McDavid Honda Frisco - Buyers Beware!

I purchased my handsome 07′ Ford King Ranch from the wonderful folks (tongue-in-cheek) at McDavid Honda Frisco in 2010. Since the vehicle did not qualify as a “Certified Used” vehicle, I purchased their Fidelity Platinum warranty; McDavid Honda in Frisco refers to Fidelity as GMNA – just in case you didn’t know, but doesn’t “Platinum” have that special ring to it? I thought so too!

Anyway, a week after a coil and spark plug went, the HVAC got charged, and I paid for my very expensive 70K mi. tune up,  the damn transmission light came on: “Transmission Malfunction” and it flashed my O/D light off and on. You’ve got to be kidding me, I thought. Well, good thing I purchased that Fidelity Platinum warranty! I hobbled over to my people at Bob Tomes Ford in McKinney and my awesome Service Advisor and professional Service Manager were on the case!

Within minutes, they received the vehicle and had me in a complimentary Hertz rental. The bad news however was soon to follow:  Fidelity/GMNA would have to send out an inspector to look at the transmission before they could authorize the replacement. About a business day later, Fidelity/GMNA approves a “gently used” transmission from a salvage yard. I was told that it would be a used F-150 transmission with 30,000 miles on it.

Long story short, I called Fidelity/GMNA and they pulled some fine print BS out of their arse. I then picked up my bat-phone and called the Service Director at McKinney Honda. HELP!! He called Fidelity/GMNA, then called me back initially stating that I could get the re-manufactured transmission; however, the work would have to be done at the McDavid Lincoln/Mercury dealership in Plano, TX, because Bob Tomes “supposedly” was price gouging me on the parts and labor (they weren’t).

Bob Tomes provided me the part numbers for the rebuilt Ford Transmission, and when I provided those part numbers to McDavid Honda of Frisco in an email asking for written authorization, I was called via phone and told that there was a miscommunication and that I could only get the used transmission. Not to worry though, they would pay for my transfer-tow and my $100 Fidelity/GMNA deductible! Yeah, like that made everything better McDavid. Let me get on my hands and knees and thank you for your kind offerings.

And get this: Dude had the gall to ask me if I wanted to buy another power-train warranty!

After inquiring with McDavid what my out-of-pocket difference would be for the Ford F-150 transmission, they quoted me about the same as Bob Tomes did: $1000 – give or take some change. I then asked McDavid if Bob Tomes was still “price gouging” me. I think there’s a lesson to be learned here! That’s right, it’s shame face time, McDavid.

I was then put in touch with an McDavid Honda Frisco Sales Manager. Yes! I’m really movin’ on up now!  Just call me George Jefferson! I emailed him. He called me, but all I could hear was “WAH WAH WAH — WAH WAH WAH”. The long and short of it was that I was a dumb ass for buying their used-car warranty and not reading the fine print. I really do feel special at McDavid Honda Frisco!  Oh, the memories..

They really gave it to me the night I bought that used King Ranch. I ended up paying for some dent protection, low-jack, and probably some other stuff I don’t remember. Dealerships are pretty savvy when it comes to their “funny” math (not funny, BTW!) and getting you to purchase something you didn’t realize you were purchasing. David McDavid Honda is Animal House and I’m Kevin Bacon!

Thank you David McDavid Honda of Frisco. May I have another?

“Thank you David McDavid Honda of Frisco. May I have another?”

Anyway, getting back to my personal experience here with the “peanuts” Sales Manager guy. He tried to ease my pains with some good old fashion horse shit. He re-iterated what Nimrod’s Son said: A used transmission is just as good as a rebuilt one. I told him that I wanted the 3 yr unlimited mi. warranty that came with the rebuilt Ford transmission (Mamma didn’t raise no fool!).

I am a 20% disabled veteran, an IT professional, and most recently a grandfather. I’ve been married for 20 years. Another words, I have some “life experience”., but just like the great Rodney Dangerfield always said, “I don’t get no respect!”

My message to you: Buyers Beware!

My message to David McDavid Honda Frisco: “The key to this business is personal relationships.” – Dickey Fox.

