Joe in NY wrote:
Thanks, everyone for you sympathies and suggestions. I looked for years for a worthy Fairway Driver based on its iconic status and bulletproof drive train. I love old english cars...the more unusual the better. Anything I found in the USA was in bad shape. John Bradley was very convincing in his assurance that the taxi would be delivered in sound and solid condition with all weaknesses addressed. He could not offer a warranty on such an old vehicle...but stated in writing that he would deliver this vehicle free of problems with no issues. The engine seems like the only thing that works reasonably well at this point. The soot on everything inside the cab and fumes entering through the vent tell a different story. I drove it today and still have a metalic taste in my mouth. I have just written him an email listing all of the problems that my 16,000 dollars was suppose to correct. This includes painted over body rust throughs, new fiberglass wings all around with hand lose attaching bolts and cracked bolt holes, leaking transmission, hanging headliner, rusted door bottoms and boot openings, no wheel ballasts, inoperable electric windows, broken steering bushing and UJ - and the list goes on. I could have paid less for another vehicle, but being 3000 miles from any good sources for parts and repair prompted me to pay up front and get the vehicle in tip top shape before shipping it here. I have notified him that I am prepared to submit the case to an ombudsman for resolution unless he can refund a major portion of my money. Like here in the US, there are consumer agencies ready to assist in this process. If he gets mean I will take your suggestion, Skippy, and hire a lawyer. I also plan to have the vehicle evaluated by a proper mechanic and bodyshop stateside and I know that price tag will be huge. As to what I should have expected, GBC, I expected what I was promised and what I paid a good price for....a solid vehicle with no issues on delivery. London Taxi Exports appeared to be a reputable business and I could not find any complaints about it. There is, however, a big fat complaint now. I knew I was in trouble when he initially quoted his price to me in dollars. Then the dollar rose against the pound. So a month later upon finishing the work he charged my credit card in GBP at the value of the pound before the dollar rose against it. If you're getting dizzy reading that you're not alone. Suffice to say it put nearly a thousand extra dollars on my credit card and in his pocket.
It's a shame that you didn't blow your request for a Fairway Driver or another London Taxi model on this TDO Forum when you started looking for a London Cab and before you engaged with the John Bradley rogue.
You would have received good impartial advice from this Forum and when you were about to buy, you might [I'm not saying you would] have even had the free services of one of the members near to the supplier, going to see the vehicle for you to give it a once over as a gesture of good will, before it was shipped to you.
There's plenty of people on here that would have helped you find a reputable dealer and a decent vehicle for a fraction of the cost that you have obviously been ripped off for.
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