[jmouth]

I'm reposting this message I posted elsewhere:

I saw some other posts on this site with Warnings regarding Torch Light Motors in Parlin New Jersey.

We also recently had some issues with this dealership.

We purchased a 2001 XC70 from Jeff LaPoff about a month ago, sight unseen, from across the country. We had it shipped via truck. (While I'm at it, AVOID shipping with Motion Express, out of Portland OR. It was a complete unfunny comedy of errors - too much to tell here...)

To take some blame, I must admit that I was a fool and did not have the car mechanically inspected. BAD BOY, STUPID BOY. Nevertheless, I don't know why car dealers seem to have free reign to lie cheat and steal and all the responsibility sits with the purchaser. I did not perform my due diligence, admittedly, but Jeff deliberately misled me.

His answer to almost any question I had regarding the mechanical condition ( the vehicle was clearly spotless cosmetically as we could see from the many photos) was an emphatic and dismissive "There are NO surprises with this vehicle" - of course in hindsight I can see the writing on the wall, but he was telling me what I wanted to hear. sucker.

After FINALLY receiving the vehicle from the incompetents at Motion Express, I began the importation process (into Canada) - the provincial inspection revealed that I needed to make nearly $3000 worth of repairs to the entire braking and steering system, and that the "like new" tires were winter snows, with significant (though "passable" by inspection standards) age cracking. Great tread depth though!
- another $650 to replace. Not to mention the other electrical problems I am discovering (jamming sunroof, intermittently functioning power seat adjustments etc).

The extended warranty that Jeff talked me into of course didn't cover any of this as problems were clearly "pre-existing".

The car, for our money, even with all the investments to date, and predicted future ones to come, was still a good deal (much higher priced in Canada), though the savings I was expecting were hugely diminished by the deception.

Don't be fool and unlike me, have a mechanic CHECK IT OUT!!!!

[7 VII 7]

well as bad as Torch Light is... you should have had a mechanic check it out... car buying 101

[Chilled Man]

I think there is a five page review on SS for how bad these guys suck

[Dermy]

i havent ever heard positive news about TL. i went there with a friend who was looking to pick up a 98 V70R and the salesmen there were such shysters. there were tons of little details i found on the car that were skewed from what they said.

[Volvo Virgin]

Sorry to hear about your bad deal. I've heard similar reports about Torchlight as well. Glad it has all worked out to some degree.

One footnote tho. When I purchased my car, the aftermarket warranty was sold to me by the selling dealer, and they were responsible for certifying that the car was 100% with no repairs needed. There was a long and detailed checklist that had to be signed off on by the service underwriter at the dealer before the policy was accepted by the warranty company.

I'm not sure what the ins and outs are of your exact transaction, but if any of what I mentioned sounds familiar, I'd try to hold the dealer accountable and see if you can recoup at least some of your money. A strong worded letter from an attorney might be helpful.

[Jippi GLT-R]

my dad almost bought a car from him a few years back he never answered the phone when we went up to see the car. it was a wasted day trip.


my dad almost bought a car from him a few years back he never answered the phone when we went up to see the car. it was a wasted day trip.

[MikeG]

A few years ago when I lived in Jersey and I was shopping for an R, I called Torchlight about a black/black 98 V70R. Jeff told me on the phone about how pristine it was, yada, yada. So I told him I'd drive up and check it out.

What a crock. It was clearly not well taken care of, the paint, interior, etc. was in horrible condition, and I could go on and on. I ended up finding my current R two months later in much better shape (and for less $$) elsewhere.

Due diligence is key.

[Plan_B]

(While I'm at it, AVOID shipping with Motion Express, out of Portland OR. It was a complete unfunny comedy of errors - too much to tell here...)

omg you rock.

I have used United Roads the two times I have shipped cars, but I learned long ago that no car is worth buying site unseen.

Awesome review btw

[pw700z]

I just bought a car from them (even after reading this thread...lol) and had a totally decent experience, straight forward, efficient, more like buying a new car than a used car in vibe, for whatever it's worth. My wife and I were quite surprised at the number and variety of used volvos they have, we expected something much more rinky-dink. We laughed when we pulled in because they are also have a "rent-a-wreck" franchise or whatever.

Of course, I did actually see the car, test drive it, run a carfax, etc., first. I extended the warranty to 1 year, maybe if I need to make a claim my attitude might change, but I'm not exactly sure that would be their (torchlight's) problem, anyway, I'm pretty sure I knew what I was getting into when I bought it. I didn't feel particularly pressured into it.

Anyway, I am curious what the 5 page review on "SS" is though? Is that another forum or something? I suppose since I already have the car it's not going to matter.

[mrtl321]

I saw a car they had for sale online and figured it was still for sale since it was still listed, but low and behold it according to the person that picked up the phone sold 3 weeks ago. Especially being an e-Bay auction I would have figured it would have been taken down, but that was the case with another car I asked about in the same convo. That was enough to make me think twice about purchasing anything from them.