Zonation the Republican Presidential Q&A

By Alonso Rachel of PJTV

I am a big fan of Alonso Rachel. Not just because he’s one of the only Black Republicans I know but that he’s very smart, talented, and extremely funny!

Check out more of Alonso’s videos at PJTV!

By Mike Rockett

Believe it or not, PBS produces some pretty informative and well done programs. Recently, I devoured Truman, Nixon, Carter, Regan, The Kennedys, Amelia Earnhardt, and the Oppenheimer Trial. For the most part, I felt that they were non-bias, but you may feel otherwise, and I would be interested in hearing your comments following a viewing of these particular programs I mentioned.

You can view these and many more American Experience programs online via their web site or streaming and/or DVD at Netflix. I would encourage everyone to watch a few of these programs, as they are very interesting. For some of us they’ll be a refresher and for many of us a new experience.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/films/reagan/player

By Mike Rockett

Have you ever heard the term, “Kingmaker”? Per Wikipedia, Kingmaker may be used in some countries to “refer to those individuals with the ability to influence the selection of political leaders.” In a 1960′s LIFE publication on Franklin Delano Roosevelt, it stated that Louis McHenry Howe was FDR’s Kingmaker; however, many more sources boast that James Aloysius Farley was his Kingmaker with no mention of Mr. Howe.

Other Kingmakers:

• Dick Morris – President William Clinton
• David Axelrod – President Barak Obama
• Fred Malek – “GOP Kingmaker”

In a Washington Times article written by Ralph Z. Hallow, he mentioned that Donald Trump “was a man who fancies himself the new GOP kingmaker”. So, there you have it. In one week, I came across a term twice that I had never heard of. I thought I would pass along this knowledge just in case you’ve never heard of the Kingmaker.

By Mike Rockett

I read an interesting Washington Times article this morning by Ralph Z. Hallow and Seth McLaughlin that I wanted to share: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/jun/5/trump-cain-israel-fire-up-faith-freedom-crowd/

You can read my comments following the article, which are as follows:

I really like Herman Cain myself; however, conservative talk show hosts, such as Mark Belling – a popular late afternoon talk show host in Milwaukee and back-up host for Rush Limbaugh – states that Herman Cain is a “joke” with no real political experience and has a web site that screams amateur hour. In regards to experience in Washington, Cain has asked America, “How’s that working for you?” In my opinion, Herman Cain could pull this off, as other long shots have before him – but he will need to continue making smart moves and garner broader GOP support, money, and yes – give his web site a much needed facelift.. I like the other comments here in regards to his character, business sense, and speaking ability. Best wishes Herman Cain!

by Mike Rockett

On February 15, 1933, at Miami’s Baby Front Park, then Governor and president-elect Franklin Delano Roosevelt was shot by Giuseppe Zangara, a deranged” 5′ tall unemployed brick layer packing a .32 caliber pistol. Story has it that Giuseppe stood atop a wobbly metal chair and fired five shots each missing their mark, instead hitting Chicago Mayor Anton Cermak and four others.

Mr. Cermak died the following month, and Giuseppe Zangara was executed on March 20, 1933, after spending only 10 days on Death Row. Now who says justice isn’t swift? Of course, that was “old school” justice 78 long years ago – and it would seem to me that they certainly didn’t play around back then!

In 1981, John Hinckley Jr., attempts to assassinate the 40th President of the United States, wounding his “mark” and three others, including the Secretary to the President, James Brady, who was shot in the head! Recently, Hinckley was found to have “recovered to the point that he poses no imminent risk of danger to himself or others.”

In fact, in 1999 Hinckley was permitted to leave the mental hospital on supervised visits and eventually some unsupervised visits in 2000. In the spring of 2011, Hinckley was authorized additional family visits.

So let me get this correct: Zangara gets “old sparky” and Hinckley gets to play guitar, swim, attend daily therapy sessions, and visit friends & family outside the mental hospital on the taxpayers’ dime? And I can’t help but wonder how things might have played out if Taxi was never released or if Hinckley knew Jodie Foster was gay or if Giuseppe’s wobbly chair simply folded.