Dealer Trades for 2023 Cadillac Escalade with 510,000 Miles, and Numerous Warning Signs Are Present

      @charlietoyotanj via Instagram / Cadillac (edited by The Drive)

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      Numerous factors can lead to a new car purchase veering into absurdity. Occasionally, it's dealer antics; at other times, it's customers causing confusion. A recent instance of the latter occurred at a New Jersey Toyota dealership.

      A series of social media videos shared by the sales manager involved indicate that someone arrived at Sansone Toyota with a 2023 Cadillac Escalade that had an odometer reading of 510,263 miles, seeking to trade it for a new Sequoia. For simplicity's sake, if the vehicle is exactly four years old, that would average out to 349 miles a day, every single day. That's unbelievable.

      According to the seller, apart from one replaced transmission, the Escalade was in good condition. In addition to the unusual mileage, a person negotiating on behalf of the buyer—who remained in the car until the deal was finalized—stated that they only wanted $2,000 and would pay for the new Toyota in cash.

      At one point, the negotiator mentions, “Our boss is in the car, and everything is cash.” They also express interest in exporting the Escalade and later inquire about acquiring a second Sequoia (which we certainly wouldn't recommend) and a Land Cruiser.

      As depicted in the video, after the deal was completed, the buyer remarked to the salesperson, “You’re part of the family now,” and extended an invitation to Panama, where the seller claimed to know people who could provide “whatever you want.”

      The Drive reached out to Sansone Toyota to talk to the salesperson and eventually contacted them via direct message, but they opted not to comment. “Sorry, can’t share personal information about it,” they replied. “Thanks for reaching out.”

      However, the comments on the four Instagram Reels reveal a shared perception about the situation. The term “cartel” appears multiple times, although one commenter suggested they know the buyer and that they made their money in construction (which might elicit laughter from those familiar with organized crime narratives).

      The salesperson responded to several comments with variations of “you’ve been watching too many movies,” which could be indicative of the situation. Sometimes, scenarios seem so cliché that they lead to certain assumptions. Nevertheless, regardless of whether this was ultimately a legitimate transaction, numerous red flags are still present.

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