[It's a Bolbo Holmes]

pw700z, on 25 October 2009 - 07:37 PM, said:

I just bought a car from them (even after reading this thread...lol) and had a totally decent experience, straight forward, efficient, more like buying a new car than a used car in vibe, for whatever it's worth. My wife and I were quite surprised at the number and variety of used volvos they have, we expected something much more rinky-dink. We laughed when we pulled in because they are also have a "rent-a-wreck" franchise or whatever.

Of course, I did actually see the car, test drive it, run a carfax, etc., first. I extended the warranty to 1 year, maybe if I need to make a claim my attitude might change, but I'm not exactly sure that would be their (torchlight's) problem, anyway, I'm pretty sure I knew what I was getting into when I bought it. I didn't feel particularly pressured into it.

Anyway, I am curious what the 5 page review on "SS" is though? Is that another forum or something? I suppose since I already have the car it's not going to matter.

hmmm fishy, some guy with one post coming on and talking about how he just bought a car from there, but no mention of what kinda car, seems like it could be one of their guys trying to clear their name up since clearly it sounds like they suck...

[SaffC70]

JVC, on 26 October 2009 - 07:59 PM, said:

hmmm fishy, some guy with one post coming on and talking about how he just bought a car from there, but no mention of what kinda car, seems like it could be one of their guys trying to clear their name up since clearly it sounds like they suck...

paranoid?? haha but I do agree that they sound very unreliable....

[pw700z]

JVC, on 26 October 2009 - 07:59 PM, said:

hmmm fishy, some guy with one post coming on and talking about how he just bought a car from there, but no mention of what kinda car, seems like it could be one of their guys trying to clear their name up since clearly it sounds like they suck...

No, nothing of the sort, this thread is just top of page on google when you search for torchlight motors reviews. It was a 2004 v70 w/ 127,000 miles. It was their stock #4. We paid $6690 for the car. The body is totally spotless inside/out except for a poorly touched up (but minor) scratch on the back hatch. It has the third row seats and the built in boosters, exactly what we wanted. If you want you can google pw700z or hit me on AIM -- it's fairly unique user name, it was the license plate on my 97 miata that I turbo charged with a dlralt.com kit. I'm just a regular guy. PM me if you want, I guess? I'll send you a pick of my family and my work number? I have posted a couple other very similar reviews in a couple other places, google maps and "dealerrator" or something of the sort.

If you want something interesting, google the owners name, there's some controversy involving drugging a race horse, maybe that was his dad? I have no idea. He's got a pretty unique name. If it was him, and true, you might say "hey that guys a crook! he drugs horses!" -- but the reality is probably that nearly everyone was doping their horses and he got caught. I'm pretty sure he's not the same guy that was on Hell's Kitchen.

The reviews of torchlight I read were pretty bad. But, that's kind of normal for the internet, isn't it? Buying a used car is always goofy on some level, you always wonder if you got a good deal, or bad -- and if something goes wrong, you might go to the internet to complain about it. If it was just the normal so-so, typical used car deal, it doesn't get you fired up enough. For me, the deal seemed too good to be true, so I bought a 10 pack carfax for $35, expecting the carfax to be shady, and then I'd have an excuse to walk away -- but it was clean, *full* of detail, and matched the condition. I've worked for NADE in bordentown, nj as a youth, used to fixed up beaters for resale, i've done a bunch of work on cars in the past including some body work. Not that I'm some kind of expert, but i feel i can at least improve my luck when buying used. I don't know anything about volvos specifically, but the car from any angle I could find was a creampuff -- except the really high mileage. I'm just a computer and family guy now.

Not to pick on "mrtl321" .. but his complaint was they had two cars listed on ebay, but were no longer for sale. Is that really evidence of shady business, or evidence of someone who doesn't really "get" computers/the internet/ebay? It's not great, certainly, and could be really annoying if you drove out there without calling first, but seems more in the realm of "plain old incompetence" than "sinister deception". And the first guy in this thread, bought a car sight unseen ... seriously? He admits it was a dumb idea. And when he had it inspected, and got a $3000 quote, was that "$3000 or your family will die in a fire the next time you drive it" or "$3000 to bring it back to like new: you need brakes and shocks and tie rods and bushings" uh ... that sounds like every used car I've ever bought?

So, I'm still curious to find out what the "five page SS" review is. Since I own the car, it doesn't matter much, I'd like to find out the story -- i am also worried about the warranty, but similar to the reviews on torchlight, the reviews of eagle seem to lack real substance. If I have a decent experience with eagle I'll post about it, too.

Take care guys, if someone's got a link to "SS", send it over, please. We very much miss our 2007 V50 T5 AWD with the 6 speed -- the least ended on the 10/16, which is why we got the V70 -- wish us luck, so far so good.