Tropical Scooters Largo Florida sold me a rebuilt salvage vehicle without disclosure as required by FL Statute 319.14, Section 2, despite opportunity on these dates:
7 September 2018 - Mark Stanley first discussed the Zuma 125 scooter with me.
18 September 2018 - when I paid the full amount as a deposit for this scooter so Mark Stanley would hold it.
02 October 2018 - prior to completing paperwork for the purchase.
Then:
04 October 2018 - Scooter cut off twice while idling. Tropical Scooters adjusted the idle.
05 October 2018 - Scooter cut off three times while idling. Tropical Scooters tuned it and replaced a spark plug.
19 October 2018 - Scooter cut off once while idling but not a second time. I did not call.
21 October 2018 - Scooter cut off once while idling, again about half a mile further in front of a vehicle. We were traveling at 45 mph. When I tried to turn it on there was an odor and ringing sound. Tropical Scooters said tow it to them.
Would you continue dealing with these people after they risked your life to sell a used vehicle with a bad title history to boot?
22 October 2018 - The FL DMV and Motorist Services representatives confirmed the title history of this scooter reflects a salvaged vehicle rebuilt in Illinois as of October 14, 2011. Today I discovered I should have been made aware of the option to pay $2.50 more to obtain an immediately viewable title, in which case I would not have purchased a salvaged rebuilt vehicle as described by FL statute 319.14, Section 2. Instead, when I asked about the title while completing paperwork for the purchase, I was only told that the DMV would snail mail the title to me.
Also, after the the first sign of trouble on October 4th, I asked Mark Stanley about trading the Zuma for a new scooter. I reminded him how it important it was to me to have reliable transportation to school, but he said no and wouldn't discuss it further. "It's built (the Zuma) for 60,000 miles. It's solid. I stand by my reputation. Even though it's sold as is, I'll fix it if a problem comes up within a month" which quickly became "1 week" because Tropical Scooters has such a great reputation.
Maybe for new vehicles. But I will never refer anyone there to buy a used vehicle. And perhaps that is a bad idea altogether excluding buyers who are mechanics who can confidently fend for themselves. I agreed because I had researched the Zuma 125 and found good consumer feedback.
Because it might be resold, these details are being posted so anyone who might look for information about this vehicle can find basic but essential info more quickly than I was able to. An entire day was spent researching, reading and calling. As reported to appropriate authorities: VIN LPRSE48Y89A007355 2009 Yamaha Zuma 125. Anyone can confirm the title history through a DMV.
