Truck purchase - lied on Craig's List

[DealGoneBad]

To start at the end first, we called the seller the day after buying this to ask why he lied, or if he knew he lied. We told him were willing to keep the truck if he would refund part of our money..... otherwise, we wanted to give the truck back and get a full refund. The seller called back repeatedly that afternoon, and then emailed us at 11 pm last night to say he had filed a local police report, a country sheriff report, and had talked to his attorney about us "threatening him" !! We called him ONCE !! We are both in our late 60's, and are not very threatening. He is fairly new to the US (got his "papers" recently). He is probably 25-30 years old, and very aggressive and argumentative. WE feel HE is threatening !!

Okay.... the beginning.
I saw an ad on Craig's List for a "Dodge Dakota in fabulous condition". I emailed, and told them we are seniors on a low income and did not want the truck if it would need repairs soon. The man assured me it was in great condition.
The Craig's list ad stated: body is great -- all options of the time -- full brake job - new tires all around -- new coil, distributor, wires, plugs, filters, accessory belts -- new last year.... starter, alternator, battery -- slight interior imperfections -- slight windshield crack -- set of BRAND NEW snow tires.

After we brought it home we found a lot of old receipts the seller forgot to remove!!! The "new tires all around" were purchased in 2002. The snow tires are also used (2004). the great body has paint chipping. Rear amber light cover has a hole in it (illegal to drive at night). Full brake job...... new pads, but he didn't have drums turned or rotors/calipers done. Brake pedal flutters... pulsates.... which indicates a problem. Brakes squeal when applied while cold. Slight interior problems.... seat is really torn up with lots of sponge stuffing showing. Headliner has pins everywhere. All options of its time.... no radio of any kind (he said it was stolen). We found a ticket for the truck being parked and not licensed, so we have no idea how long it sat. One rim is very badly rusted though. It looks like he had the engine steam cleaned... now we know why. All receipts for the other "new" parts are pre 2004, and most receipts are from the 1990's. The seller says he must have lost his receipts, but the original ad only stated "I replaced the shocks"...... so he may not have done any other work like he said he did. Slight windshield crack is on driver side.... about 6". It has a small canopy. The back window needs new struts and falls on you. Truck bed is painted, not lined.

After contacting the seller he kept insisting this truck was not in fair or good condition, but GREAT. He continued to deny he lied about everything. But he said "maybe instead of new all around I should have said newer tires". Unbelievable.... the tires are from 2002 !! Oh, and then we found out we didn't even buy a 1988 Dakota.... it is a 1987. The ad stated 1988. He says there is no difference and that doesn't matter.

I feel I overpaid for a 22-year-old truck in this condition. I originally thought it was a good deal, but only because of the tires. Do you know what EIGHT LARGE BRAND NEW TRUCK TIRES COST ?? At least $700 for cheap ones, and over $1000 for the kind we thought were brand new. My agreeing to purchase at this price was based SOLELY on getting 8 new tires in this deal!

We paid $1700 for this. We offered to still give him $1200, but he became very angry with us.... and kept insisting he hadn't lied. It is in WRITING....... how can he say that? He said we can sell the truck to someone else. In this economy I couldn't get my money back because I would tell buyers the truth.

We do not have the title yet.... he had recently transferred it into his name and did not have it. He said he'd mail it. We called the first owner after all this started--- turned out he is the seller's grilfriend's grandfather. He was surprised they had this truck.... said seller was a liar and he didn't like the guy. He understood the truck went to the girl's aunt (who was never on the title)... but her son was the previous owner. Now we are wondering if even the previous transfer signatures are real or forged?

Okay............what should we do? We live on less than $800 per month, and cannot afford to pay for help like the seller who has his "regular attorney". The seller is aware of this and thinks we will not fight back. This is all so wrong since it was in a printed ad..... all lies.

Is Small Claims Court the best thing to choose? Does anyone have any idea if it's worth the time, or does the guy with an attorney always win ? We would not have an attorney. Is this fraud or not? Is it false advertising?