Alvin of Silver Spring writes:

In June 1998, I made a down payment of $2000.00 to Herb Gorden Used Car Dealership on a black 1993 4 door Acura Integra.  The car had about 60 thousand miles on it.

During the first two months I had the car, it stalled and had to be towed to an Exxon on Automobile Blvd. (Briggs Chaney Rd., Silver Springs, MD).  This is also the same Exxon who inspected the car before it was sold.  

The maintenance came up to $800.  I complained to the dealership.  They informed me that since I had not purchased a warrenty on the car they could not pay for maintenance to the car.  After I escalated the complaints, I was informed by the dealership that they would pay $300 of the total amount and I would be responsible for the rest.  

I was in total shock because I had driven the car for less than two months.  I paid the balance of $500 to the Exxon dealership.  I received no formal explanation on what caused the car to stall, but I was out $500.  

Since then I have incurred almost $2,000 worth of maintenance fees on the car.  Again, I have only had the car for a year and three months.  Not only am I paying to keep the car going, but Herb Gorden Used Car Dealership marked the interest rate so high, I am paying $18,000 dollars for a car that is worth $4000.  

I think this is fraud.  And the dealership should be held responsible.  I have done research and found that at the time I purchased the car the book value should have been $5000.00 or less.  The car should be considered a lemon.  

We hate to say it but the time to do research is before you buy a car, not after.  It sounds like you paid too much for the car and didn't shop for the best financing.  As for the maintenance costs, if there was no warranty or the warranty has expired, it's your responsibility.