in my current truck to purchase the new one. Red flag number one....dealer tried to tell me the gears were "slipping" in my current vehicle and although their "expert" on transmissions was not there to assess themselves, he had stated on their PHONE call to him that it was most likely a transmission issue based on the age/mileage of the truck. Obviously this was a ploy to lessen the value of my trade but little did the dealer know that the transmission was recently replaced and still under warranty. Once it was revealed, dealer started back tracking and while initial trade value was low (as expected with most dealers) the final trade value was within KBB standards for condition of vehicle. Crisis averted, sale and trade numbers agreed to and buyers’ agreement formally finalized and SIGNED by BOTH parties around 12:30. Now this is where it gets sketchy. The dealer knew from the VERY beginning the new vehicle was being financed thru a credit union. I was informed that the dealer no longer accepted DRAFTS from credit unions and I would have to provide a CASHIERS CHECK. Being this was on a Saturday, we were limited on TIME because the credit union closed at 1pm. However, the dealer and credit union had exchanged all paperwork, including the buyers agreement PRIOR to the credit union closing. I agreed to come back on Monday morning with the cashiers check and pick up the truck as it had still not gone thru make-ready and was waiting for a lightbulb for a head/tail light that had gone out. Fast forward to TODAY.....first call (around 9am) is from the credit union to let me know that this dealer is BLACKLISTED from having cashier checks issued to them because of problems in the past with obtaining titles. (This information was not available to the loan officer but came from the underwriter as she was processing the loan.) They did however agree to do a draft if the dealer would accept. I immediately called the dealer to discuss. VM's until noon. Finally connect with my sales guy only to find out the dealer SOLD THE VEHICLE SATURDAY AFTERNOON!!! Proceeds to tell me that the buyers agreement WE (dealer and myself) BOTH SIGNED isn't legally binding since there was no money put down. Please note that I ASKED EXPLICITY if ANYTHING else needed to be done to make sure the vehicle was not going anywhere and was told no because the buyers agreement was my commitment to purchase. Obviously I was pissed and called BS on the whole transaction. Their response to me was they have a team of lawyers available if I would like to discuss further. Tried locating ANYONE with ANY authority at this dealership with ZERO success. Could not even getting a receptionist to answer the phone. The only numbers provided to me went straight to VMs. I caution anyone who values their time and money, OR is looking for support during or after the purchase of a vehicle to steer clear of this dealership. Wish I would have read all the terrible reviews written here prior to going there and attempting to do business.