| Author | Message | ||
| J. Grande (Jay)
Intermediate Member Username: Jay Post Number: 1042 Registered: 10-2001 |
Never mind, found it in the News Bulletin April 1-6, 2003 | ||
| J. Grande (Jay)
Intermediate Member Username: Jay Post Number: 1041 Registered: 10-2001 |
Martin, what is the date for that? | ||
| Martin - Cavallino Motors (Miami348ts)
Advanced Member Username: Miami348ts Post Number: 3753 Registered: 5-2001 |
FCA National in Sebring? | ||
| Martin - Cavallino Motors (Miami348ts)
Advanced Member Username: Miami348ts Post Number: 3752 Registered: 5-2001 |
Chris, you don't sound too good. I hear you though. Building and dealing with contractors can take a toll on you. Don't let them take you down. If the City is the problem, sue them. Just did that and it worked wonders. Hope to meet you soon! | ||
| Chris Parr (Cmparrf40)
Member Username: Cmparrf40 Post Number: 549 Registered: 3-2002 |
Martin, I kinda felt like an idiot this year. I have alot going on right now, I am not very focused on anything right now, and that includes Ferrari's. I have been to Cavallino for the last 6 years and I enjoy it more every year, but this year I could not get excited. I loaned my transporter to a friend so he could take a 288GTO and a Dino, so I did not bring my cars. I have a new Motorcoach/garage being built and it is months behind schedule so I was without my Ferrari, my new garage was supposed to be done by now and they have not broken ground.... you get the idea! I decided only on Tuesday before Cavallino to go and take my 8 year old daughter with me, so no advance warning was possible! Friday was so damn cold, did not spend much time at the track. I did bring Grant Maiman (Team Redbull/Team Jenzer/Formula Renault) in for the awards dinner, but I did not attend, Madison (my daughter) and I went to dinner together. I do hope that next year I will plan better and be able to spend time with you and others from FC. Martin, thank you very much for your comments. I do hope to get to know you much better in the future. Chris | ||
| Chris Scott (Jcscott)
New member Username: Jcscott Post Number: 10 Registered: 12-2002 |
(Sometimes I feel like a broken record but reading these things reminds me the cause is still valid!) Just proves yet again that you must buy an exotic from someone who will let you do all the due diligence you want. Any hesitation and you should run. YOU MUST HAVE SERVICE RECORDS AND DO AN INSPECTION OF THE CAR. PERIOD. The only exception is to buy without and heavily discount the price assuming the worst. My father owned a Ferrari dealership for about 10 years and learned you never knew who really had the money to buy the cars but to treat each customer as if they did. These dealers can not let people play with and fool around in their cars, but the days of being "so exclusive" and false snobbery are over. You can find exotics everywhere, communicate/find anything over the internet, and airfare is cheap. People let you stroll around their 500K home, albeit supervised, if they are selling it. Would you buy a house without really checking it out? Nobody would put up with this kind of treatment if they were looking to buy a new MB S class or BMW so why any difference for a used 355? Do your homework before buying a car. Sounds like what is happening to this dealer is long overdue. | ||
| Martin - Cavallino Motors (Miami348ts)
Advanced Member Username: Miami348ts Post Number: 3732 Registered: 5-2001 |
Chris, you were out here and did not call???? | ||
| Chris Parr (Cmparrf40)
Member Username: Cmparrf40 Post Number: 543 Registered: 3-2002 |
The Toy Store usually makes a big showing at Cavallino, but this year they were no where to be found. They were not missed.......... | ||
| sean hegarty (Sjehe)
New member Username: Sjehe Post Number: 4 Registered: 1-2003 |
