It’s not uncommon for the U.S. Army to make some questionable bars off-limits to soldiers, but Fort Huachuca’s ban of a local auto dealership is quite unprecedented. The base – which is located near Tucson, Arizona – has banned soldiers from doing business with two area dealerships, Wildcat Mitsubishi in Tucson and Ideal Automotive in nearby Sierra Vista.
Both dealerships are owned by the Johnston family, and are no strangers to customer disputes. Over the last three years, the two dealerships have amassed 30 complaints filed with the local Better Business Bureau, according to Automotive News.
The complaints – which the Johnstons admit to – range from improperly recording vehicle VIN numbers, authorizing financing deals with the appropriate licenses and even failing to return vehicle deposits.
The Army ban directly relates to a dispute between officer James Tuman and the Johnstons that occurred in 2006. Tuman purchased a used 1995 Pontiac Firebird only to discover the vehicle had some major mechanical issues. Tuman tried to return the vehicle shortly after its purchase, but the Johnstons refused to give Tuman his money back, or even refund his trade-ins – a 1994 Isuzu Rodeo and a motorcycle. The dealership also threatened to repossess the Firebird, a move that would have tarnished his credit and affected his security clearance.
Although the Johnston family claims the complaints were simply cases of paperwork mix-ups and other mishaps, the BBB, the Arizona Department of Financial Institutions, the Arizona State Transportation Department, the U.S. Army and even the local police department have findings that say otherwise. Father Rick Johnston says the Johnstons are “just a family trying to make a living,” which sounds a lot like something Tony Soprano might say.
08/11, 6:18 PM
posted by:
howsmydriving
An unethical dealer? This is surely a first!
08/11, 6:19 PM
posted by:
CarResearcher
I would have destroyed the dealerships with a tank.
08/11, 6:22 PM
posted by:
acura_el2000
The problem is he tried to buy a 1995 Pontiac.
08/11, 6:23 PM
posted by:
macabre
WTF does this have to do with the mafioso? They are just just your typical lying stealership that’s all.
08/11, 6:54 PM
posted by:
crackerhemi
lying crackers
08/11, 7:02 PM
posted by:
DeansterTJ
Kill the dealer and rape his family.
08/11, 7:07 PM
posted by:
RotaxKart
HAHAHA Destroy the dealer with a tank!!!!! That would be rad carresearcher.
08/11, 8:15 PM
posted by:
ktulu
amrcican soimldirers should B buting american car. citizens, should drive whatever they want. & I hope that;s 4n, less the big 3 think they can get away w/ selling us garbage!
08/11, 8:23 PM
posted by:
jayjc08
“amrcican soimldirers should B buting american car”
What, you think all Americans are gonna grow horns outta their heads? Where are they gonna get them from, Mickey D’s?
08/11, 8:42 PM
posted by:
LuckyLou
Some 40mike-mike from a MK19 would be a nice addition to the dealers’ sales lots(after hours of course)
LL
08/11, 8:44 PM
posted by:
LuckyLou
“4n”???????????? That’s it folks, I’ve had plenty enough of this txt shyte! May Armageddon arrive sooner rather than later.
08/11, 9:44 PM
posted by:
zoomzoomer
Why would you trade in a 1994 Isuzu for a 1995 PONTIAC.. in 2006?? How many legitimate dealerships do you know that sell pristine 11-year-old cars??
08/11, 10:49 PM
posted by:
psiclone
damn niggers
08/12, 12:37 AM
posted by:
1c3d0g
So why the hell are these scumbags still in business?!? Let’s bury them, somewhere very deep.
08/12, 8:28 AM
posted by:
HemiRoadRunner
I know, like it’s ok for them to say cracker but if you use slang for another race then your the racist. Bunch of hypocrites.
08/12, 10:55 AM
posted by:
shaver
Army guys and their Firebirds, classic. I grew up next to Camp Pendelton, they all want fat chicks, crotch rockets and muscle cars.
08/12, 11:00 AM
posted by:
HemiRoadRunner
What’s wrong with crotch rockets and muscle cars?
08/12, 11:06 AM
posted by:
davebo
Nothing, as long as you’re not riding them with a fat chick.
08/12, 11:09 AM
posted by:
crackerhemi
You can thank all the blacks for winning the USA their gold medals this year.
08/12, 11:48 AM
posted by:
jumpoffit
only for basketball cracker, whitie takes swimming & gymnastics- but are those REALLY sports? anyway, those army guys should have waited until the owners went to bed, and put bars of soap in their pillow cases and beaten them with it (full metal jacket)
08/12, 12:59 PM
posted by:
beatusmongous
I hate subjective sports, like gymnastics, ice skating, water ballet, diving, etc. Anything that has judges give their points is not a sport to me. It’s fun, entertaining, and sure, it can be somewhat competitive, but I don’t feel those are real sports. Judging someone’s ability by how far they can throw a stick or how much they can lift is, to me, more sport than judging how “perfectly” someone performs a routine. As cool as some of those sports may be (diving is amazing), I just don’t like the fact that there is no clear winner. If someone wins a race, well, they won a race. But if someone wins a gymnastics competition, they won the judges over somehow, whether it be by performance or not doesn’t matter. To me, there’s no actual physical superiority in subjective sports.
I would consider any swimming race to be a real sport. Same with water polo, which whitie takes all the time, too.
08/12, 1:15 PM
posted by:
xmnr
uh, nobody considers this an unconstitutional limitation on the soldiers’ rights? you know, to conduct business as one pleases? due process? “I got ripped off by a dealer in my personal business and so I will use my completely professional authority to limit the private business freedoms of my subordinates!”
Am I REALLY the only one concerned about the precedent being set here?
the only way this is ok is if this guy is in charge of buying vehicles for the BASE, and he’s attempting to preclude anyone else from buying vehicles FOR THE BASE AND NOT THEIR OWN UNRELATED PERSONAL USE from the same dealer using the same funds. Otherwise, this **** is BAD.
08/12, 1:39 PM
posted by:
F3INT))AP3X
It might also be a good thing. If GM keeps going down the toilet the Government might mandate that Americans not buy their cars and therefore our roads will be one step closer to being completely JAPANESE!!!! HAHAHA I’m just kidding guys don’t get all riled. In all seriousness xmnr is right the precedent being set here is a scary one. It starts here but what if one day the Government starts telling you where you can and cannot buy things. All of a sudden competition stores like the HP or Apple store will turn in to JUST the Apple store and thats where you will go if you need a computer (Please no!). On the very extreme end of this I can basically picture a Communist America where every market segment in the country is a monopoly and big brother is always watching. By the way if this nanny state BULL**** continues I wouldn’t be at all surprised if this bleak future comes to pass one day.
08/12, 1:49 PM
posted by:
beatusmongous
Maybe the word “boycott” is more appropriate than “ban”.
08/12, 3:49 PM
posted by:
brassmonkey
Hey crackerhemi. Thanking black people for winning golds for playing b-ball? Are you just pissed because Phelps is winning the golds for swimming since everyone know black people don’t swim?
08/13, 12:17 PM
posted by:
oldman420
xmnr your just realising you have a facist military, which produces most of your presidents. Ha. I hope we (Canadians) build a pipeline right across the bearing streight to China, so when your economy collapses we arn’t totally screwed by you capitalist idiots. Germany used patriotism too ahahaha.