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Terry JacksonI bought the wrong car

Dear Terry,
I went to a car dealership last night wanting to lease a Chrysler 300 Limited in Linen color. The salesman kept telling me that it was a Touring Limited. When I questioned where the garage door opener was, he said this one doesn't have it. I also asked about the compass and he told me it was on the navigation screen.

With all the confusion the salesman was making over the car, I called my daughter and she talked with the salesman and asked particular questions regarding the Limited and he answered three times stating this was a Limited not a Touring Limited like he kept telling me.

I was signing the papers and asked the finance manager why nowhere the papers said it was a Limited 300 and he said it was a special edition of the Touring Limited 300. I said one last time, so this is a Limited and they said yes, it is a Touring Limited.

After I got home, because the salesman and the finance manager totally confused me, I told my daughter to come out and see the car. She was more familiar with the Limited 300 and told me they sold me the wrong car after going into the dealership and specifically asking for the Limited 300 and the salesman telling her on the phone it was a Limited 300.

I called another dealer and they told me there was no such car as a Touring Limited. There is a Touring 300 and a Limited 300.

What recourse do I have? Can I just take the car back with no strings attached?
-- Jean
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Dear Jean,
Short of filing a lawsuit against the dealer, you're probably stuck with the Chrysler you've got. Based on what you've said here, it's clear the dealer didn't have the car you wanted and managed to bamboozle you into taking the car they had.

There should have been several tip-offs: First, the Monroney price sticker -- the sticker on the vehicle that's required by the federal government -- should have clearly identified the car and model, along with a list of equipment on the car. Moreover, there is badging on the car that identifies the model.

But this is, yet again, an example of why consumers should do homework on exactly what they want and not accept any verbal promises from the dealer that contradict the facts.

This week's reader questions:
Car-lease ads sound too good
The dealer sold me the wrong car. What can I do?
Should I buy a car or save for a house?
How can I remove a co-signer from my loan?

If you have a question for Terry, e-mail him at Driving for Dollars.

Bankrate.com's corrections policy-- Posted: March 10, 2007
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