If you see or are offered for sale a 2006 Lincoln limousine, VIN 1L1FM88W86Y632306, Caribbean-blue, 70-inch stretch containing antique tapestry, Rolls Royce flower vase, Cartier decanters, Waterford glasses, and Lalique art pieces, please contact me at [email protected]
A year ago, on December 23, 2013, after a year of invitations from Picasso Coach Builders to see some "dream limousines” for sale in New York, I stopped by during a trip from Los Angeles to meet the owner, a smiling Gualberto Diaz, and his charming office manager wife Laura, the only two people in their Rego Park, N.Y., office. The shop, a large, old, mostly empty warehouse, had a For Rent sign. He eloquently told me that he had the best guarantee, and he was the most reliable, customer-friendly limo builder in America, a true artist with thirty-plus years of experience satisfying the most demanding customers. If his shop appeared dusty, his personnel scarce, and had space for rent, it was because he had just survived the recession as the best limo builder in the U.S. Mr. Diaz quoted $56,000 AS IS for a 2006 Lincoln limousine, although same-sized and year Lincoln limos sell for less than $20,000, "but those are not Picasso's"
Since I had been lucky enough to meet America's best coach builder, I decided to trust him, and agreed to buy the limo for $57,000. I shipped Mr. Diaz Cartier decanters, Waterford glasses, and Lalique art pieces to liven up the car’s rather dull interior. Later, I sent an antique tapestry and a Rolls Royce vase. The combined value bordered $10,000. With my valuable belongings in his hands, his attitude hardened and he stalled for months trying to get too large a down payment for my comfort.
I was ready to cancel when he lowered the down payment to $10,000. On May 28, 2014, I signed a contract for $57,000 with the limo to be delivered in five weeks. Mr. Diaz would cover unsightly speakers, change old light lenses, install my crystal, and do a basic update with new plugs, USB ports, and remove a little ugly shelf, etc. I was to travel from Los Angeles to New York at my expense to inspect it before shipment. The balance would be COD Los Angeles. Two days later, on May 30, I wired the $10,000 down payment.
Almost three months later, in August, Mr. Diaz called to say the limo was done and I had to travel ASAP to his shop "or lose my down payment." On arrival, when I insisted on testing the moon roof with a garden hose, a wall of water fell on the leather seats, sending us scrambling for towels. Then, with Mr. Diaz at the wheel, the engine overheated, the air-conditioning didn't work, and the radiator burst in front of The Standard, my hotel, expelling a stream of coolant and enveloping us in steam clouds. He was unapologetic (“It's an old car, what did you expect? Come back another day”).
On September 16, I traveled again to NY. A large patch of interior leather was still missing and the emission check hadn’t been done.
On October 14, I flew again from LA and still no emission test. Mr. Diaz was to do the test on the following days, but on October 19, he couldn't see me because his wife was sick, he was going on vacation, I was the worst customer he'd ever had, I didn't care about his wife, vacation, or wedding anniversary, and –– contrary to the contract –– he wasn’t shipping the limo to me unless I wired the balance in advance. I began suspecting he was trying to keep my deposit and sell my limo for more money to someone else. My limo, running or not, thanks to my crystal and tapestry had developed an astonishing interior, and looked like a collector's item.
When we finally spoke again, Mr. Diaz yelled he was a “warrior" fighting disrespectful clients like me. He was selling the limo to somebody else because I had "shown distrust". Mr. Diaz also said that the very act of asking for my deposit back gave him the right to keep my deposit, and my finished limo. He became more and more irascible, self-righteous, and irrational to the point of threatening my lawyer with the California state bar for "sneakily making him sign a switched contract.” He reneged on almost every point of the contract he had signed.
Four days later, I was surprised by a peremptory notice from Mr. Diaz’s lawyer, stating that UNLESS I WIRED THE MONEY IN ADVANCE AND FLEW TO NEW YORK WITHIN 24 HRS, I LOST MY $10,000 AND THE LIMO WAS TO BE SOLD TO OTHERS (I was in Europe). Later, Mr. Diaz screamed at me that he was also keeping my valuables because he had spent $3,500 after the “radiator explosion.” I offered to arrive with CASHIER CHECKS and ship the limo myself. "Talk to my lawyer" was the response. He hung up and has since blocked my calls. His lawyer didn't return calls.
Mr. Diaz had mentioned said he was retiring soon. Now I I'm pursuing criminal charges in Los Angeles and New York for the stolen belongings worth $10,000, filing civil charges for the $10,000 down payment plus $10,000 in airfare, hotel, transport, and other costs, and obtain a judgment against a business with no apparent assets, probably $10,000 more in legal fees and trips, plus another year of effort for a total of $40,000. And no dream limousine.
This is a narrative of actual facts. You're entitled to your opinion. My opinion is that Gualberto Diaz seems so desperate to retire he would do anything to get some cash in his hands, including keeping large down payments, and selling the same car more than once.
I later learned that, while he was originally asking me for $56,000 AS IS with a straight face, one of his own websites listed the same blue limo for $48,750.
