We are a small trucking company with 4 drivers and 4 trucks. We recently were in the market for a brand new tractor and had some important specific options and equipment we wanted the new truck to include. Called an "800"# and got connected to a sales person that turned out to be at a dealership 80 miles away.
We've had pretty good service from Peterbilt over the years, so we opted to spec one out. Of course there wasn't anything close to what we needed, so they had to look for one....and found it in Mississippi (we're in GA).
We regularly haul a gross weight of 90+K pounds in the mountains so we need a "heavy duty" truck at least equal to the other trucks we already have.
The specifications we wanted/needed were:
389 Day cab
White paint
18 speed gearbox
44K pound rears
3.73 or 3.90 axle ratio
Cummins engine with some capability to pull.
The truck that was found had all the above. The salesman assured us that even though this IX15 engine was rated for 500hp per the build sheet...it could be turned up to 565hp before you had to change hard parts. Just like our other trucks, we requested for it to be maxed out and we were told it would be taken care of. The truck was 100% paid for free and clear with a cashier's check....nothing financed. The total being around $180K.
The truck had to be sent to a 3rd party for a PTO and auxiliary pump installed on it. It went from there straight to the shop to be lettered. We never got to put our eyes on it until the day we picked it up from the lettering guy which was one week ago tomorrow. I was the one to go get it since it was bought for me to use.
I didn't get a ½ mile down the road and immediately knew this truck was underpowered...even running bobtail. I immediately called and told the boss. He immediately called and told the salesman that made the deal. The salesman immediately started making excuses and deflecting the issue and backtracking saying the truck may not be able to be turned up. My boss has been back and forth with "people" at that dealership and they all have failed to return phone calls or keep making BS excuses.
So this morning, I had an issue with the wiper blades. When they were turned OFF, they would stop in the middle of the windshield...not parked at the cowl like they're supposed to be. We called the original salesman and were told to take it to the dealership that I was the closest to. The salesman said he called ahead to let them know all of the issues we wanted addressed and "they would take care of it"....including turning up the power level.
So the service manager approaches me and tells me this engine is not capable of being juiced over 500hp....it was already at it's max with the current hardware. My boss is up in arms and doesn't know what recourse he's legally entitled to or what path he should take. He has already threatened to bring this truck back to the dealer and insist they find a truck the is capable of the output we requested and was told "that's not how it works". They are now blowing him off altogether. Even the dealership general manager is giving us the cold shoulder.
Are we wrong to assert this salesman sold us a truck that is not capable of the power he said it was? The "spec sheet" absolutely does say the engine was rated 500hp...but the VERBAL agreement and promise was that it could be boosted to 565hp was either a straight up lie or the salesman made a serious mistake in his assumptions and needs to make it right...in our opinion.
Anybody here have a way to decode a 2021 Cummins iX15 serial number to see what it's truly capable of? I just want to know if they are blowing smoke or if this engine is truly capped as is at 500hp.
Dealership Frauded Us
Discussion in 'Trucks [ Eighteen Wheelers ]' started by GoldDot40, Jan 27, 2021.
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If you can, try and find the CPL number and post it. Not sure where it'd be on an X15 but probably on or near the S/N tag.
Unfortunately if the uprate was not listed as part of the sales agreement and was a handshake deal I'm not sure you'll have much ground to stand on legally. -
My last call to Cummins for an uprate quote......The advisor at Cummins was speaking of some conflicts with Horsepower uprates and 2021 emissions across all OEMs. If in fact the truck in question applies to a build in 21'.
Doesnt help your scenario any, but the dealer should have checked before they said go.
Theres one thing I have learned over the years.....get it in writing. Word of mouth is quickly forgotten. Once the money changes hands, its too late. You dun signed on the deal.Dave_in_AZ, kuzima93, rachi and 4 others Thank this. -
If buy a $500 winter beater, I want to see it.
I can count on one hand the people I trust.mtoo, kuzima93, Caterpillar Cowboy and 7 others Thank this. -
With a verbal agreement you have thin air,
With a signed agreement you have a prayer.carnabyfreight, firemedic2816, JonJon78 and 3 others Thank this. -
rachi and firemedic2816 Thank this.
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Just call the lawyers now....
Gearjammin' Penguin and Badmon Thank this. -
I wouldn't exactly call 500 horses underpowered. Its only 90k. I know folks running 475 Cat powered tridrives and pulling 120k in the mountains. A little slower but still gets it done every day.
rachi, Elroythekid, Roberts450 and 6 others Thank this. -
So is it an efficiency version of the X15 or is it the performance version? What is the torque rating?
rachi Thanks this.
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