Would a dealer lie to you?? Weird question, but read inside.

[Jmass03]

So, the situation some of you may know I'm about to take delivery of a 2006 Wakesetter VLX. Beautiful boat inside and out, cant wait to see her in my lake. The problem arises here...

My father and I took a trip down to the dealer which will remain anonymous, to pay the money, sign the papers, and check out the boat and make sure its proper for delivery tommorow morning. The boat looks perfect, no scratches, nothing wrong with the interior, showroom condition.

We'll call the young detailer boy Bob. Bob started chit chatting with me, being a rider himself, he talked to me about all the competitions they have behind the dealership (it is located on a small lake), and he mentioned that the boat, our boat, the exact same one I was taking delivery on tommorow, had been in several videos that the pros had shot in. I was rather interested because the terms of sale were that the boat was brand new, never been used, unless taken out on a test drive. I made no hint that I was disturbed, but I asked him again, "Bob are you sure this is the exact same boat" and his reply was yes, however he did seem SOMEWHAT unsure.

I go inside and lets call my salesman, also the general manager at the dealership, and basically the head honcho there, Rick. Rick has been awesome through the whole boat buying experience. Informative, polite, kind in everyway. A great salesman, and one of the reasons we were so interested in the Malibu line. The dealership and buying experience are very important because they reflect on the service after you purchase the boat. I ask Rick to verify the hours, and he hops up and checks it on the digital display as is on all the '06 and now the '07 models. Mind you, Rick had verbally told me several times that the boat had roughly 3 hours on it. On this note, we went forth and purchased the boat. Rick and I looked at the digital display and it showed a solid 38 hours on it. My heart stopped for a second and he told me it isnt right. He explained to me that when the radio is on, the hours will keep ticking. Meaning someone might have left the radio on and the hours kept going.

I took his word just to avoid argument at the time, but I stated that he must verify the hours on the boat for our sake, being the boat buyer, and for his sake being the salesman, with a computer hooked up to the ECM. He stated he would do that to verify the hours. Now...my question to you boat owners.

Would your dealer lie to you? I don't think he would be so stupid to lie in something so grandscale as this really. Just doesn't seem like him. He told us in all honesty all the other boats that had this and this hours on it. He hid nothing from us. He showed us any scratches on the other boats, any wear and told us since it is new it will be replaced and it had been done tonight when we went there. The boat looked brand new.

Could Bob be mistaken? Is it true that the radio will keep the hours going if it is on?

Is there a way to rig the computer to display the hours the dealer wants to? Or does the ECM tell all?

We agreed to pay X amount with tax because the boat was new. Knowing some pros used and beat up the boat and put that many hours on it, is not our thing, and I refuse to take delivery on a boat that the dealer has possibly lied to us about.

Give me your take guys.

Jonathan

[gmarkham1]

on my boat(06 supra) if the engine isnt running the hour meter isnt ticking....

funny thing about guys like bob, is that he probally thought it was a kewl thing that pros had used the boat.

sounds like bs from the dealer to me, but who knows?

[kyle]

would a car salesman lie to you?

[grapic]

On most boats the hour meter runs when the switch is on. Shouldn't have to have the switch on to have the radio on but it often happens when someone forgets to turn the key off. The computer ecm should give the engine running hours.

[midwesty]

that is BS about the stereo and hour meter!!!

[TP83]

he is lying to you about the radio being on but i did notice when the key is turned to the right, the postion before you start it it turns all the electronics on and the hour meter runs. but if it is turned to the left like it should be just for listening to the stereo the hour meter will not run. happens on both of our malibus ones a 97 o 98 and the other an 06.

[ontrider]

[hamkj]

That sucks for an hour meter to start ticking with the key on or the radio on... I call BS... but who knows... My Faria Pilot One gauge only starts calculating hours when the guage is recieving over 12.5 volts. Meaning... the engine must be on for it to start ticking. If the gauge is on... but the motor is not... it will not tick.

ECM should tell you all... but make sure you are there when they are taking the reading...

Honestly... if I were you... I would find another dealer... I am sure the dealer would understand why you are choosing to go elsewhere.

You obviously are questioning their integrity. You have to be 100% comfortable with your purchase.

As a dealer... I donèt think they would pay full price for a boat coming from the factory if it wasn't "brand new".

