I lost $15,900 after paying for a ‘dream’ car I never got – dealership ghosted us as soon as the check cleared

A COUPLE found the perfect car waiting on a dealership lot hundreds of miles away and sent a check to ensure it was theirs.

However, after weeks of waiting for the delivery of their used Lexus , the couple grew weary of the auto shop they dealt with.

WPLG INC

WPLG INC

In 2023, an elderly couple from Georgia was hoping to find a rare luxury sedan on the used vehicle market, according to Florida-based ABC affiliate WPLG .

For years, Jeanne Clark drove a 2001 Lexus LS sedan.

She had grown accustomed to the car’s interior and didn’t want to drive any other vehicle.

But as her car grew older, she scoured the internet for a low-mileage vehicle listing.

Then, Clarke said she found a lightly used LS at a dealership in Florida. It was the exact model of her dreams.

“I have been looking for months and months and months for a car like this, with this specific interior,” she told the station.

“And that is why I was willing to jump in and take a chance because I haven’t been able to find this car.”

Clarke sent a $15,000 check to the dealership, hoping to secure the white luxury sedan.

But after sending the check, weeks went by without taking delivery of the car.

The station uncovered the LS listed on the dealership’s website had already been sold and registered to another couple.

Clarke said the $15,000 was already cashed.

“I want my money back,” she told the station.

Clarke and her husband, Steve Hawes, received a text message from the dealership claiming the car’s power steering was not working and needed a $5,000 repair.

The text message also claimed that the dealer would find the couple another car.

However, the dealer sent the texts after the other couple had already purchased and registered the vehicle.

“I feel like we are being taken advantage of,” Hawes added.

Dealership Tips

Here are some expert tips when purchasing a car from a dealership lot:

• 1. Set your price: Ensure you’ve calculated your monthly budget before going to the lot. You should include the car’s loan payment, insurance costs, fuel, and regular maintenance.
• 2. Research: Make sure you know which cars you’re interested in test driving before you reach the dealership.
• 3. Pre-approval: Secure financing before you go to the dealership. Dealerships may give you a better interest rate if they are competing with an outside bank.
• 4. Test away: Get behind the wheel before making any payments. A car purchase will be worth thousands of dollars – drivers should ensure they like the drivetrain, steering feel, and comfort of the car before taking it off the lot
• 5. Haggle: Drivers should always try to negotiate the price. There are so many good cars on the American market – buyers have a strong hand when negotiating price.

Source: Kelley Blue Book

Months later, a driver faced a similar issue with the same dealership .

Alan Sue purchased an ultra-rare BRABUS package Mercedes-Benz G-Class SUV.

The modified G-Class is one of the most expensive luxury SUVs on the American market.

Sue sent $130,000 to the dealership to secure the car and send it to Hawaii.

Then, he was told the car’s delivery was delayed several times.

Sue does not believe he will receive the car.

The dealership has not responded to several requests for comment from The U.S. Sun.