Vantage Auto Collection — Local services in Moonachie

I tried hard to settle an issue with Vantage, so I would not have the need to leave a negative review, but to no avail. I bought a 2012 Escalade on Bring a Trailer auctions from them and was very happy with the vehicle itself, even though I had to make some costly repairs (broken driver seat motor, seized brake calipers, & evaporator leak). It only had 18,000 miles on it and sat for a while and I did buy it ‘as-is’ without a personal inspection, so I was ok with those repairs. The problem was Vantage sold me an add-on of putting a ceramic coating on the vehicle for $1800.00 (they originally wanted more, but said if I used their transport service, which was significantly higher than I was quoted from my transport company, that they would only charge me $1800). But when the vehicle was delivered here I noticed it had hard water spots all over the entire unit. Vantage never advised me of any water spotting. I never would have approved putting ceramic over such spotting. I brought the issue to the owner’s (Andrew’s), attention, and shared how I had a reputable local detailer look at the vehicle and he explained how the spots were not polished off the paint before putting the ceramic on, which to me defeats the purpose of putting on a ceramic coating, which is to help preserve and protect a nice clean paint finish. It’s like not removing rust from a car before painting. You don’t paint over rust. You don’t put ceramic over water spotted paint if the spots can come off. The spotting was obvious, especially on the chrome and windows, to which Andrew said that his detailer doesn’t tend to the chrome or windows when he puts a ceramic coating on a vehicle, which I found disconcerting in itself. Andrew was quick to respond with several other responsibility dodging comments, like saying that Vantage did not do the job, but that they sub-contracted it out to an independent detailer named Carlos and he is unwilling to refund any money for the shoddy work. I told him that his employee, Michael, not Carlos, sold me on the ceramic work and I paid Vantage for the job, and so Vantage should stand behind the work, even if it was an independent that they sub-contracted. Other responses I got from Andrew that avoided resolution of the issue included; the water spots were possibly too far into the paint to remove (they were not and came off easily, but the costly ceramic coating had to be removed to do so), and if the vehicle were black it would be different than on my light colored vehicle that someone would need an LED light to see it (I did not need an LED. I don’t own one). Finally, he said he would check with ceramicpro about a warranty (which I never heard back on either). About 3 weeks ago I told him I would schedule my detailer to try to get the spotting off and let him know how it went and go from there, trying to give him and his detailer the benefit of the doubt on the water spotting not being able to come out. As I anticipated, my detailer was able to easily remove the spots with normal polishing, but also had to remove any existing ceramic and apply new. I emailed Andrew the following week when the job was done, that I had to pay $1500 to my detailer to polish off the water spots and re-apply new ceramic (my detailer also included the chrome and windows for that price). The vehicle looks like it should now. I even sent Andrew ‘before’ pictures showing the spots, explained how with routine polishing got the spots off, and sent ‘after’ pictures showing how it should have looked, as well as a copy of the invoice. I also requested a refund of the $1800.00 I paid him. I have never heard back. If I had it to it do over, I definitely would not have opted for the ceramic coating up-sell and I would have used my...

Car Buying: Is car buying fun? Hackling for final prices, unforeseen fine prints, unnoticed hidden prices, financing hackles..etc. Car buying is actually fun when you do this with right personal (I am surprised I even said that). Few weeks ago, I was searching to buy a family sedan. I searched vigorously, found few vehicles, made stops to see the vehicle, negotiate financing options. The promised vehicle was priced low, when trying to close the deal, hidden prices showed up, then came the Financing woes where the dealer tried to force an higher interest rates, wait a minute, I have an excellent credit., What’s going on? I had to leave the dealership frustrated, tried few more places end finally end the search.

Search for an Ultimate Driving Mechine: The story of finding an ultimate driving machine was decades old, I haven been searching to find an alternative for a E43M3 for decades. I have done BMW performance events, tracking at Montecello several times, drove M2/3/4 Competition models for years (won several Auto crossing events, too bad #BMWNA stopped actual timed Auto Crossed events). Only one M car came close, yes that’s the F87 M2C (one of the last analogue M), identical to E46M3 in most ways (dimensions, may be handling..etc). Unfortunately it was not naturally aspirated nor it has hydraulic steering. But boy it’s so much fun to drive especially the manual (it has to be one). I drove it at Monticello Motor Club, a BMW M Track Days and at other BMW events, this may be the vehicle that I can be happy with, to full fill my hunger for E46M3. My significant other said, why don’t you full fill your dream (who says that 🤗 BTW Thank you for everything 🙏🏼)

I wasn’t looking for one, but time to time, I was looking at the usual websites for car buying, Car Gurus, Carfax, Carmax, auto-trader, you name it, there few cars available, some had accidents, some had high miles, all of a sudden it appeared out of nowhere. Is god trying to say anything to me, am I dreaming?