I have a story to. Luckily it didn't end up as the nightmare it could have been. On my honeymoon in Florida we stopped into the toy store to look around and surprisingly enough they couldn't have been more accomodating. Don't be mistaken this is not a good story I still hate them and they do suck, But they had the car I always wanted and I told them how much I would pay monthly and they were able to do the deal. So, I came home and thought about it for a month and priced shopped and decided to do the deal. They shipped the car up to Pa.and it was fine. I checked it on carfax and had a ferrari mechanic check it and he thought there might be a question about the miles but carfax put that to rest and it all looked pretty good.I still got all the wrong papers and history from several other cars but there wasn't much to do at that point. A year goes by and car is running good no problems and I get a letter from the state saying my registration has been suspended for non payment of sales tax. Those scumbags never payed the sales tax on my car. After several calls it was taken care of but I hope they got all those creeps in that place and they can't buy there way out of whatever hole they put them in. | ||
| SRA (Sranderson)
New member Username: Sranderson Post Number: 47 Registered: 11-2002 |
NOT to date myself, but anyone remember "The Steering Wheel" who occupied one of the buildings before the Auto Toy Store? | ||
| Ric Rainbolt (Ricrain)
Member Username: Ricrain Post Number: 436 Registered: 2-2002 |
I've been actively involved in Ferrari Chat style discussion forums for the better part of 14 years (going way back to the BBS days), and I've never heard anything good about Auto Toy Store, but plenty of negative things. | ||
| martin J weiner,M.D. (Mw360)
Member Username: Mw360 Post Number: 755 Registered: 5-2001 |
Jim, I E-mailed you. | ||
| Jim Schad (Jim_schad)
Member Username: Jim_schad Post Number: 664 Registered: 7-2002 |
Hey Martin: I will be in Portland doing some work for Hollywood Video soon. Would love to meet you and go for ride in the 360! | ||
| Jim Schad (Jim_schad)
Member Username: Jim_schad Post Number: 663 Registered: 7-2002 |
Martin: Just thinking of my uncle a GP who has a 911 cab, range rover, bmw 745, harley v-rod he can't even ride! He had to take lessons on how to ride it and it was deliverd on a trailer as he couldn't ride it from dealer. He just buys things because he thinks they are cool I guess. He knows nothing about them. No offense intended. | ||
| Dave (Maranelloman)
Member Username: Maranelloman Post Number: 691 Registered: 1-2002 |
Didn't I post here about 9-12 months ago, strongly implying that there was a whole lotta Soprano-like action goin' on at the Toy Store? And that, since their prices were so absurdly high, and their inventory routinely satthere for a year or more, that they really preferred *NOT* to sell cars, but to register tax losses for the "boys" instead? And I was roundly scolded for having the temerity to make such a surly accusation. Ah, the sweet taste of told-ya-so vindication. I could just tell, when I was there a couple of years ago, that is was run by & for Tony "Phony" Baloney and his pals, if you know what I mean... | ||
| Bart Nale (Bartn_tx)
New member Username: Bartn_tx Post Number: 8 Registered: 11-2002 |
I'll Just add to the pile. While on a weekend trip to South Beach I forced my wife to drive with me up to Ft Lauderdale specically to visit their store as I had seen the ads in the Du Pont registry. I was in the market for either a 996 cab or a 355gtb. (In fact I purchased a car within 60 days of my visit). Both of us were in our late 30's and well groomed. We were ignored and when we would ask a question all of their responses were completely condescending. Funny thing was there was a youngish guy, perhaps late 20's, wearing shorts, sandals, t-shirt, pony-tail and an earring who they were fawning all over. We knew we would never buy anything from them regardless of the car. | ||
| Omar (Auraraptor)
Member Username: Auraraptor Post Number: 299 Registered: 9-2002 |
What about ultimate motor cars? They are a florida dealer too. And a factory lambo I think. Are they bad as well? They got 2 F512Ms and a nice 512TR.... | ||
| martin J weiner,M.D. (Mw360)
Member Username: Mw360 Post Number: 754 Registered: 5-2001 |
Jim, For your info "the avg doctor" doesn't buy exotics--he drives a Buick Park Ave and those of us who do buy Ferrari's etc are very well informed!!!!!!!!!! | ||
| Eric Eiland (Eric308gtsiqv)
Member Username: Eric308gtsiqv Post Number: 546 Registered: 11-2001 |
