How mad should I be?
Racer
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 363
Likes: 3
The issue you have, as I see it, is proving the dealership caused the damage. If the damage would have been pointed out at the dealership you would have had a open and closed case. My question is what do you do if the dealership denies the damage.
Reggie
Reggie
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 173
Likes: 5
From: Atlanta Georgia
Service manager just called. He apologized to me and admitted that the boy who lifted my car did not use pucks ("someone else was using the pucks on the transmission rack"). He invited me to bring the car back over for inspection and (I suppose) repair in their body shop. My punishment for not taking care of this then is having to drive 3.5 hours from Atlanta back over to where this happened in Alabama. Of course I was not in a position on Monday to just hang around and wait, either, so either way I guess a trip back to 'Bama was in my future.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 173
Likes: 5
From: Atlanta Georgia
Easier if they just admit it, which they have. But not all that hard to prove in small claims court if they had not.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 173
Likes: 5
From: Atlanta Georgia
Wow, this forum absolutely rocks. This is the third 2002 EB Z06 I have owned. I sold both of the previous ones on this forum, plus a 2000 pewter coupe, which was my very first Vette.
When I found out about this car, I was able to search here and find posts from the original owner in Michigan, plus posts by the second owner, who I bought it from. I could tell from these posts that both of these guys are as **** about cars as I am (except unlike them, I plan on driving the car!).
So I say again: this place rocks! It's nice to be able to come here and bounce ideas, and occasionally frustrations, off fellow Vette lovers.
Jed
When I found out about this car, I was able to search here and find posts from the original owner in Michigan, plus posts by the second owner, who I bought it from. I could tell from these posts that both of these guys are as **** about cars as I am (except unlike them, I plan on driving the car!).
So I say again: this place rocks! It's nice to be able to come here and bounce ideas, and occasionally frustrations, off fellow Vette lovers.
Jed
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I know I would be mad and the dealership would be fixing the car.
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Drifting
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,454
Likes: 6
From: Pittsburgh PA
Well, I can certainly understand being upset about this and wanting some sort of restification. But what??
Hack the rockers off and replace them? I don't think so. Only repair I could see viable is grinding out the cracks and rebuilding with SMC repair adhesive. Then sand, prime and attempt to blend the paint. Hopefully try to keep the color blend under the car. And hope they don't get overspray all over the undercarriage. You really want to get into that for something no one but a field mouse can see?
Yes, easy enough to say make them fix it. Personally I would ask them for a cash settlement and try to forget it. I have to wonder that if they have trouble simply putting it on a lift, what sort of repair job might you get. I could see this snowballing into a worse mess.
Hack the rockers off and replace them? I don't think so. Only repair I could see viable is grinding out the cracks and rebuilding with SMC repair adhesive. Then sand, prime and attempt to blend the paint. Hopefully try to keep the color blend under the car. And hope they don't get overspray all over the undercarriage. You really want to get into that for something no one but a field mouse can see?
Yes, easy enough to say make them fix it. Personally I would ask them for a cash settlement and try to forget it. I have to wonder that if they have trouble simply putting it on a lift, what sort of repair job might you get. I could see this snowballing into a worse mess.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 871
Likes: 3
From: Alpha/Coopersburg NJ/PA
Full, color-matched replacement. Anything less is an absolute outrage. Hell, my car has 35x the number of miles that yours does, stone chips, the works. Just because a car has some damage doesn't make more damage OK. If you have a door dent, it's not OK for me to punch out your side window. Just because your car is perfect, or not perfect, or in any condition, doesn't make it OK for me to play fast and loose and damage it.
Last edited by Endeka; Mar 7, 2012 at 06:13 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,454
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From: Pittsburgh PA
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,962
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From: Richmond, Ky
To the OP, you have got to be the the most laid back attorney I've ever heard of! Every attorney I know would have went off like the main show on July the Fourth. Sounds like keeping your cool is going to work out just as well.
Last edited by f6john; Mar 7, 2012 at 08:50 PM.
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Hard to tell from the pics, but there is a good chance that the cracks are only in the paint. The fiberglass may have just flexed, cracking the paint. Either way, I would have them repair rather than replace with something that minor. Rocker panels are a beeeotch to replace (their problem, not yours). I just wouldn't want work that major done on my car unless there was no choice.
By the way, you can get brand new C5 rocker panels from Automotive Enterprise in San Carlos, CA.
By the way, you can get brand new C5 rocker panels from Automotive Enterprise in San Carlos, CA.
Pro
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 623
Likes: 0
From: Tsawwassen BC
Let's hope they do the right thing here and are just not throwing out some BS to you....I would want to know exactly how they plan to fix it and to send you the pics of every step....just to be sure! Don't want a bondo and spray job to cover it up. 
But what would I know.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 4,449
Likes: 409
From: Portland OR
The sad thing here is the poor kid who lifted the car will likely get fired for it now that you have complained.
And the field mice won't care one way or another if you have a minor crack under there.
And gee, how would my testimony as an ordinary white collar **** ant laborer go over?
I'm glad my car is a 6 or a 7 instead of a 10.
And the field mice won't care one way or another if you have a minor crack under there.
And gee, how would my testimony as an ordinary white collar **** ant laborer go over?
I'm glad my car is a 6 or a 7 instead of a 10.