I wouldn't let their body shop touch it period. If you really want it repaired, get a shop close to you, that you trust. Then send them the bill.

 

I would leave it alone and forget about it. It is unfortunate that this happened, especially to such a beautiful low mileage car but you may get the car back with more problems plus you will have a repainted area much larger than the damaged area since the painter will need to match the paint properly. Who knows what else will get damaged in the process. Then there is the chance that there will overspray and dust in every possible crevice.

Chevy dealers are notorious for this kind of damage and continue to screw up customers C5's and C6's this way. Many dealers did this to new cars before delivery to the customer.

What are your plans? Are you going to drive the car?

 

This getting on your CarFax is a bigger issue in the long run. 1 hit on a CarFax=a BIG hit in value. I learned this the hard way on my last car.

 

After seeing the "damage" in the supplied picture, it's probably not even worth bothering with. I was envisioning broken pieces requiring a replacement rocker panel. Hell, a speed bump taken the wrong way will do more damage than the couple of cracks in the paint/plastic. Get some sort of credit or cash out of the dealership and cruise on! As mentioned, it could end up worse if it's "fixed" incorrectly. Besides all of that, you'll be the only who knows that your 100 point car is really only a 99.9.
Drive it Drive it Drive it!
The worst is yet to come.

 

Ok, I guess I will be the first one to ask... Why were you getting a 2700 mile car inspected? Were you worried about problems from the car sitting? Honestly, it is not worth the hassle of dealing with the dealership and body shop to get this fixed. Way too many opportunities for other things to get eff'ed up along the way while they repair it. I agree with what a lot of the guys have said. Your best bet is to try to get some type of compensation or reimbursement and move on.

 

I'm going to drive the car--that was actually part of the rationale I used when I didn't make an issue of it at the dealership. I admire the service manager for owning the mistake. That, in and of itself, sort of militates toward just letting it go.

As far as the kid who failed to use the pucks: I have zero problem with him being held accountable. Maybe he will learn not to take shortcuts, and maybe the next guy's car won't get jacked up (figuratively) on account of it.

 

Dealer has to fix it. Period.

 

Never thought I'd say something like this, but, we could use a few more lawyers who think like you.

 

Sage advice. I think I will take it. After so long out of the Corvette and Chevy world, I guess I forgot you cannot trust dealers and their service departments. I assumed a risk and the risk materialized. There was no reason whatsoever to take a 2700 mile car in for an inspection. What is it they say about hindsight?

 

I'll start by saying Thank-you for your service to this great nation. I'll continue by saying that I'd be pissed that the dealership did this. Now I give you my opinion as I see it and based on the facts from your original post.

Don't let your credentials get in the way. Just because you have credentials doesn't mean you're 100% right. If I were a good sleezy Defense attorney, I could easily create reasonable doubt with a judge or jury because it is a he said she said until the dealership fessed up. You removed the car from the rack and left the premises without notifying anyone but the previous owner.

I would argue that it is possible you didn't get on the ground in that particular area and see the damage as it is UNDER the car and the car is very low to the ground. Next I'd say the previous owner wasn't aware of the damage until you pointed it out or didn't fess up to it. Without the car being on the lift showing the interference or the dealership fessing up, your case is shakey at best. The marks aren't even distiguishible to that particular lift. Anything could have caused that damage.

I don't intend to start an argument or insult you but I wouldn't side with you based on your credentials. Lawyers, like anyone else, don't deserve special privledges and in Court you need to be successful in proving beyond a reasonable doubt. I don't think you could do that without the dealership's confession. Be happy / grateful they are an upstanding dealership.

I'll finish with again thanking you for your service to this great nation. It is people, such as yourself, that allow my to voice my opinion freely.

Forget about the cracks and enjoy the heck out of the car. You no longer have to worry about the first scratch. It is no longer a virgin and the good news is the damage is out of sight.

 

Sounds like a great car. Enjoy it.

Post some pics.

 

Now that I've had a little cool off period , I'd still be upset but try not to take it out on somebody. I've seen the pics and read some of the response from other CF members, Maybe a cash adjustment somewhere in the transaction would be be a easier and more gracefull solution, if all parties could give a little.

and by the way.... thanks for your service

 

The first scratch is always the most painful. While it's irritating as hell that it should not have happened, save yourself more grief and let it go. Be thankful it's not in the center of the hood.
I recently got my first scratch, it's very low on the car but can be seen. Oddly enough, I'm not so uptight about driving it now and actually enjoy it more. Drive it and enjoy it.

 

Ask for some free oil changes as compensation. You're gonna ding that panel anyway.

 

To all saying live with it and what about the kid..................To hell, this is a major problem with Vettes and cars with hydro formed frames. Dealers and others are famous for damaging the fenders and rocker panels on Solstices and Sky's. When I took my Solstice in for service, I would hand the manager the GM printout for the proper lifting procedure and inspect the area before and after. I would also watch who was lifting the car and leave a copy of the procedure on the dash. You pay good money for your car and have a right not to have some jerk jack it up and then say "sorry".

Too bad for the mechanic, get more training, be more observant.

 

To be honest with you, I probably would not have that fixed. There is a steel rail directly under that composit there and if you are saying that the cut out now has a half inch cracked off each side and you have to stick your head under there to see it, I would leave it alone.

Im pretty sure those rockers are glued on, so its not like unbolting/rebolting a panel, and of course you would have to paint and blend it in. All of which is a series of events rife with opportunity for the screw up fairy to stop by.

If you do wind up selling it years down the road and I was looking at a the car I think Id like to see a small crack on the underside rather than hear its been taken apart and repainted. But thats just me.

What I would do is have them agree to fix it, get some estimates and ask for a check.

Where are you going to find another one with 2700 miles?

Good luck

 

The dealership is responsible for any damages THEY cause,period.

 

 

it's just that simple.

 

I wonder if the original poster had started this thread with "If this was your car..." if there would be more of a consensus of opinion to get the damage fixed regardless.

If it was my car I'd want it fixed, maybe not by the offending dealership, but I'd want that 2,700 mile car repaired to what it was.