Martin...just curious...is Ultimate somehow connected to FoCF? Seems like I heard that somewhere. A fellow F-car owner and friend paid a visit to one of the "exotic" dealers in Miami area not long ago with the sole purpose of trading in the F-car for a Diablo 6.0. Not sure which dealer it was, but will have to find out now. They literally begged him to come down and do the deal. He later told me that it was the "deal from hell" and went downhill from the git-go. At any rate, this has been a very enlightening thread...keep it going  . | ||
| Jim Schad (Jim_schad)
Member Username: Jim_schad Post Number: 662 Registered: 7-2002 |
because they don't read fchat.... Think about the avg doctor, or whatever...lots of money, no time, little education on the subject, buy it now attitude | ||
| Mitchell L. Davidson (Jussumfastgi)
Member Username: Jussumfastgi Post Number: 381 Registered: 4-2002 |
Why does anyone do business with an auto dealer based in Florida? | ||
| Martin - Cavallino Motors (Miami348ts)
Advanced Member Username: Miami348ts Post Number: 3710 Registered: 5-2001 |
that would mean you believe that Prestige actually has "customer loyalty". how do you spell "rude awakening" ????? In Autumn they will have a nice story for you. Something along the line of "That " car fell of the production line but I have one here just as you ordered it with your assigned VIN for $ 100,000 extra. Eli, I don't trust them. Sorry. I would rather wait till 2010 at a good dealer than be promissed 2003 by Prestige! | ||
| ELI (Titanium360)
Member Username: Titanium360 Post Number: 271 Registered: 4-2002 |
Martin: I have been thinking about the GAllardo and prestige told me they will have one for my by September. I checked on few other dealers and was told no earlier than Feb 04. I have bought a TR from Prestige in the past and i thought maybe he is putting me ahead of the line. | ||
| Martin - Cavallino Motors (Miami348ts)
Advanced Member Username: Miami348ts Post Number: 3707 Registered: 5-2001 |
buy them used though. All 3 brands have the pleasure of loosing money the second you drive off the lot. " Bentley is the only car you can buy cash and still owe money when you trade it in. " - a former bentley owner - | ||
| Martin - Cavallino Motors (Miami348ts)
Advanced Member Username: Miami348ts Post Number: 3706 Registered: 5-2001 |
of course: Monte Patterson 407-339-3443 Monte is the General Sales Manager. Lambo RR and Bentley. | ||
| Martin - Cavallino Motors (Miami348ts)
Advanced Member Username: Miami348ts Post Number: 3705 Registered: 5-2001 |
Let me find his business card. I will see him in a week at Italia Fest in Palm Beach. If you are serious about one you should come down and meet with some Lambo owners and maybe my mechanic for a one on one. Will look for his card. One moment | ||
| ELI (Titanium360)
Member Username: Titanium360 Post Number: 270 Registered: 4-2002 |
Martin: Do you have a contact in ultimate in Orlando? | ||
| Martin - Cavallino Motors (Miami348ts)
Advanced Member Username: Miami348ts Post Number: 3704 Registered: 5-2001 |
Shawn, yes, you will have to sue them. Actually that gets their attention. I had my mechanic, who was a master mechanic at Prestige for a few years, give his "connections" a call and he told them that I was about to take legal actions against them. They then called me and told me that I was about to get the manual for the car. It just came in As for the key they would give me a key blank and I can have one made anyplace. The manual they gave me was from a 348 Spider and had the warranty info booklet in it from a 355B. That contained the serial number and the audio pin code for the radio. Go figure who else is pissed... A few days after that the owner and/or manager was arrested for money laundring. I felt somewhat vindicated. Eli, would I trust them with a deposit on a new Lambo? NO, not in a million years. There is anough others out there that want my business and deal honest. I can go to �ltimate in Orlando and have a nice conversation with them without being screwed. I do not give 2nd chances. Just figure how dumb that is. They screw me and now all of you know it. I bet you there would/will be a sale that will not take place because somebody here will remember my words. For a manual and keys and service records. They could have gone back to me and said, listen we have a problem, we do not get them here is $100 for the manual and $50 