Picasso Coach Builders Corporation Reviews
If you see or are offered for sale a 2006 Lincoln limousine, VIN 1L1FM88W86Y632306, Caribbean-blue, 70-inch stretch containing antique tapestry, Rolls Royce flower vase, Cartier decanters, Waterford glasses, and Lalique art pieces, please contact me at [email protected]
A year ago, on December 23, 2013, after a year of invitations from Picasso Coach Builders to see some "dream limousines” for sale in New York, I stopped by during a trip from Los Angeles to meet the owner, a smiling Gualberto Diaz, and his charming office manager wife Laura, the only two people in their Rego Park, N.Y., office. The shop, a large, old, mostly empty warehouse, had a For Rent sign. He eloquently told me that he had the best guarantee, and he was the most reliable, customer-friendly limo builder in America, a true artist with thirty-plus years of experience satisfying the most demanding customers. If his shop appeared dusty, his personnel scarce, and had space for rent, it was because he had just survived the recession as the best limo builder in the U.S. Mr. Diaz quoted $56,000 AS IS for a 2006 Lincoln limousine, although same-sized and year Lincoln limos sell for less than $20,000, "but those are not Picasso's"
Since I had been lucky enough to meet America's best coach builder, I decided to trust him, and agreed to buy the limo for $57,000. I shipped Mr. Diaz Cartier decanters, Waterford glasses, and Lalique art pieces to liven up the car’s rather dull interior. Later, I sent an antique tapestry and a Rolls Royce vase. The combined value bordered $10,000. With my valuable belongings in his hands, his attitude hardened and he stalled for months trying to get too large a down payment for my comfort.
I was ready to cancel when he lowered the down payment to $10,000. On May 28, 2014, I signed a contract for $57,000 with the limo to be delivered in five weeks. Mr. Diaz would cover unsightly speakers, change old light lenses, install my crystal, and do a basic update with new plugs, USB ports, and remove a little ugly shelf, etc. I was to travel from Los Angeles to New York at my expense to inspect it before shipment. The balance would be COD Los Angeles. Two days later, on May 30, I wired the $10,000 down payment.
Almost three months later, in August, Mr. Diaz called to say the limo was done and I had to travel ASAP to his shop "or lose my down payment." On arrival, when I insisted on testing the moon roof with a garden hose, a wall of water fell on the leather seats, sending us scrambling for towels. Then, with Mr. Diaz at the wheel, the engine overheated, the air-conditioning didn't work, and the radiator burst in front of The Standard, my hotel, expelling a stream of coolant and enveloping us in steam clouds. He was unapologetic (“It's an old car, what did you expect? Come back another day”).
On September 16, I traveled again to NY. A large patch of interior leather was still missing and the emission check hadn’t been done.
On October 14, I flew again from LA and still no emission test. Mr. Diaz was to do the test on the following days, but on October 19, he couldn't see me because his wife was sick, he was going on vacation, I was the worst customer he'd ever had, I didn't care about his wife, vacation, or wedding anniversary, and –– contrary to the contract –– he wasn’t shipping the limo to me unless I wired the balance in advance. I began suspecting he was trying to keep my deposit and sell my limo for more money to someone else. My limo, running or not, thanks to my crystal and tapestry had developed an astonishing interior, and looked like a collector's item.
When we finally spoke again, Mr. Diaz yelled he was a “warrior" fighting disrespectful clients like me. He was selling the limo to somebody else because I had "shown distrust". Mr. Diaz also said that the very act of asking for my deposit back gave him the right to keep my deposit, and my finished limo. He became more and more irascible, self-righteous, and irrational to the point of threatening my lawyer with the California state bar for "sneakily making him sign a switched contract.” He reneged on almost every point of the contract he had signed.
Four days later, I was surprised by a peremptory notice from Mr. Diaz’s lawyer, stating that UNLESS I WIRED THE MONEY IN ADVANCE AND FLEW TO NEW YORK WITHIN 24 HRS, I LOST MY $10,000 AND THE LIMO WAS TO BE SOLD TO OTHERS (I was in Europe). Later, Mr. Diaz screamed at me that he was also keeping my valuables because he had spent $3,500 after the “radiator explosion.” I offered to arrive with CASHIER CHECKS and ship the limo myself. "Talk to my lawyer" was the response. He hung up and has since blocked my calls. His lawyer didn't return calls.
Mr. Diaz had mentioned said he was retiring soon. Now I I'm pursuing criminal charges in Los Angeles and New York for the stolen belongings worth $10,000, filing civil charges for the $10,000 down payment plus $10,000 in airfare, hotel, transport, and other costs, and obtain a judgment against a business with no apparent assets, probably $10,000 more in legal fees and trips, plus another year of effort for a total of $40,000. And no dream limousine.
This is a narrative of actual facts. You're entitled to your opinion. My opinion is that Gualberto Diaz seems so desperate to retire he would do anything to get some cash in his hands, including keeping large down payments, and selling the same car more than once.
I later learned that, while he was originally asking me for $56,000 AS IS with a straight face, one of his own websites listed the same blue limo for $48,750.