Vantage Auto Collection/Gary Motors Inc. Difference: I had to do the homework on dealers (Dealer Rater, Google Review, Dealer Review) as I didn’t want to go through the experience I had for car buying earlier. Minute I inquired about the vehicle, I was transcend to a different experience. Michael Caesar provided necessary information, did an appointment, courteous, upfront with everything. The minute I went down to see the vehicle, I knew that was it! Rest was a dream came to realization with peace of mind!!! The finance manager Jordan Herzog did the rest seamlessly (did I say no hassle?). This was third seamless car buying transaction I went through. First one was with late Fred Barden from #PaulMillerBMW, may rest his soul, the second one was with @RafeelNasir#PaulMillerPorsche and lastly finding my special E46M3 with “Vantage Auto”!!! If anyone wants classic/special cars, check these guys out (No I don’t get paid to say that 🤭).

“Dream Fillers”: I told Mike and Jordan that’s their new nickname name 😉 everything went seamless with both of them apprising me with everything (paint protection, warranties,..etc). Delivering it enclosed to my home was the “icing in the cake” (they really didn’t had to do that but they did!!!)This was an absolute privilege. Vantage Auto/Gary Motors, I am eternally grateful for ending my search to find the Ultimate Diving Machine!’ (Thank you #BMW#BMWNA for the Ultimate Driving Mechine 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼).

@MichaelCaesar#VanatageAuto @JordanHerzog#VantageAuto take a bow, you are the ultimate “Dream Fillers” 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

All my best,

Shan C. Lakshan...

Based on the dealers response, I felt this review should be clarified. The car I bought has been great, however that is what I would hope & expect. It’s also not what the review request asked me. It specifically asked me if I had received their ‘5 Star Service’, to which I commented, I would need to know what their ‘5 Star Service’ is supposed to include in order to know if I received it. As for my personal experience, I was given a temporary registration and handed the keys. All basic things I expected, not part of a ‘5 Star Service’ experience.

Over the phone I dealt with Andrew who answered a few questions for me prior to the end of the auction, albeit rushed and distracted b/c he was at an event in Florida, but I appreciate that he took my call in that situation and did his best to answer my questions even though he wasn’t standing next to the car at the time. I also dealt with Jordan over the phone & text. Jordan handled the paperwork and money. He was very professional and the entire transaction was simple and smooth. But again, those 2 factors are what I would expect, not an example of going above & beyond.

Now, when I was there in person, no one except the person who scotch taped the temp plate to the back window for me ever came out and said hello. Is that 5 Star Service? It’s not what I expected. I expected either Jordan or Andrew would have said hello if they were there, or if they weren’t, someone else say hello on their behalf. But I understand that is subjective.

As for the gas, it’s a fact, I had to drive straight to a gas station b/c the gas gauge was reading below 1/8th of a tank. Does their ‘5 Star Service’ typically include gas in the tank? I have no idea, but again, that was the question I was asked. Did I complain before I drove off? No, b/c I wasn’t expecting to get a full tank of gas, but I also didn’t know I was supposed to be getting ‘5 Star Service’.

As for picking the car up ‘2 weeks later’, in violation of their BaT 7 day requirement, for the record, the BaT add for this car, (which you can still find on the BaT website), never mentions anything about having the car picked up within 7 days. It was paid in full within 2 days of receiving the paperwork, and I picked the car 8 days after that, (13 days after the end of the auction), only because there was a huge snow storm on the first weekend when I had originally planned to pick the car up.

My point here is, don’t ask for my honest feedback and then insult me by saying you were nice enough to keep my car safe for me until I picked it up. What do you usually do with cars once they’re sold?

Instead of being defensive and petty, try acknowledging your customers’ experience, info you asked for, or don’t ask them in the...