for the keys and $ 500 for the records. It would have made the customer happy and shown good faith. This is how I would have handled the situation. It gets better the story behind my car is: The owner of my car traded my 348, a Porsche 911 Conv. and another car. By coincidence I met the owner of the Porsche and when he told me the story about his Porsche it sounded like the story I was told about the 348. Small world. Anyway, the guy traded 3 cars for a Diablo. The trade in cars were picked up and the Diablo delivered. There were serious issues with the Diablo (go figure again) so the owner got pissed and told them he will not send the keys and books for the cars unless he gets the Diablo fixed at Prestige expense. They refused his calls after a while (sounds familiar?) and that is why I never had keys and books for my car. Unfortunately I could never track the owner down. he lived in the Atlanta area. | ||
| JRV (Jrvall)
Member Username: Jrvall Post Number: 676 Registered: 11-2002 |
Prestige **STILL** owes me money for Lamborghini warranty work I performed for them in 2000!! | ||
| Dr. I. M. Ibrahim (Coachi)
Junior Member Username: Coachi Post Number: 181 Registered: 5-2002 |
I too have bought and sold exotic cars since 1985 or so. I even hold a dealer's lisence. It is true, exotic cars are not where you make money these days. In the mid and late eightees, you made tons of money selling all exotics...ferrari, maserati, jaguar , corvette, whatever. Now, you are lucky you don't get stuck holding a vehicle too long and lose your pants... | ||
| Howie/ExoticAutoBrokers.com (Brokerofexotics)
Member Username: Brokerofexotics Post Number: 352 Registered: 11-2001 |
Prestige is indeed an authorized Lambo dealer as well as Lotus and Audi. I have no comment with regard to trust. ;) I hope you are well, Eli! | ||
| ELI (Titanium360)
Member Username: Titanium360 Post Number: 266 Registered: 4-2002 |
Martin: isn't prestige an authorized lambo dealer? would you trust them with a deposit on a new lambo? | ||
| Shawn Cowan (Jeru)
New member Username: Jeru Post Number: 5 Registered: 1-2003 |
Martin, Regarding the problems you had at Prestiege Imports could not be any more true. We had the same experience when buying a euro model 360. They gave us only one key and one key fob for the car. They promised to send us the missing key, and fob but never did! They would not even return our phone calls. I sold cars for a while and thought this was fishy, so during the purchase I had them write us up a dealer "we owe" for the missing key. I guess i will have to sue them???? | ||
| JRV (Jrvall)
Member Username: Jrvall Post Number: 675 Registered: 11-2002 |
>>>THERE IS NOT MONEY TO BE MADE IN THE EXOTIC CAR BUSINESS IF YOU ARE A DEALER! unless you deal dishonestly or are involved in money laundring! << I agree Martin! I've been in the Exotic Car Business 30 yrs now, 19 in business for myself and only make a comfortable living, small operation, low overhead, very tight cost controls. In More cases than I can count Dog & Pony Show means Fishy Biz. | ||
| Mark (Study)
Member Username: Study Post Number: 387 Registered: 10-2001 |
Prestige has had a black 355 for over 6 months The car really looks like crap. Of course they want top dollar for it. Inventory like that, was a real turn off. | ||
| Martin - Cavallino Motors (Miami348ts)
Advanced Member Username: Miami348ts Post Number: 3696 Registered: 5-2001 |
Frank, thanks but that is a reason why I do not deal with Kessler and Prestige anymore. My personal car was bought at Prestige. They claimed my car as a Challenge car because it had the decal on the back. Of course it is not, although I start to believe I have some "extras" from the Challenge series in there They said they have books and records and they are shipped from the owner but not there yet. Well guys, 3 years later I still have not seen the 2nd set of keys, the manuals or the records. Stay away from Prestige! The owner of prestige was in some sort of trouble as well. Let me be frank here if I can. THERE IS NOT MONEY TO BE MADE IN THE EXOTIC CAR BUSINESS IF YOU ARE A DEALER! unless you deal dishonestly or are involved in money laundring! By rough numbers I had a $16,000 loss last year and I do not have to rent a showroom or storage space. I own my office and my warehouse free and clear. No employees and no overhead. Phone is being paid through my other company, so is gas and car. Get it guys? NO MONEY! | ||