Good luck!!!

[Kewlboarder27r]

If the radio is on and the key is off the hour meter dosent tick. If the key is in the on position the hour meter starts atleast on my supra

[Jmass03]

Yeah I will definitely be there when they take the reading however, the dealer as a whole has been awesome. Not a hint of sketchiness. Thus, I feel rather weary to think that he was trying to f*ck us. If the situation does arise that the boat does have 38 hours...you better believe we're going to be asking for a good sum of cash back. Argh...we'll find out tommorow!!

Jonathan

[Jmass03]

P.S. what would you do in this situation. Say for example you did find out the boat did have 38 hours on it. The pros used it for an event or two.

Would you ask to have the price decreased dramatically for the nuisance etc?

Would you completely say "fu*k it, take the boat back, i dont want to deal with you guys anymore!"

[PimpinD2]

probably ask for a decreased price...

[Gmcc]

My Perfect Pass has an hour built in that records engine running hours, you might want to check that. I think that at 38 hours, the boat should have been marketed as a demo. True, it is new, never been titled, but it has been used. On the other hand, is 38 hours significant on a boat that you will have for a few years? Probably not. Try for a better price, but it might be easier for the dealer to throw in a few things a such as free 50 hour service since you only have 12 hours to go. If you are not happy walk away from the deal. It is the end of the model year, he wants to move it.

[NAW]

38 hours is a demo. No, the stereo will not run up the hours.

I thought you drove the boat? Did you look at the hours?

It may not have been broken in properly if it was used for contest/photo shoot riding. I'd ask for documentation that the boat was serviced at 10 or 20 hours.

[itch]

J
I had the same question when we bought our VRIDE, I was turning the key slightly to the right before the engine started and the hour meter would run while listening to the radio.
Now 38 hours is not really that big, if you plan on keeping the boat for more than three years.
He could have known and didn't say anything on the other hand he might of not known.
I wouldn't go for a cheaper sale price but like Gmcc said go for the first to checks for free if you have the balls get em to do the oil changes for the first year.
Nothing will piss them off more than losing money off the top and may lead to shitty service later.
Go into like " Yeah I know stuff hapens but if you make it up to me I will be your costumer forever! ''

ITCH

[Shawn Madison]

Jmass03, Sounds like you are buying a demo boat. Never titled, but new. This happens all the time. The ECM controls the hours and the radio will not add to them.

Call the factory and express your worries!

[dirtysparks]

No battery will stay alive with a radio on for 30+ hours. Unless they charged the battery so they could forget the radio was on again, I'd say BS.

[Jmass03]

Well guys, dealer just called, and the hours are accurate. 38.4 hours. Kind of a bummer because we were hoping that wasnt true. Well, we're stuck in a predicament. The boat is new, yet was used by pro riders, and I KNOW SURE AS HELL that they don't baby the boat. The dealer is offering to discount it 1500 dollars, and give us the first 100 hour service for free, and give us our stereo install (500-600 dollar) for free. All in all, I'm rather disheartened because I was hoping the boat would be mine, yet I can't really look at it in the same way knowing it has been used and abused. Physically the boat looks fine. Engine wise I don't really know.

He clarified it and told me that the boat was used for a tournament after the initial break in. Thus came the hours.

What would you do? Keep it, or go for something else?

Jonathan

[Rhawn]

Personally I would call them out for the lie, and fight for a much better deal. I'm sure you are talking about a 50 or 60k boat, maybe more. $1500 off? Naw, you're gonna to do better than that.

[Wakebrad]

Jmass03, if it were me, I wouldn't take the boat for that deal. If they wanted to knock off another $5k maybe but you're buying a used boat.

The pros who took it out probably did it eary, during the break in period and I'm sure could care less how they treated it. I.E. I doubt it was properly broken in (no matter what they tell you, I'm sure they don't know). When buying a new boat you don't want to get started out on the wrong foot.

[LakeIolaLuke]

get a better deal and keep it. Chances are that the riders didn't have it over 3500 rpm much, so I'd bet it hasn't been abused terribly. But you should be able to talk them out of more than 1500 dollars, because some people only put about 38 hours a year on their boats.

