I just purchased my TCH on Saturday, and went through a very similar experience to the original poster's. All of the paperwork I completed showed the odometer reading of 29 miles, but when I jumped in the car to drive off (I had test-driven at a different dealership), the odometer showed 686 miles.

When I asked what the story was, they gave me the same excuse - that it had been traded with another dealership and driven up by one of their drivers. They kept trying to push the car on me as-is, and even offered to throw in a free tank of gas to make up for it.

After threatening to walk out several times, they offered up another car on the lot, in the same color, but with $2000 in additional options - and asked if I'd be willing to pay an extra $500 to take it. I did, and left with a better car, just above invoice, and only 56 miles on it.

For what it's worth, I think holding out was the right call for you.

 

Not only would holding out by the right thing to do, but, in bolagatos case that's outright fraud.

Your Payment Installment agreement (within the US) and financial lender agreement must have the EXACT mileage at the time the contract is written up. Your DMV registration cannot list the car at 29 miles but the physical car have more (a lot more from the sound of it). I would have called the dealer out on this - but ultimately it sounds like you got what you wanted, and better. So kudos!

Anytime you start spending more than $25k on a car - it's alright to demand exactly what you want - it's the second largest purchase, next to a house, you'll make.

 

Curious.... can you get more than 1 tax credit for buying more than 1 hybrid?

I bought a HCH back in March of 06 and after 8-9 months HAD to get out of it - couldn't stand riding in a little metal box. So, on 12/29/06 I got into my TCH.

I see my tax guy in two weeks - hope he will know.

 

Not always, my boat cost more than my truck and car combined, so there are other purchases that can cost more than a car.

Actually, in the grand scheme of things the TCH is down right cheap. A lot of other similarly equiped vehicles sell for more, but I still think you should expect perfection in all things. Just because you only spend $1000 does not mean it should not function the way it was supposed to nor should it have any cosmetci defects, unless you are getting a discount for those flaws.

But you should never be sold a defect for the price of perfection!