Consumer advisory: GMR 4×4

I have two sets of fantasy vehicles. Set number one is the ones I would buy if I ever won the lottery: something like a nice high-end BMW, or an Acura NSX, or a Mercedes sedan, or maybe a nice Audi…

Set number two is the more affordable set, and what I like to call “hacking around” vehicles. Sometimes I think it’d be nice to have something like a used Pinzgauer or Unimog. I’ve also thought about a real Land Rover; not one of those soccer mom vehicles, but an older model Defender, possibly a military surplus one. All of these are surprisingly affordable.

But if I ever do go looking for that surplus Land Rover, you know who I won’t be doing business with? GMR 4×4, aka GMR Imports LLC.

Why? Linoge has the whole story of how he got screwed over by GMR over at his site. In short, his “jump in and drive away” Land Rover has cost him over $11,000 above the purchase price so far, requiring a transmission replacement (it literally could not be driven off the transport) and an engine replacement within the first 100 miles of driving. Yes, yes, buyer beware when you’re buying a used vehicle, but based on Linoge’s summary, GMR substantially misrepresented the condition of the vehicle on their website.

I encourage you to go over to Walls of the City, read Linoge’s story, and then carefully consider whether you wish to do business with GMR 4×4.

This entry was posted on Saturday, February 8th, 2014 at 8:45 am and is filed under Cars, Consumer. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

3 Responses to “Consumer advisory: GMR 4×4”

  1. Linoge says:
    February 8, 2014 at 12:54 pm

    In fairness, I believe the shipping company to be responsible for the transmission failing, and it is arguable as to whether or not GMR was aware of the engine problems before selling me the vehicle.

    All the rest of the stuff I listed, though? Yeah, that is a problem…

  2. Oldradartech says:
    February 8, 2014 at 5:14 pm

    I too lusted after a MOG or a Pinzie. I rebuilt, from the ground up, an M37 which has never failed to get me where I pointed it, and it has hauled/towed some amazing loads.
    So I’ll tell you straight. If you’re just looking for a tough, go anywhere truck, go find a good used jeep Cherokee (99 model, for preference). A couple of grand for a minor lift kit (4 inches is about perfect), winch and bumper, and quick disconnect swaybars. You’ve got a vehicle costing between 5 and 7 K in which you will need to remember 3 things – despite performance, it won’t fly, it won’t float, and the roof is not a roll cage.

  3. Linoge says:
    February 9, 2014 at 7:28 pm

    Looking back now, that is the route I should have chosen.

    Oh well. Live and learn.