Mentor Mitsubishi

SHORT VERSION: Dealers lied to me (go figure) and would not allow me to take the car to an outside mechanic. "Check Engine" light came on after driving 40 miles. I believe that they reset the Check Engine not allow me to take the car to an outside mechanic. "Check Engine" light came on after driving 40 miles. I believe that they reset the Check Engine code just before I left with the car. The used car sales manager Dave Sevasko and the new car sales manager Bob Alponat were UNBELIEVABLELY rude and unprofessional, as was used car dealer Joe Fritz (AFTER the sale). General Manager Peter Mueller was very polite and professional. He returned my old car and my money. LONG VERSION: Tuesday, June 29, 2010 Drove to Mentor Mitsubishi and spoke to sales associate Joe Fritz about 2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse GS. Used car manager Dave Sevasko told me that they could not give me any more than $400 for my 2000 Hyundai Tiburon because of the condition of the car (Bluebook trade-in value $900). He told me that the cost to replace the cracked windshield would be too costly for them to be able to make a profit if they tried to sell the car (a lie). I asked if I could take the Mitsubishi Eclipse to my mechanic for him to inspect and was told that I could not because of legal/liability issues (another lie; According to another sales rep at the dealership, they often allow customers to take their cars to outside mechanics). I looked at the Car Fax and noticed that the vehicle had been a rental car in Florida. I mentioned this to Joe Fritz and he told me that because it was a rental car, it had regular maintenance and that the people who rent the cars don’t want to damage them because they (the renters) will incur the charges for damage that is done to the car (another lie). I found out later that the opposite is generally true; many people abuse used cars because the car is not theirs and because they know they are insured, and they know that they will not be held responsible for mechanical issues. Ignoring my better judgement, I agreed to buy the Eclipse. While I filled out paperwork, they pulled the car into the service area “to clean it up”, according to Joe (it had clearly already been detailed). I paid with a bank check ($4,544) and cash ($500) completed the paperwork and drove home. After driving about 40.4 miles, the “SERVICE ENGINE” warning light came on (around 9:30 pm). I called the dealership but they were closed. Wednesday, June 30, 2010 At 7:20 a.m. I sent an e-mail to Joe Fritz and to Internet Sales Manager Jesse Temple informing them of the warning light and asking if I could have one of their mechanics find out what the problem was. As of 10:00 a.m. I had gotten no response from either party so I drove back to the dealership. They agreed to run a diagnostic test on the Eclipse. After the test, I was informed by their service rep Bob Soppitt that the car needed a catalytic converter and an oxygen sensor “at the very least”. He estimated that the after-market parts would cost up to $600. I left the dealership and called my mechanic and told him of the situation. He advised me that he believed that the dealership had reset the Eclipse’s Service Engine light because the catalytic converter and oxygen sensors “don’t go bad just like that” and that it was typical for a warning light to come back on after driving about 40 miles. I returned to the dealership and spoke to Joe Fritz about my concern. He referred me to New Car Manager Bob Alponat. We sat at Joe’s desk in the showroom. Alponat was VERY rude and unprofessional. First, he was more interested in knowing whether the pen I was holding was his than the serious issue I was trying to discuss with him. He interrupted me to ask if the pen was his. I said I didn’t know if it was his or not and that I had borrowed it from one of the sales associates. He then began discussing the issue of the pen with the sales associate. I asked Alponat if that was important at the moment. He said he was trying to lighten the situation. I tried to explain my concern to him. Alponat began laughing and I looked behind me to see what he might be laughing at. Nothing was happening behind me so it was apparent that he was laughing at me. I responded, “Do you think this is funny?” He said again that he was trying to lighten the situation. I told him it wasn’t funny because I was getting screwed. Alponat told me to watch my language, got up and started toward his office and told me to come with him. In his office I told Alponat that I wasn’t aware that the word “screwed” was an obscenity. He said that if I wanted to have an “A-to-B” conversation, other people (in the showroom) did not need to hear it. Alponat and I began discussing the issue again in his office. He reminded me that I had signed an “as-is” agreement. I informed Alponat that I agreed with my mechanic that the Service Engine light had clearly been reset by the dealership and that I believed they had sold me the car fraudulently because it is illegal in the state of Ohio to sell a vehicle that will not pass EPA requirements (E-check). Alponat informed me that the car had never gone through an inspection (However, another associate said that they had replaced the battery). Alponat explained that the law regarding the sale of cars not meeting the E-check requirement did not apply in all counties in Ohio. I asked if it was a requirement in Lorain County (where Mentor Mitsubishi is located). He said it was required in Lorain County. He asked what it would take to make this issue go away. I said that the car needed to be fixed. He told me that he would get in writing that I absolved Mentor Mitsubishi from all further repairs. I said I thought I would be OK with that. Alponat asked me to wait at Joe’s desk while he did what he needed. While I was waiting, my roommate called to tell me that my dog was having a seizure. I notified Joe of the situation and left. After attending to my dog, I reconsidered whether I should sign the agreement that Alponat and I had discussed. I contacted my mechanic and he told me that if it were him, he wouldn’t sign anything. He said he would inspect the Eclipse for me. He discovered that the Eclipse needed $2,000 to $3000 of repairs. Called Mentor Mitsubishi and spoke to sales associate Scott Hardy in the used car department. Asked if their used cars were inspected before sale and if I would be able to take a car to my mechanic for inspection. Scott told me that whether the car is inspected depends on the mileage and that not all of their used cars are inspected. He also said that the customers are allowed to take a vehicle to an outside mechanic as long as the manager approves it. Called Attorney General’s office and spoke to “Janet” who informed me that, contrary to what Used Car Manager Dave Sevasko had told me, I do have the right to take a vehicle to the mechanic of my choice to have it inspected before I purchase it. Thursday, July 1, 2010 Drove back to bank and stopped payment on bank check I had used to pay for Eclipse. Drove back to Mentor Mitsubishi to get my Tiburon and money back. Spoke to Used Car Manager Dave Sevasko and Joe Fritz about the Eclipse. Gave Sevasko a copy of this document which had been completed up to Thursday, July 1, along with my mechanic’s repair order. I informed Sevasko and Fritz that I was unhappy that they had lied to me, that they had hidden information from me, and that I wanted my Tiburon and my money back. Sevasko was even more insulting than Alponat had been. Joe Fritz was also very rude and sided with his boss (of course). Sevasko told me that I had no case and that nothing I said at that point mattered. He denied what he had told me two days before. He also told me that I had a convenient memory (although I had been documenting everything) and poor ethics. I began responding to him in the manner which he was acting toward me, and I informed him that if I did not get my car and refund back, that I would contact the General Manager (Peter Mueller), Mitsubishi Corporate Headquarters, the Ohio Attorney General, the Cleveland Better Business Bureau, Kroh and Moss Consumer Law Center, and all the media I could. Sevasko said that he did not have the authority to give me a refund and that he would talk to the General Manager, Peter Mueller. While I waited to hear back from the dealership, I contacted the Mitsubishi Corporate Headquarters. Spoke to Katrina who was very nice. After speaking to her supervisor, she said that the corporate office had no leverage over individual dealerships where contracts are involved. After waiting two hours to hear from dealership, I called and left message for Mueller. Mueller called back about an hour later. Mr. Mueller was very polite and apologetic. He returned my car and my money. More

