A car salesman says that an auto industry insider recently purchased a luxury car that rode so poorly that they got rid of it a day later, purportedly losing $12,000 in the process.
In a TikTok about the incident, Bobby Sanchez (@soldbysanchez) says his Ontario, California dealership sold a Genesis GV80 Coupe to a man high up in the auto industry. The vehicle cost about $80,000, Sanchez says.
“He just didn’t like the way it rode,” Sanchez says in a video that’s been viewed more than 178,000 times.
“This guy’s upside down 12 grand. It’s a $12,000 mistake essentially, and he’s up in finance right now actually signing for the new car.”
According to Sanchez, the man blames himself, not the dealership.
“He’s in the industry,” Sanchez says. “He knows exactly what’s going on and he’s totally aware that he lost 12 grand on an overnight mistake.”
Sanchez shows off the Genesis GV80 Coupe in the two-minute post, listing an impressive array of features.
The Coupe reportedly came with massaging, heated, and ventilated seats, a suede headliner, a panoramic sunroof, a 27-inch OLED screen, and an 18-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system complete with subwoofer. Even its suspension is high-tech. A camera scans the road surface ahead and adjusts the ride in real time.
These features may please some, but the buyer in this instance reportedly isn’t among them. He was so displeased he was willing to take a $12,000 loss on a luxury vehicle Sanchez shows only has 56 miles on it.
Buyer’s remorse is real, even with big-ticket purchases like a luxury vehicle.
A 2022 survey by LendingTree found that nearly 40% of Americans regret at least one car purchase. Among high-income earners, a surprising 75% have either returned or refinanced a vehicle after buying it.
Returning an $80,000 SUV after a single drive is almost unheard of, however. In a comment, Sanchez said he’s only seen this once.
Most reviews for the GV80 Coupe sing its praises—including us.
In our review published in 2024, we praised the GV80 Coupe for its eye-catching, high-class looks and cushy interior space. We also highlighted its enjoyable driving experience—enjoyable, at least, for a 5,000-pound SUV.
Right Foot Down complimented the 2025 GV80 Coupe for blending striking coupe-like styling with luxury and high‑end materials like Nappa leather and real wood. It also praised the performance of its e-supercharged V-6, while noting that the sporty silhouette sacrifices some cargo space.
The Road Beat found the 2025 Genesis GV80 Coupe striking but ultimately less practical and purpose-driven than its standard SUV counterpart, noting its cramped cargo space, thirsty engine, and ride quality that could feel “jiggly” at low speeds, despite an outstanding interior and responsive real-world performance. The reviewer called it “a fashion accessory” more than a functional upgrade.
This episode may simply serve as a reminder that car buying is still an emotional game. The perfect car for one person may make another regret their life choices every time they crank the engine.
Even professionals who live and breathe the business can get caught up in the vibe of a vehicle, only to realize they made an $80,000 mistake.
People who commented on Sanchez’s post offered theories on why the man returned the Coupe and advice to avoid buyer’s remorse.
Multiple car buyers advised people to rent the car they intend to buy for a few days to make sure they really want it.
“Salesman probably only let him go down the block,” one wrote. “I try to rent the car I’m shopping on Turo for a week to get a good feel for it and how livable it is.”
An overwhelming refrain is that the problem is the parent company’s make, not the model.
Genesis is owned by Hyundai Motor Group. Hyundai hate runs thick in the comments.
“Still a Hyundai,” opined one.
Sanchez responded to another comment to say that the buyer went with another car by Hyundai to replace the Coupe. So clearly he doesn’t have a problem with the company—just the Genesis GV80 Coupe.
Via email, a Genesis Motor spokesperson told Motor1, “While Genesis is unable to speculate about the opinions and accounts depicted in this video, we collaborate closely with our retail partners in delivering world-class products and experiences that we hope our customers will love.”
Motor1 reached out to Sanchez via email. We’ll be sure to update this if he responds.