[Wakebrad]

[LakeIolaLuke]

yeah true. I'm sure I'm gonna catch flak for this, but most engines come from the factory pretty much broken in, because they have to be run and dyno tested and all, so a break-in period after that just seems a little over-cautious to me, especially after a few full-throttle pulls on a dynamometer

[NAW]

The more I'm involved with Inboard mfg's, delears and customers.....the more agree with the statement above regarding break in. But, do what you're comfortable with as the boat owner.


If the dealer wants to give you 1500 off the price, A free stereo install and a 100 hour service at no charge......go for it. 38 hours isn't much at all. Hit him up for free winterizations for the next 2 seasons and buy the boat and get out and enjoy it!

[gmarkham1]

My biggest concern would be that he wasnt upfront about the usage to start with. It would make me wonder what else are they trying to hide, or will try to hide in the future. I think you can make a better deal then what he is offering. I would use that as a starting point.

You could probally get a lot more free service then just the first 100. typically service is almost all profit for a dealer, and their is a lot of room to negotiate there(I was able to get two years of free service).

I would probally except what he is willing to take off the boat for the immediate purchase, maybe see if you could double that. but make up for it in service and maybe discounted gear!

[akdoc]

Gotta love boat dealers, worse than used car salesmen in my book. So if he lied to you about hours, is their service going to be worth a s$it. Probably not. $1500 is nothing to take off that boat. It is getting close to the end of the season, and I agree with many of the statements on here, try to get about $5K off. Most people buy boats at about 10-15% off MSRP, you should be very close to the 15% off MSRP or more since it is a demo boat. I would also ask for everything in the pro shop at cost for the next year. There are many great boats, IMO it's not worth dealing with a dealership that lies to you.

[BIGMAC]

akdoc, depends on the dealer.

I would find a different dealer. Period. I know if I am buying a new boat, I want it to be new. A demo boat is a used boat.

[zeda]

Consider $1500 off a slap in the face!!! The dealer lied to you and the boat has been used by guys that weight the boat pretty heavy, which may not be the best thing for a new engine. I just purchased a new 2006 (zero hours) from my dealer and he gave me a great deal, much better than $1500 off. In fact, he gave me a better deal than what a lot of used are listed at. I would find another dealer or demand a large discount. 10 to 15% seems like a good starting point.

[J-Ro]

1) You would have never known if it wasn't for Jr telling you.....buy hima case of beer.

2) Go online and price used '06's and figure the percentage of their asking price vs what they paid new, there's your discount.

[Jmass03]

The 1500 of course is ontop of what the negotiated price was. He was asking 53k for the boat. We settled at 47k for it plus tax which rounded out the total to 50k. He is willing to let us have it for 48,500 just for the inconvenience. You're right though, I would have him shave off another 2 grand just for that. Argh...im stuck.

[Kewlboarder27r]

Personally I would tell him 44,500 or Im out the door with 2 years or servie and winterization and getting it ready for summer

[LakeIolaLuke]

I think I would take the boat. Modern engines are pretty sound, mechanincally, and even though that boat was probably put through the paces a bunch of times, you can't really abuse it that badly pulling a wakeboarder at a max of 25 mph. and since you said that visually the boat was spotless, it'd be a better deal than a pre-owned boat, which would have the same use out of the engine, but probalby beat up upholstery and gelcoat. Try to get it for the discount that J-Ro said, and you'd be getting a killer deal.

[Jmass03]

Well guys, I went ahead and said f*ck it. I told the that we were hoping for a new boat with no more than 3 hours on it, and unfortunately since that isnt the case we wont be taking delivery on it. Sucks to be the dealer to lose a sale after getting the boat ready and paying to have it prepped, now it just has to go back and sit on the lot. Oh well, I didnt want to be crass or rude because honestly, I love the Malibu line, and I probably will go back in October or November to look again, and see what 2007's he has. Granted he probably wont want to negotiate nearly as much but at least I can rest assured that I put the hours on, not some douchebag pro that could care less (no harm intended to those pros out there, i'm just a little pissed off at the situation). I'll get back to you guys in October or November when I get back into buying one of these. Thanks for all your help regardless. You guys are all awesome.

[gmarkham1]

I wouldnt be surprised if you dont hear back from the dealer by monday upping the ante a litte bit. nothing wrong with playing hard ball!

[karkid]

i dont think i'd go back to the same dealership. sounds dishonest to me