| Frank K Lipinski (Kaz)
Junior Member Username: Kaz Post Number: 118 Registered: 11-2002 |
. | ||
| Howie/ExoticAutoBrokers.com (Brokerofexotics)
Member Username: Brokerofexotics Post Number: 350 Registered: 11-2001 |
Frank.. I'm here...see your e-mail. | ||
| Frank K Lipinski (Kaz)
Junior Member Username: Kaz Post Number: 116 Registered: 11-2002 |
I already posted on this but feel compelled to add more� One time, even knowing better from being there in person, I called and asked what they had in inventory with 355 Spiders. The salesman did not know and put me through to the owner (the son). He picks up the call on the speaker phone (which IMHO is a no no in business) and says �Yeah�. I say what do you have in 355 Spiders? Instead of answering me, he�s talking to one of his salesman : �Which Porsche, the good one? That guy is a piece of SH*T and I wouldn�t give that MF the F***ing sweat of my balls,�.� Now, I�m a customer hearing every word of it! Went on for a few more minutes, then he gets back to me and says �Now, what do you want?� Me: 355 Spider�HIM �we got a 348 on special� ME: No, a 355. HIM: �You gotta see this 348, it�s the car for you� ME: CLICK�. PAT - Prestige is hit and miss. Kinda known for having dogs�my P-Car mechanic took in one of their cars because there was a problem with it after a customer bought it. He repaired the car and Prestige does not want to pay him. He has a lien on the car and it�s been there for about 3 months now�. Kessler - Here�s a good one. When looking for a car I ran into Martin and Howie via phone. Howie said he may have a car for me and, I think, we were only about 2K off in price. The car was at Kessler and I did not know where the car was. As a total fluke, honest to God, I was driving in the area and stopped by Kessler - and there she was�no doubt same car. I explained the coincidence to Kessler and he suggested we could work out the $2K spread by omitting Howie, because I walked in off the street. I would never stoop to something as unethical as that and walked out. I never shared this to Martin and Howie�so there you go boys�FYI� BTW - Where�s Howie? Have not seen any posts lately? Sidebar - I am totally responsible for this post and hold Rob Lay and Ferrarichat.com harmless - Feel Better Rob? | ||
| Hans E. Hansen (4re_gt4)
Member Username: 4re_gt4 Post Number: 822 Registered: 4-2002 |
DMC: You're spot on. Almost always you can get a 'feel' for the place and know if they are on the up-and-up. | ||
| nick m........ (Nickm)
Junior Member Username: Nickm Post Number: 162 Registered: 8-2001 |
Kinda makes you wonder what the Toy Store does to make thier money. If they are asking people to leave thier showrooms, sales people dont "know" their models, etc... It seems that they dont care if they sell a car. I wonder if they are making $$$ other ways???? Sounds very likely. | ||
| DMC (Machinnes)
New member Username: Machinnes Post Number: 37 Registered: 10-2002 |
I have been in most of these places and it's not hard to get an instant bad feeling the second you walk in. Auto Toy Store was the worst, car sales felt like a front. | ||
| Pat Martin (Patm)
New member Username: Patm Post Number: 20 Registered: 2-2001 |
how is Prestige & Steven Kessler's reputation. Both are located in Miami on Biscayne Blvd | ||
| JRV (Jrvall)
Member Username: Jrvall Post Number: 653 Registered: 11-2002 |
>>Just wondering, since when do they have warrenties on f-cars? << Good point, tey generally don't exist. Which is an even more powerful reason to have a PPI. This story was forwarded to me and I posted it, for informational purposes of course (a heads up) and just as importantly to get the value of a PPI to recieve it's due. IMO the issue is more than 'another used car lot runs afoul of the law', it's the value of protecting oneself with DD & a PPI. | ||
| Modified348ts (Modman)
Member Username: Modman Post Number: 439 Registered: 11-2001 |
