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A DEALERSHIP is making amends after it delivered unfortunate news following a college football game’s halftime triumph.
A Purdue University student believed he had won a free Honda Civic from a local dealership, but the company now has a new offer.
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Zachary Spangler, a student at the Indiana school, participated in a halftime kicking competition.
The competition, called Kicks for Cash, promised participants a free two-year Honda Civic lease if they hit three consecutive field goals from 20, 30, and 40 yards, according to the school’s student paper, the Purdue Exponent.
However, participants need to make the kick within a 30-second timeframe.
Only one other student had performed the task before Spangler.
Spangler and 57,000 fans in attendance thought he had become the school’s second-ever contest winner after all three boots from his leg successfully crossed the goalposts.
But an email from the Honda dealership a few days later crashed his party.
“Sorry to break the bad news, man,” the dealership representative told the student in an email shared with the student paper.
According to the video attached to the email, the football was still in contact with his shoe when the clock struck the 30-second market.
Because of the timing discrepancy, the dealership’s insurance coverage wouldn’t pay for the successful attempt.
At first, the dealer said he would not receive the free lease.
“Amazing effort,” the dealership wrote to the participant.
But the dealership broke its silence, saying it is offering a new prize to Spangler.
Instead, the student can grab either a two-year car lease or $5,000 in cash from the dealership.
The lowest-priced Civic carries a monthly payment of $270. Over two years, the lease equals $6,480.
“Our goal with this challenge is to have fun, and our intention with these new guidelines should ensure just that,” Trey Rohrman, the director of operations at the local Honda dealership, said in a statement sent to The U.S. Sun.
“We acknowledge that the process to determine whether or not Zach qualified for the grand prize took too long, and his incredible kick should be rewarded.”
Dealership Tips
Here are some expert tips when purchasing a car from a dealership lot:
- 1. Set your price: Ensure you’ve calculated your monthly budget before going to the lot. You should include the car’s loan payment, insurance costs, fuel, and regular maintenance.
- 2. Research: Make sure you know which cars you’re interested in test driving before you reach the dealership.
- 3. Pre-approval: Secure financing before you go to the dealership. Dealerships may give you a better interest rate if they are competing with an outside bank.
- 4. Test away: Get behind the wheel before making any payments. A car purchase will be worth thousands of dollars – drivers should ensure they like the drivetrain, steering feel, and comfort of the car before taking it off the lot
- 5. Haggle: Drivers should always try to negotiate the price. There are so many good cars on the American market – buyers have a strong hand when negotiating price.
Source: Kelley Blue Book
The dealer said it was thankful for the “public’s scrutiny” around their initial decision.
Dozens of fans have spoken out on social media, calling out the dealership after yanking the prize.
“Big miss,” one fan said. “[I would] totally take the $5k.”
Other dealerships in the area also jumped in to offer Spangler a consolation prize.
A local Chevy dealer offered a free two-year lease on a Blazer EV.
