A DEALERSHIP has closed and a car owner shared her experience of having to drive 200 kilometers for services.
The owner went on to say that she would have given more thought to purchasing the vehicle if she had known that her location would be closed.
4
4
Nissan owner Cari Fike purchased her car from Lithia Nissan of Bend, Central Oregon in 2023.
She currently owns a Nissan Titan and is leasing a Nissan Rogue.
However, in May this year, his dealership closed and Fike had to travel at least 200 kilometers to get his car repaired.
“We would never have purchased our vehicles if we had known they were going out of business in a year and a half,” Fike said Central Oregon Gazette in May.
“Our concerns are service and where we will go if there is a recall on one of the vehicles.
“Currently there is a recall on our Titan that we can’t get in and now we have to go to Vale.”
The store spoke with two dealerships in Lithia, Oregon, and they confirmed that they only do basic services like oil changes.
Services such as factory warranty issues or recalls, which Fike is pursuing, would need to be performed in Eugene, which is miles away.
In addition to having to travel a lot to get his car properly checked, Fike said his rental Nissan Rogue has a mileage limit.
Fike is worried about the consequences in the future when she is ready to hand over the car.
“There’s a mileage limit on our rental vehicle, and now having to travel a few hundred miles just to get a repair or a recall, that adds to our mileage and goes against us when we’re going to turn it in in a few years,” Fike said.
Lithia dealerships told the outlet that there was no service where car owners could drop off their cars at the dealership and have them transported to Eugene.
The owner would be responsible.
WITHOUT ATTENTION
Speaking about the moments that led to the dealership’s closure, Fike said she was not given any warning.
She remembers visiting the Lithia Nissan location in Bend for an oil change weeks earlier and not being told.
Tips for dealerships
Here are some expert tips when buying a car from a dealership:
- 1. Set your price: Make sure you have calculated your monthly budget before going to the lot. You must include your car loan payment, insurance costs, fuel and regular maintenance.
- 2. Research: Make sure you know which cars you’re interested in testing before you get to the dealership.
- 3. Pre-approval: Secure financing before going to the dealership. Dealerships may offer a better interest rate if they are competing with an outside bank.
- 4. Test: Drive before making any payments. Buying a car will be worth thousands of dollars – drivers should ensure they like the car’s drivetrain, steering and comfort before driving 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 in negotiating prices.
Source: Kelley Blue Book
“When I was there a few weeks ago for an oil change, they were full and I would have to make an appointment, which was booked three weeks in advance,” Fike shared.
“No one mentioned at that time that they were going to close.
“Maybe they didn’t know, but it would have been nice to have some kind of communication.”
She went on to say that Nissan should extend mileage for situations similar to Fike’s.
“For individuals who have rented vehicles, maybe extend the mileage for us and increase our mileage limits on rentals.”
4
4
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