I must add that Exotic Cars Wholesale in Ft. Lauderdale are even worse crooks as they steal deposits and don't return them if you don't buy a piece of sh** consignment car they never seen from them. Do not sen deposits to them and I highly don't recommend buying cars from them as they scammed me and others that were on this site of some good amount of money. It costs more on attorney fees than the amount it cost to get your money back. They are pure crooks, even their employees rob from their own business. | ||
| Omar (Auraraptor)
Member Username: Auraraptor Post Number: 275 Registered: 9-2002 |
JRV, I agree, I never would. But sometimes even that is not a 100% solution. IMO, you gotta do it yourself as well. Even if a place says the car is ok, and it is, when you sit in it for the first time, you might fig out..damn I really can't drive this thing! (fitting is an art for tall people ) Just wondering, since when do they have warrenties on f-cars? I heard of them for late model 97s+, but those of us who salvate (haha good word) over the earlier models will NEVER even hear the word mentioned. | ||
| David S (Djs308)
Junior Member Username: Djs308 Post Number: 65 Registered: 9-2002 |
By the way, I also stopped by Shelton and they were excellent in comparison. I asked if it would be OK to look around and they were very gracious. It was a slow day and the salesman allowed me to sit in a 328 and mentioned the then new F50 they just took in. It was a fantastic experience, and if I lived down there, I would consider buying a (used) Ferrari from them (now that I'm ready) soley based on their courtesy. P.S. They had a 288 GTO, F-40 and F50 in the same room!!!! | ||
| David S (Djs308)
Junior Member Username: Djs308 Post Number: 64 Registered: 9-2002 |
I had a similar experience to report. About 5 years ago, I was on vacation in Ft. Lauderdale and my R&R consisted of exotic-car spotting. I went window shopping at the local places and took plenty of photos. I stopped by the Toy Store to take a look inside. I got in the door by maybe 3 feet before the secretary said the following "unless you previously made an appointment, you may NOT enter the showroom". She didn't even care to ask me if I was interested in buying a car! With that, I did a 180 and headed out the door forever. What class!!! NOT!!! Another place I looked at was AutoPanache. They just LOOKED like a shady dealer. Are THEY still around or did the Feds crack down on them too? | ||
| JRV (Jrvall)
Member Username: Jrvall Post Number: 650 Registered: 11-2002 |
Omar, The First Rule is Have a Car Checked Out. How many horror stories does it take before one follows the rules? These horror stories have a common theme, they leaped before they looked. And without warranties on top of it all. | ||
| Omar (Auraraptor)
Member Username: Auraraptor Post Number: 273 Registered: 9-2002 |
Jay, I hear that! | ||
| J. Grande (Jay)
Member Username: Jay Post Number: 998 Registered: 10-2001 |
Omar, here in Canada every used vehicle has to be accompanied by a previous owner search. It gives you a list of every owner the car has ever had, including dealerships. This is to ensure the car has the documented milage and doesn't have any leans on the ownership. I don't see why the US can't impliment the same thing. | ||
| Omar (Auraraptor)
Member Username: Auraraptor Post Number: 271 Registered: 9-2002 |
No offense guys..one thing really worries me..after they sell, these same cars wind up on the market again..and often times since they, quite franky, blow, they keep repopping up on the market. I now fear getting a car even more knowing that the '100s' that they have already sold are on the market still, as I, or any other, albeit very small time, Ferrari collector, would NOT want to keep their POS for long...so they stay hovering on the market... and can we say ebay? All cars sold by them should be marked in someway by the goverment by releasing the vins of sold cars off the toy store's records. My 2c | ||
| Henryk (Henryk)
Member Username: Henryk Post Number: 404 Registered: 8-2001 |
DES; That is why they advertise in the Dupont Registry..........everyone thinks they must be good....as you concluded. What does that tell you about any of the other one's who also use this ad source? Buyer beware, indeed!!!!!!! | ||
| Johnny (Up2nogd)
Junior Member Username: Up2nogd Post Number: 114 Registered: 8-2002 |
