DO NOT PURCHASE

DO NOT PURCHASE a vehicle at this *********, thieving and ********* excuse of a dealership, AUTO HOT SPOT (registration number 2010/159087/23)!

In 2019, I purchased a Citroen DS3 via bank finance at a value of about R134 000 (costs included). Around July 2020 I had taken the vehicle to 2 noteworthy car assessors in Cape Town which had both pointed out defects at the left rear side of the vehicle which I had only noticed after they informed me how to check because it was covered up with repair work. I immediately contacted the dealership and requested a meeting with the owner (Tian Cloete). When I attended the meeting Tian test drove the vehicle and asked what I wanted for the car. I said I want it returned and he then said I should send the vehicle service book and we will discuss from there.

No further communication was received. I then went to the dealership and spoke to Tian about the matter once again in around October 2020. I told him that I could not get a fair price for the vehicle because of the damage. He offered to pay me R55 000 for the vehicle and said I must prove it was in an accident or had been damaged. This was extremely facetious simply because it was about a year after he sold the vehicle for about R134 000 as noted and then offered R55 000 for it. Moreover, during the sale they force you to take out a warranty even though this is ********. And on top of that, I had also discovered that the left rear window had been replaced through an insurance claim in 2018 which had also not been disclosed to me.

In November 2020 I took the vehicle to Dekra for a full inspection and it was officially confirmed that damaged had occurred to the left rear area of the vehicle and that repair and paintwork had been conducted prior to me taking possession of the vehicle and they also explained the shoddy work done to hide the damage would usually reveal itself after a period of months. Again, none of this was disclosed to me. Coincidentally, the only thing that was disclosed was that the petrol cap (which is at the rear left side of the vehicle) had to be replaced because there was a technical error with it.

Tian refused to settle the matter amicably and I was left with initiating civil claim proceedings at the Bellville Magistrate's Court in around April 2021 - Case No. 4851/2021. After nearly two years of civil litigation, multiple attempts of the dealership/Tian to delay and derail the matter, basically +R150 000 in legal fees, and numerous other costs, my case had finally received judgement on 28 February 2023 after the dealership/Tian was not able and/or not willing to provide the details and records of the vehicle as it had entered the dealership. In essence, I had been awarded payment of the amount of about R136 000 plus interest of around R19 000, as well as costs of suit.

To this day, 30 days later, no payment has been received from the dealership/Tian and I am now left with escalating the matter for execution by obtaining the necessary warrant to attach and sell the assets of the company. A ******** case against Tian will also be pursued and a number of other actions will begin to take place and be initiated.

I would definitely not recommend purchasing a vehicle or doing business with this dealership and/or Tian Cloete because you have a high chance of being taken for a 'ride' and purchasing a vehicle that was possibly written off and repaired and then sold to be in excellent condition.

For further proof and information on this matter please feel free to query. But again, by all means, DO NOT ENTER this dealership if considering purchasing a vehicle. It is also possible that all the 'good' reviews on here were done by family/friends and are **** reviews.