How was your experience with Lemon Proof?
You can leave your comments so that others, not yet convinced, can get an idea of how Lemon Proof will satisfy their needs!
Feel free to share any bad experiences before our services and tell us what you've learned.
posted by LEMON PROOF at
7:16 AM
17 Comments:
I recently purchased a 1998 caravan which I thought was priced quite fairly at $6500.00. It was fully loaded and body was immaculate and all it needed for certification was a light blub.
About two days after I bought it I started to hear terrible ticking noises from the engine. I quickly took it to my mechanic and he told me that I was going to need an engine.
I then proceeded to ask if this is something that happens so quick? He said no, the engine had been shot for a while. The previous owner had replaced the engine oil with a thicker substitute before selling the vehicle to me.
I confronted the owner and he denies it but you can tell he was not telling the truth, the oil was as thick as syrup and had a distinct smell. Plus there was nothing I could do since I had bought the car as is.
I had to replace the engine at a cost of $3000.00.
If I had known better or known of lemonproof, I believe I would have had a better outcome..
By
Anonymous, at 6:22 AM
We've just purchased a car using the expertise of Tadeo at Lemonproof & were so impressed by the service we received that we felt we had to leave some feedback. This is an excellent service which takes the worry out off purchasing a used car and makes sure you don't end up with a lemon! Tadeo was professional from start to finish & not only did he find us a great car but also walked us through the whole process of certifying, plating etc right through to driving off in our car. We cannot recommend this service highly enough & are extremely grateful & pleased that we found it!!
Thank you so much Tadeo!
By
Anonymous, at 5:39 PM
We were looking to buy a fairly inexpensive car and it was a daunting and frustrating task for us as this was our first one. We felt that the dealerships we were going to were going to rip us off and dealing with private sellers was just as difficult, piling on the fact that we were racing around the city on the TTC trying to see one horrible car after another.
Tadeo was extremely professional, courteous and knowledgeable. He took all of this mess away and found us a great car that was in our budget. Because he is an outside party Tadeo let us know what things to look out for with the car and specific things we would have to fix and we took that into consideration in determining if we could afford the car as opposed to a shady seller who is "fluffing up" the condition.
We've recently gone on vacation in the province with this car and it is running great.
Thanks Tadeo for all of your hard work and we will definitely use your company again when we search for a second car.
Catherine and Headley
By
Anonymous, at 10:28 AM
Just a few days ago, while looking at the Autotrader website I noticed that a 1996 Honda Civic LX with 185km was being offered for sale by a reputable new car sales dealership. I won't mention the automotive brand or name the dealership :-)
So I said to myself "Wow, that looks like a nice car! - I must check it out".
I went to the dealership to view the car and do a test drive. When I got there, I was told that the car was a trade-in with 185km and in good mechanical condition; it had no accidents; one owner; original paint; the car was clean; it had just a little rust; the a/c was ice-cold; and it was only going to cost around $4500 + the applicable taxes.
Well, they were right about a few things; the car was clean, paint looked good, very little rust on the body, everthing inside looked fine. The AC was not that cold, but the car drove fine. Everything checked out and I thought it was a good car that I could just use to get to work and back. Something reliable to get from point A to B for the next couple of years.
Now, did I mention - I know nothing about cars.
It is kind of weird being a 28 year old guy and saying that, but I have never been interested in them. My wife drives our 2004 Honda civic to work which still has a few more years under warranty and is dealer serviced. But besides that, I worked downtown and took the TTC for the past 5 years. A car was the last thing on my mind; until a new job made one a necessity.
So, I asked the dealership if I could put a deposit down to essentially hold the car and whether they would put in writing that the deal would only be finalized if a mechanic approved everything after doing an inspection. They agreed.
Now, since I did not know anything about cars or have my own trusted mechanic. I needed help! So, I did a Google search for mechanics or shops in the T.dot that did automotive inspection.
Luckily, in retrospect, Lemon Proof came back as a hit and the next day, I brought them in to look at the car.
From the very start, Tadeo from Lemon Proof was very professional and courteous. He was on time, in uniform, and brought all of the necessary equipment to do the inspection. I really did not know what to expect. However, to say the least, his presence caused quite a stir at the dealership. There was a lot of rubbernecking and cold stares being received from dealership staff when his Lemon Proof emblazoned car pulled up. It was quite amusing, to be honest.
Then Tadeo started his work. He inspected the car from top to bottom. I was completely surprised at how meticulous and detailed he was. On top of all that, he also explained the inspection as he went along and broke it all down for me. As I said, I am a person who knew nothing about cars. But, by the time he was finished I felt as though I was an amateur expert :-)
At the end of the inspection, Tadeo also provided me with a written account of what he found, a Carfax report, and a cost estimate of what it would cost to bring the car up to par and what to expect in terms of cost in the very near future.
