The car was taken to several places and the problem could not be determined. So, my son took the car to the Ocean Honda in Santa Cruz, CA. They said the vibration was the axels and the joint in the front that connects with the transmission. They first quoted a price of $600 and then, 2 days later said another $800. Then, 5 days later the said the problem is the transmission, another $3900. So, I talked with the Customer Service department and asked why they bill keeps going up and up. Why can't they determine what is wrong in the beginning? So, after much discussion, the decision was to walk away from the car and not fix the transmission. $5500 was too much to put back into a car with 120,000. (The car has been the Car from Hell since day one.)

I talked with the owner of Ocean Honda (Cappo) and he said he could give up $2500 toward a new car...the car has $1500 of brand new parts on it. My son went to see what cars would fit into his budget. In discussion, my son asked Cappo, the manager, is he decides not to get another Honda how much would he give him for the Honda. Cappo told my son $1000 and the bill of $1500 would be waved. But, in order make a good decision on a purchase my son wanted to go look at other dealers. He found a car he wanted at the Nissan dealership. So, my son went back to Honda and said he wanted the Nissan instead of a Honda. Cappo changed his story and said he would not pay the $1000 for the car. With this, my son paid the $1500 and took the car. I was very upset with Cappo's response and I called him to discuss what he hold told my son and how he changed his story. When I talked to Cappo, he said he did not understand what my son said when he was talking about the $1000 payment for the car. My son had called me numerous times to tell me what was happening, so I know my son told him what he wanted and my son explained it very clearly to me; but, Cappo changed what he said. So, my son took the car to Nissan and they gave him $2000 for it. Then, Cappo called back and said he wanted the car back and would wave the $1500 and pay the $1000 for the car. Cappo told me he could sell the car to wholesaler and would get $2500. I think he was going to get more than $2500 for it maybe $3500 or more. Also, Cappo told, my son, he should of requested that Cappo's mechanics drain the fluids in the transmission to see if there was any transmission problems. This is the owner of Ocean Honda telling ,my son, he should have requested the Ocean Honda mechanics to perform work to determine if there were transmission problems. The car was taken to the Ocean Honda for them to determine the problem, not have my son request what should be done! What is that all about...he is the owner of the dealership. Cappo also said he (himself) did not know anything about car!! He is the owner of multiple dealerships...Come On!! By the time Cappo changed his mind and then changed it back again, the deal was already done at Nissan.

My question is do we have any recourse on how they kept making the needed repairs bill go up and up? And then after that work was completed, they said the transmission is the problem, another $3900? The transmission was never discussed as a problem when it was taken to Honda originally. And they after a $1500 repair bill, they say to fix the car it is another $3900. We never would have made the decision to have the first repairs made if the transmission was ever an issue. If the transmission was ever even possibility, they should of said that upfront and not rang up a $1500 and then, said oh by the way the transmission is the problem. Also, overall the Customer Service was terrible. The owner does not tell the truth and changes is story to fit what works for him!! Poor dealership overall !!

Thank you for any help!!

Melinda Paullins

mpaullins@yahoo.com