And another story! - The same day I went by Shelton's I decided to go by "The New A-Hole Toy Store" - actually Benn at Shelton's warned me - upon entering the front door I was shunned by every saleperson in the place - I cordially asked if I could walk up and look into one of the cars that they had on the showroom - the reply - If you're gonna write a check today and take it home, - if not Stay behind the ropes!!! I could not believe these a-holes! Anyway I guess now I should go back and ask them -- if you're going to post bail today then okay - if not stay behind the bars!!!!! I'm with everyone here - could not have happened to a better group!! My 2 cents! Johnny | ||
| DES (Sickspeed)
Intermediate Member Username: Sickspeed Post Number: 1435 Registered: 8-2002 |
Stephen, whenever i hear of law enforcement- or worse, the government- going after people or businesses, my feelings default to harassment... i guess now, after reading everyone's posts, that this place had it coming, if what everyone says is true... i wasn't aware that they were running a shady operation- i always see their ad in the DuPont Registry, so i figured they were upscale... | ||
| Stephen J. MacKellar (89gtb)
New member Username: 89gtb Post Number: 9 Registered: 12-2002 |
DES (sickspeed) - what's up with your response - seems like you are in the minority on this one. Why the anger towards law enforcement putting the crimp on some bad actors?? I can assure you that this place only captured their interest and action because of a well founded case. Being in the 'biz', I can assure you that neither the feds or locals have the interest, time or resources to harass innocent businesses. | ||
| Jordan Witherspoon (Jordan747_400)
Junior Member Username: Jordan747_400 Post Number: 175 Registered: 12-2002 |
Michael, your story cracks me up so much! HAHAHA! That article was interesting...Im convinced...that place is a joke...I just love the story of the mechanic though...who did all hte bodywork! | ||
| JRV (Jrvall)
Member Username: Jrvall Post Number: 645 Registered: 11-2002 |
I've had more than my fair share of identical problems as mentioned in this clip over the last 30 yrs, with most right here in Houston. Looks like things are heating up at The Toy Store now though. >>The owner of a Fort Lauderdale body shop, however, says that he did bodywork on dozens of cars for the Toy Store. Ariel Jimenez, the owner of Body Craft, says he quit working on Toy Store cars because the dealership refused to pay for quality work. Jimenez, who says he did mostly light bodywork and repainting for the Toy Store, recalls that he was once asked by a Toy Store salesman to put a piece of wood in a car's doorframe to prop up a malfunctioning window rather than actually fix it. "I threw [Wolofsky] out of here, that ••••••••••••," Jimenez says. "I only do quality work. They just wanted the car to look decent, and they didn't want to pay for qualitywork." <<<<< | ||
| Ron Shirley (Easy_rider)
New member Username: Easy_rider Post Number: 42 Registered: 12-2002 |
Here is a link to an article written in 1999. As Matt said, it does sound like business as usual. http://www.newtimesbpb.com/issues/1999-07-16/news.html | ||
| peter brinzey (Ferraripete)
New member Username: Ferraripete Post Number: 39 Registered: 11-2002 |
whatever happened to morris shirazi? | ||
| J. Grande (Jay)
Member Username: Jay Post Number: 996 Registered: 10-2001 |
They had no idea what a 308 GT4 was! Showed me "Stallones" Mondial (yeah right!) instead, then showed me a GTB, then a dino 246. At least they could know what they were selling. But they did let me sit in any car I wanted. Made me wonder about what was going on...then I heard all the stories, no surprise with this one! | ||
| Matt Lemus (Mlemus)
Intermediate Member Username: Mlemus Post Number: 1481 Registered: 8-2002 |
Sounds like business as usual | ||
| William Huber (Solipsist)
Member Username: Solipsist Post Number: 608 Registered: 9-2001 |
LMAO!!!!!! Say it ain't so. Tell me what so new about the business practices of the "NEW AUTO TOY STORE" VS. the old? | ||
| Fred (I Luv 4REs) (Iluv4res)
Member Username: Iluv4res Post Number: 302 Registered: 8-2002 |
That place gives me the 'heebie-jeebies'. I would NEVER do business with them. Every car I have ever seen there has some hidden story. | ||
| Martin - Cavallino Motors (Miami348ts)
