A DRIVER has accused a dealership of selling him a $264,000 luxury car that he can’t ever drive thanks to a license plate issue.
Jonathan Delano said he handed over two luxury cars, $20,000 in cash, and signed a six-figure loan for a useless 2021 Lamborghini Huracan EVO.
A customer says he traded in two luxury cars and paid $20,000 in cash for a car he can’t use[/caption]
Now, he’s filed a lawsuit against Bul Auto Sales in Colonie, New York, about three hours north of New York City, and wants his money back.
In the suit, Delano claims that he bought the Lamborghini in May after trading in a 2013 Bentley Continental Flying Spur and a 2012 Lamborghini Gallardo.
Along with the trade-ins, he paid a chunk of cash and took out a loan for more than $187,000, CBS local affiliate WRGB reported.
When he finally got the car of his dreams, Delano noticed that it still had dealer plates, which can’t be used on the open road.
He claims the dealership told him that it was only temporary and that he would get permanent tags and a title in a few days.
But by June, the business had shut its doors.
Vladimir Ranguelov, who owned Bul Auto, posted a message on the website stating, “We regret to inform you we have ceased operations.”
When Delano reached out to Ranguelov, the owner allegedly admitted to the customer that the title and registration would never come.
Ranguelov is accused of draining company funds and refusing to pay off loans on the vehicles he was selling.
Court papers say Ranguelov fled to Jacksonville, Florida.
A second Bul Auto Sales location in Jacksonville has also reportedly closed.
Delano says he eventually found out the Lamborghini wasn’t paid off and still had a lien from the original lender.
The Department of Motor Vehicles reportedly confirmed there was no title transfer.
According to Delano, Ranguelov had no legal right to sell the car in the first place.
What to do if a dealership closes
If you recently bought a car or motorcycle from a dealership that suddenly closed, you may feel anxious about how that affects you.
When you finance a new car or motorcycle or need warranty repairs done at an authorized dealership, a sudden closure can make some people think they’re out of options or worry their car will be repossessed.
If you’re in a situation that sounds like that, here are a few things you can do after receiving an official notice:
- Notify the bank hosting your loan of the closure to make them aware. If the financing is done through the dealership itself, it’s important to contact the dealership or your salesperson to ask how to keep up your payments. Many dealerships will send the lien (the title and registration that will only be released to the buyer after the debt is paid) to a financial institution to keep.
- If the dealership cannot be contacted through traditional means, most states allow drivers to apply for the title and registration through the DMV.
- If you leased a car from a dealership that went out of business, instructions should be sent as to which dealership to bring your vehicle to when the lease expires. If not, contact the dealership.
- A factory warranty through the manufacturer will be honored at any other authorized dealership. However, an extended warranty through the dealership may not be honored at other repair shops, so it’s important to seek that information from the dealership as soon as possible.
Source: Consumer Law Group
He now believes he has no claim to the vehicle he thought he purchased.
Delano says the equity in his two trade-ins is gone, and he’s left with nothing.
He also claims Ranguelov personally profited from the cash and cars.
The lawsuit accuses the owner of operating a pattern of fraudulent practices targeting multiple customers.
Delano is seeking $264,140 in damages, plus interest and punitive damages.
A police report is included in the court filing.
A sign posted on the Colonie dealership’s door this week cited “staffing issues” as the reason for its closure.
“Due to staffing issues, we will be closed for service today. We apologize for the inconvenience,” read the sign.
SECOND SUIT
On June 23, a separate lawsuit was filed by a business associate of Ranguelov.
That case claims Ranguelov owes more than $3.3 million in unpaid loans related to the dealership.
The associate, Gerald Arzoumanian, alleges he gave Ranguelov millions to finance the business, but was never repaid.
Meanwhile, last month in June, WNYT reported that exotic car owner Mike Abatecola accused the now-closed Bul Automotive of cheating him.
Abatecola said he bought a Lamborghini from the Colonie dealership but claimed the owner never properly paid off the car loan.
He alleged he was left $200,000 in debt after the Lamborghini was sold to another buyer.
After Abatecola involved the FBI, his car was eventually returned to him.
The Colonie dealership didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment by The U.S. Sun.