Well, to sum it all up: the car had two owners, had been in three accidents (did not show up in dealer records or Carfax perhaps because they were not reported); had been repainted; had its fender replaced; was full of used/junkyard parts; completely rotted brake lines; poor welding underneath; never had been rustproofed; a completely rusted oil pan; a/c was broken; need I go on ...
The car needed a lot of work. So much so, I decided to back out of the deal and the dealer provided me with a refund because I had things put in writing.
If it were not for Tadeo and Lemon Proof, I may have bought that car and a lot of headaches.
I recommend Lemon Proof's service highly. 110%, if you are like me and did not know enough about cars to make good judgements about used ones or did not have my own mechanic.
Their fee is a very small price to pay for a thorough car inspection of a private or dealer sold car and will ultimately give you peace of mind.
A word to the wise is sufficient. Buyer beware :-)
By
Anonymous, at 9:53 AM
I dreaded the prospect of buying a used car, but Lemon Proof took all
the anxiety out of the process. After a thorough interview, I knew
exactly what I could expect for the amount of money I had to spend and Lemon Proof delivered on all their promises. I would use the
service again without hesitation and I recommend it to others.
Don't buy new!
K. Kelly
By
Anonymous, at 4:20 PM
Having just moved to Toronto from Vancouver a week ago, I needed to get a car organized as soon as possible. I knew the make and model of car I wanted but obviously needed a reliable mechanic to check it out for me. I rang Lemonproof after getting the number from the autotrader online. Needless to say Tadeo provided a service which was absolutely professional and excellent. Not only did he perform a thorough inspection but he also gave me all the details on getting the vehicle on the road.
I would recommend these guys to anyone without hesitation. Thanks so much for all your help !!
By
Anonymous, at 8:03 PM
Tadeo came highly recommended by a mechanic that we use for regular servicing. We asked Tadeo to look at 3 vehicles for us and give us his professional opinion. The first was from a used car dealer and at first glance, seemed "reasonable" for the asking price. Tadeo provided a comprehensive list detailing the shortcomings of the vehicle and the potential for future costs. The second vehicle was a private sale, but with similar results, however the third turned out to be a gold mine. The truck had been kept in great shape and did not need much to certify at all. After comparing the three Lemonproof reports, it was clear that the last vehicle was the best choice. Oddly, the seller ended up accepting a lower offer from another buyer and we were back to "square one." In the end, we discovered and purchased a vehicle of equal value-for-the-money and we were pleased that Tadeo even followed up with post-purchase comments and advice.
Tadeo was professional and courteous and we would certainly recommend Lemonproof to anyone in the market for a used vehicle.
By
Anonymous, at 10:13 AM
I was looking to purchase a vehicle and visited the AutoTrader.ca website. I was
looking for a specific car due to the fact that I had done my research. I read
the Lemon Aid book by Phil Edmunston, I looked at the Red Book and Black Book, I
contacted a seach via the Ontario Ministry of Transport once I had the VIN
number, I also looked at the Ministry of Transportation for recall, I researched
the vehicle through several books at the Public Library, etc. I did my search!
Once I found the vehicle I wanted, I started my online search. I was looking for
a Suzuki Esteem Wagon, only a few cars were available. I visited a few
dealerships but the vehicle that I like the most was at “The Dealer Network” in
Richmond Hill, Ontario. It was extremely clean, low mileage, a little over my
budget (I am a student and only work part-time and sometimes do not work at
all). Therefore, I wanted to make sure that it was a good deal. I visited the
dealership and ask if I could take the car to my mechanic in Markham. I was
REFUSED. Right there, I should have walk away but didn’t. (perhaps I could have
called Lemon Proof but I didn’t know about the services at the time but now I KNOW!)
I found a mechanic near the dealership and he proceeds with the inspection. I
gave a copy to the dealership of the inspection report/quote and repair that
needed to be done. He agreed to do the repair but at the same price that the
mechanic was going to charge. Once I returned to the dealership, I asked that
the car be taken in to the mechanic to make sure that the repair had been done.
He REFUSED again. This was a second sign that I ignored.
Nevertheless, I paid for the car and went straight to the mechanic.
Unfortunately, the repair had not been done; instead something else that was not
on the inspection report had been done. I contacted the dealership and his
mechanic but they kept playing game with me. The dealership blame his mechanic
and the mechanic sent me back to the dealership.
I contacted the OMVIC and to keep it short they couldn’t help me either. They
try but were unsuccessful.
The moral of this story is when the signs are there, do not ignore them but
acknowledge them.
Thank you,
Lucille
PS: I contacted the UCDA and was refunded for the difference for the repair that
was charged double the price. I was charged $300.00 for a job of $150.00. I just
received my refund last week. So far the cheque had not bounce. Let's keep my
fingers cross.
I also contacted the MTO, to which they are conducting an audit the last time I
spoke with my contact.
