ComplaintsforSabetta's Classics

• Initial Complaint

  05/22/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  June 2022 I found the GTO I have always wanted as a child. I was put as ease to make such a large purchase sight unseen because of how honest Rick sounded over the phone. He said he had driven the vehicle personally for a week back and forth to his home. I was told it was fully restored a few years back and the engine was rebuilt. I was sent a few documents about what new performance parts were out in. I was very pleased The GTO was delivered to my home about two weeks later due to a delay. I was very pleased at first. It started right up, sounded great and looked great everything I was promised. But to come find out it was nothing but lipstick on a pig. I called and emailed Rick within 30 days later. The GTO was burning oil badly and leaking oil. The paint looks like someone used sandpaper all over it. I understand older vehicle burn and leak oil but this was excessive. There was a blue cloud of smoke always while driving and always a puddle of oil under the car after each drive. I was told the rings probably weren’t set bs. He said there was nothing wrong with the paint when it left the shop. I just let it be. Almost a year later things are much worse. It seems like an oil additive was added to help cover the engine oil burning. It burns over a quart of oil after 250 miles. I removed the rear bumper and the rear quarter panel was banged in. Nothing but coverups to make a profit I would stay far away. Rick continues to ignore my calls and has never offered to make things right. If you are considering buying a vehicle from him make sure you have it inspected and have the oil drained and checked for additives.

  

  Business response

  05/23/2023

  In response to Mr. ********’s alleged complaint:
  At Sabettas Classics we pride ourselves on our integrity! We are very transparent, almost too transparent at times. As a used car dealer specializing in late 60’s early 70’s muscle cars, we rely on the information provided to us from the previous owner. There is no way for me to be able to tell if a car has been painted 2 years ago or 10 years ago. The same goes for an engine rebuild, sometimes we get receipts and sometimes we don’t. We do however go through the cars and check for things that are common to go bad or have a tendency to wear out quickly and repair or replace those items. We do drive the cars (weather pending) to check transmissions and just general driveability. We have had cars with oil leaks on occasion and we addressed them before the cars left the shop. These cars are 50+ years old and most generally leak a little oil at times, even the ones that have been rotisserie restored. 
  When Mr. ******** called me, I did respond to him and I did disagree with him as too it burning oil. I even called the shipping company that hauled the car and he said there was no oil on the floor of his truck after hauling it for a day. I’m pretty sure that at that time I offered to buy the car back if he was that unhappy with it, that’s how confident I was. Now with anything mechanical, anyone should know that anything could go wrong at any given time. I do not have a crystal ball to forecast the future and predict what might break down on a car. I also can not predict how a person will treat a car once it leaves my possession. They could run it very hard, miss a gear when shifting or leave it sitting outside to get weathered all of which could cause the problems that Mr. ******** is claiming. Now as far as the “banged in rear quarter panel” that is behind the rear bumper, I had no reason or cause of concern to remove the rear bumper to inspect something like that. Also, if the car had a “blue cloud of smoke”  and he continued to drive it for 250 miles, who knows what damage he did to the engine. 
  The last correspondence with Mr. ********, he sent an email in August 2022 when he was going to have the car looked at. We never heard back from him as to what was or if anything was even wrong with the car, until now. Again I will state that at Sabettas Classics we pride ourselves on our integrity, we do not "cover things up for profit". I have a video and pictures for reference of how the vehicle looked when it left our shop if needed.  
  
  

  Customer response

  05/24/2023

   I am rejecting this response because:
  None of what he stated is correct.  I sent him a video of the vehicle smoking.  He told me to replace the PCV valve which was done and made no difference.  He also never offered to buy the vehicle back or I would have taken him up on that offer.    

   

   

  
  

  

  Business response

  05/27/2023

  As Mr. ******** stated in his "complaint", the vehicle was everything that was promised. Just because he contacted us "within 30 days" does not guarantee anything. When he purchased the car he signed an "AS IS-NO DEALER WARRANTY" Buyers guide. That means that there is no warranty on the car! Mr. ******** lives in SC and I'm in OH. I have ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA how he drove the car or what he might have done to the car when it was in his possession. We do everything that we can to foresee any problems and address them before the vehicle leaves our shop. I remember talking to him and suggesting getting the drain plug looked at when he was concerned about the oil dripping, not a PCV valve. I have a video to show you and the world what the vehicle looked like before it left our shop. When the car was delivered hi father was there to receive it. His father called me and I quote " Rick, this car is beautiful!", he drove it around the block and commented how great it ran. I really don't what else to say. I'm going to try to attach the video here because it will not let me anywhere else. 

   

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  Customer response

  05/30/2023

   I am rejecting this response because:
  
  Attached was Ricks response.  it was sent right after i received the vehicle.  He admitted to seeing the video and the oil burning.  He never offered to buy it back or do anything.  What can be done?

   

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