Worst experience I've ever had with a car dealership. Mentor Mitsubishi - Kia sold me a car that they did not even own. They mailed the payoff the of the car I purchased two weeks after I purchased the c Mentor Mitsubishi - Kia sold me a car that they did not even own. They mailed the payoff the of the car I purchased two weeks after I purchased the car. On my car that I traded in, they waited until three days or so before my credit was effected by late payment until paying that car off. They would not issue me another 30 temp tag, therefore leaving me a day with a car that I recently purchased that I could not leagally drive. They only helped lending me a dealer plate for the time being until they decided (by my complaint to the state) to pay the purchased car off and give me the oppertunity to purchase permanent plates. I called many many times and never received help with anything I needed. I was always left leaving a message on a machine that apperantly was never checked. The salesman (Jesse Temple) was always either with a customer, or on vacation. And Jesse was "the only person that would be able to help me because he was my salesman". Apperantly the management wants nothing to do with the customers that build their business... I will never purchase another car through them again and will do my best to spread word to everyone I know, and do not know, DO NOT to purchase from them. More

I am writing this review because I see these other folks badmouthing the dealership. I have bought 4 cars here in the past twn years and never had anything but great experiences with Pete and his whole team badmouthing the dealership. I have bought 4 cars here in the past twn years and never had anything but great experiences with Pete and his whole team!!! Last car was a new Outlander and i love it. Drives great and gets very good (better than advertised) fuel mileage. As for the buying experience, I could not be happier. The car was perfect and the service was great. I had a few special requesta nd they went out and found the car for me. When I picked it up they were curteous(as always) and the time I spent there was just enough to make sure all my needs were handled. Thank you to all the great folks at Mentor Mits I would add that i have had all my Mitsus serviced here for years and the service departmant is great as well. More

I went into this dealership thinking I was approved with $900 down that I had. As per the phone call i had with the salesmen. I went down there and drove the car. The salesmen left me sitting at his desk. L $900 down that I had. As per the phone call i had with the salesmen. I went down there and drove the car. The salesmen left me sitting at his desk. Later whild still sitting they pulled the car up in front of the window, it was all cleaned up and looked great. He said what do you think of your car? I thought ok good lets finish this. Well I filled out some paper work and the had to wait for the fiance manager. Finally I got to go inot his office which is in a seperate location(I Now know why with the shady business deals they got goin on)He then told me I needed $2600 down! I told him I dont have it. He said I know. I was so upset by this I should of walked away. He then told me I could write out 3 post dated checks. This seemed a little shady at the time, but after being there over 2 hours and feeling pressured into buying a car I went through with it. Well almost 2 years later I am stuck in a car that I owe way more than its worth. I cant trade it in, cant sell it, cant do anything with it. I am so upset with this. I want to just turn the car in and be done with it and the crappy company the car was financed through. Mentor Mitsubishi guarantees they can finance anyone, but what they dont tell you is what it will cost you. Thanks alot. More

Would never recommend this dealship to anyone. They fabricated an entire story when we originally leased a car there to add on an extra year to our lease. We have mechanical problems from the start a fabricated an entire story when we originally leased a car there to add on an extra year to our lease. We have mechanical problems from the start and we were told that they were going to replace the car with another brand new one, but when we got there to exchange the car, they had changed the lease papers and added on the extra year. We would have walked out, but circumstances that were unavoidable on our part, made us have to stay with the deal. They tried to smooth the matter over with a "free" weekend vacation, but they lost any further business from us and we would never buy another new Mitsubishi product and made it a point to tell our family and friends the same!!!<br>In closing, COMPLETE RIP-OFF ARTISTS!!! More