I also contacted Silverman Helps - City TV to which they gave me several ideas
to whom to contact and what to say.
But since they have settle, I am glad but learn from it and will recongnize the
sign next time around and will keep your name near by.
By
Anonymous, at 8:19 AM
Your service is great man... very impressive,even the person that I bought the car from was suprised on how thorough you inspected the body, the engine, every little detail that a buyer may not notice.
Thanks a lot I highly recommend your service to anyone.
By
Anonymous, at 12:46 PM
I NEED TO KNOW IF YOU WORK IN MIAMI, BECAUSE I'M GONNA BUY A 1997 COROLLA AND I NEED TO KNOW IF THIS IS A LEMON.
PLEASE CONTACT ME TO THIS EMAIL: erald971@hotmail.com
or phone 1-305-965-1918
THANK YOU
By
Anonymous, at 6:47 PM
You might think that when you're looking at a fairly new 2003 Toyota that is still under an extended factory warranty that you wouldn't have much to worry about.
Tadeo showed me this afternoon that even the safest bets with used cars aren't safe at all. After a very thorough inspection he uncovered that the car had been in an accident and had been repaired badly to boot.
While I was disappointed that my "sure thing" didn't work out, I don't think I would have noticed the extent of the damage on my own and was saved the expense of overpaying thousands for a car with accident damage and a transmission on it's way out.
I've recommended Lemon Proof before and I can't stress how important this service is for anybody buying a used car no matter it's age or brand reputation.
By
Unknown, at 10:31 PM
I was looking at a used Elantra today (May 2007) from a dealer on Chesswood and asked if I could get an independent inspection. The dealer said yes and I brought in Lemon Proof to look it over. I'm no car expert.
Although the dealer initially agreed to the inspection, no more than 20-25 minutes into it (Tadeo had just jacked it up to look underneath) the dealer came out quite upset with things and effectively ended the inspection then and there. There was no immediately obvious reason, although Tadeo did discover that the car had been repainted at some point. Guess I won't be buying that Elantra.
Needless to say, Tadeo was professional, efficient and very generous with car advice before and after the "inspection". I will definitely be calling him when I do find another car that I'm serious about buying.
By
, at 4:43 PM
I have recently taken the workshop with Tadeo. All I can say is that I went into it knowing little to nothing about purchasing a used vehicle and came out feeling like a pro.
I felt Tadeo was professional and very knowlegable and was able to answer all my questions and more. I feel I have gained the confidence I need to pursue my search. GREAT EXPERIENCE!!!!HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!!!
Thanks again.
Tracy
By
Anonymous, at 9:10 AM
Your service is amazing! So many used car dealers do not allow vehicles to be taken off-site and inspected by a third party. The fact that you come out to where ever the car is located, is fantastic. As a car buff myself, I was really impressed with how much time you spent looking the vehicle over, and how thorough your inspection was. You confirmed several of the things I had noticed, and pointed out several important things as well. Your service allowed me to negotiate to have the serpentine belt replaced before I picked up the car, which would have cost several hundred dollars at Volvo!
Most of all, you provided me the peace of mind I was looking for when purchasing a new car. Having an experienced and qualified mechanic thoroughly check the car, paid for the service several times over, literally. I would recommend your services without hesitation and have, in fact, recommended the service to family & friends already. Keep up the great work.
Sincerely,
Darrin Lindsay
By
Anonymous, at 8:54 AM
cool site & informative.will be back!!
By
Anonymous, at 9:25 AM
Lemon Proof is a must use service for anyone purchasing a used vehicle!
We bought a used Maxda 6 conditional on a car inspection …
The lemon proof car inspection was beyond our expectations. Tadeo checked every aspect of the car (even put the car on a hoist to see underneath) and we received a very detailed report. A very thorough and extremely effective car inspection.
We highly recommend his service! Thanks Tadeo!
Tracy & Jeff
By
Anonymous, at 3:30 PM
I made a highly charged emotional purchase of a 1994 Dodge Stealth AWD R/T but somehow got control of myself and started to look for someone who could give me an unbiased but accurate opinion of this car.
The car looked fabulous from the pictures and being from Alberta, there was no way I was going to be able to physically check this car out myself since it was in Mississauga. (5,000kms away)
Fortunately, I was put in contact with Lemon Proof and it was the best money I could have possibly spent!
Turns out Tadeo identified problems with the lower control arms, alignment issues as well as damaged shock absorbers that were not apparent even when driving the car. That issue showed up well after I had paid for the vehicle (minus the adjustments for above repair costs!) and had arrived back home in Grande Prairie.
As if that wasn't enough, Tadeo went out of his way to back up and support all of his findings despite a local garage arguing some of those more expensive findings. Turns out the APA recommended garage was not near as thorough as Lemon Proof.
Fantastic job, Tadeo!
By
defyanse, at 9:04 AM
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