Advanced Member Username: Miami348ts Post Number: 3688 Registered: 5-2001 |
Jim the flash would have possibly peeled the paint right off, just like in Rodney's case! | ||
| Jim Schad (Jim_schad)
Member Username: Jim_schad Post Number: 651 Registered: 7-2002 |
Have you seen their new ads in the DuPont registry? "New Ownership" . Read an article on them and the new owner is the son of the old owner. Old owner got his start renting cranes and now has one of the largest commercial construction crane operations in the US or world. I visited there 3 years ago and there were 2 ratted out diablos in back..I just wondered how long it would be til they were on the showroom floor! They still have a bronze NSX from when I was there in '99! Also, they wouldn't let me photo any of the cars. | ||
| Tim N (Timn88)
Intermediate Member Username: Timn88 Post Number: 2049 Registered: 6-2001 |
Its about time these scumbags got what they deserved. | ||
| Rodney Haas (Icars)
Junior Member Username: Icars Post Number: 128 Registered: 3-2002 |
My wife and I looked @ a Mondial there a couple of years ago. I noticed a smudge in the paint up front. So I did what any car guy knows to do. I put wetted it a little. The paint came off. Obviously a quick and not very good touch up job. The also had a hard time explaining the absolute trashed drivers seat on a car with "6K miles" | ||
| Michael N. (Man90tr)
Member Username: Man90tr Post Number: 752 Registered: 4-2001 |
That place always gave me the creeps. Went in a couple times a few years ago and the last time the salesman knew nothing about the cars and told me that these cars are more expensive than I thought. So I simply walked out in the parking lot with him talking his crap and feeling big, jumped in my TR and left. Should have seen his face. Priceless moment... | ||
| Eric Eiland (Eric308gtsiqv)
Member Username: Eric308gtsiqv Post Number: 536 Registered: 11-2001 |
LOL, Martin! | ||
| Martin - Cavallino Motors (Miami348ts)
Advanced Member Username: Miami348ts Post Number: 3684 Registered: 5-2001 |
Maybe I should not have made that prank call to the FBI saying the red Mercedes at the Toy Store belonged to Sadam and he has a nuclear device built into it. | ||
| Martin - Cavallino Motors (Miami348ts)
Advanced Member Username: Miami348ts Post Number: 3683 Registered: 5-2001 |
LOL Frank, does not surprise me at all either. So being a snitch gets rid of my competition... | ||
| Frank K Lipinski (Kaz)
Junior Member Username: Kaz Post Number: 112 Registered: 11-2002 |
Funny ! I just drove by a few minutes ago on my way to Shelton & noticed they were closed...thought maybe they changed their hours...did not hear anything on the local news...however, having been there a few times I find this does not surprise me at all. | ||
| Rodney Haas (Icars)
Junior Member Username: Icars Post Number: 126 Registered: 3-2002 |
Couldn't happen to nicer guys. The Auto Toy store is know for "covering up" nasty issues with cars. Many of their cars come from South America where it is real easy to wash titles.. | ||
| DES (Sickspeed)
Intermediate Member Username: Sickspeed Post Number: 1412 Registered: 8-2002 |
The IRS, the Secret Service & the locals yokels...? That doesn't sound right to me... The IRS & the secret nazis can't stand the yokels and never want them interfering or mingling, so why were they invited...? Something doesn't add up... Those damn fascist capitalist pigs... The yokels are there keeping people like you and me out of there while the federal pigs played cowboys and indians with the employees and the merchandise and the files... It's like the f*ckin' Gulag Archipelago (or however it's spelled )... | ||
| JRV (Jrvall)
Member Username: Jrvall Post Number: 643 Registered: 11-2002 |
Law Enforcement Agencies Raid Vehicle Dealership Federal agents raided an auto dealership in Fort Lauderdale on Thursday. Investigators from the IRS, the Secret Service and local police searched the Auto Toy Store located on 1624 East Sunrise Blvd. Agents were seen removing boxes of evidence from the facility and seized a red Mercedes-Benz. Officials would only say that they were serving a search warrant. So far no arrests have been made. The Auto Toy Store is scheduled to be open for business Friday. FORT LAUDERDALE |