How mad should I be?
03-07-2012, 02:31 PM
#1
Instructor
Thread Starter
How mad should I be?
Bought a 2002 EB Z06 Monday...garage queen with less than 2700 (no I did not leave off a zero) miles. Man the car is, or at least was, flawless. It still smells new.
On Monday I met the seller and we drove the car to a Chevy dealer for a pre-purchase inspection. What do they do but put it on a lift and crack the fiberglass around the left rear lift point. I noticed they used pieces of 2x4s at the other 3 lift points to keep the metal flange off the body panel, but they did not use anything at this point. As a result the flange covered, and therefore cracked, about half an inch of the body panel on each side of the lift point.
You'd think you could take a car into a Chevy dealership and not have them screw something up.
The damage is slight--to see it at all requires sticking your head under the car and looking at that lift point. But the more I think about it, the more irritated I get.
Am I being way too **** or would anyone else be pissed?
Jed
On Monday I met the seller and we drove the car to a Chevy dealer for a pre-purchase inspection. What do they do but put it on a lift and crack the fiberglass around the left rear lift point. I noticed they used pieces of 2x4s at the other 3 lift points to keep the metal flange off the body panel, but they did not use anything at this point. As a result the flange covered, and therefore cracked, about half an inch of the body panel on each side of the lift point.
You'd think you could take a car into a Chevy dealership and not have them screw something up.
The damage is slight--to see it at all requires sticking your head under the car and looking at that lift point. But the more I think about it, the more irritated I get.
Am I being way too **** or would anyone else be pissed?
Jed
03-07-2012, 02:49 PM
#7
Melting Slicks
It sounds like you hadn't purchased the car at the time of damage. I'd inform the owner to get it fixed before buying it. His car, his problem.
03-07-2012, 03:16 PM
#12
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St. Jude Donor '14
Mad? I'd be furious. A great deal of the value of these cars (for some) is being near perfect condition at all times. I'm actually planning on trading down on my current ride because I'm not that much into details and the one I have is almost flawless.
I need something I can tinker with and maybe even get dirty once in awhile.
I need something I can tinker with and maybe even get dirty once in awhile.
Last edited by Ona mission; 03-07-2012 at 03:19 PM.
03-07-2012, 03:23 PM
#13
Team Owner
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C6 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
Yep I'd be really upset. That is the exact reason that you don't go to dealerships!
03-07-2012, 03:26 PM
#14
Instructor
Thread Starter
I screwed up some things with this because I'm a nice guy. My biggest mistake was thinking it was not a big deal and leaving that dealership without complaining to the service rep or showing him the damage. But I was there with the seller, who I had just met a half hour earlier, and did not want to get into an awkward situation.
I would not have backed out of the sale on account of this. This dealership was suggested by the seller. But it is the only Chevy dealership in that town, so there really was no other choice. I am the one who wanted to have the inspection done. So if anything it was a joint decision.
Even though I did not show anyone at the dealership or complain at the time, I did call the seller over and show him the damage while the car was still up on the lift. So he witnessed it. Plus the car is perfect in every other way.
I called the service manager. He's supposed to be calling me back. I'll post a picture of the damage as soon as I find the cable for my camera. It sounds like a poll is unnecessary--so far it's 100 percent in favor of "I'd be mad."
On the bright side, I am an attorney. I know already that they are responsible for the damage, and I know how to go about holding them responsible if they decide to not do the right thing.
I would not have backed out of the sale on account of this. This dealership was suggested by the seller. But it is the only Chevy dealership in that town, so there really was no other choice. I am the one who wanted to have the inspection done. So if anything it was a joint decision.
Even though I did not show anyone at the dealership or complain at the time, I did call the seller over and show him the damage while the car was still up on the lift. So he witnessed it. Plus the car is perfect in every other way.
I called the service manager. He's supposed to be calling me back. I'll post a picture of the damage as soon as I find the cable for my camera. It sounds like a poll is unnecessary--so far it's 100 percent in favor of "I'd be mad."
On the bright side, I am an attorney. I know already that they are responsible for the damage, and I know how to go about holding them responsible if they decide to not do the right thing.
03-07-2012, 03:29 PM
#15
Instructor
Thread Starter
Mad? I'd be furious. A great deal of the value of these cars (for some) is being near perfect condition at all times. I'm actually planning on trading down on my current ride because I'm not that much into details and the one I have is almost flawless.
I need something I can tinker with and maybe even get dirty once in awhile.
I need something I can tinker with and maybe even get dirty once in awhile.
--that's exactly why I was reluctant to buy this car and pay a premium for the low miles and pristine condition.
03-07-2012, 03:58 PM
#16
Race Director
I screwed up some things with this because I'm a nice guy. My biggest mistake was thinking it was not a big deal and leaving that dealership without complaining to the service rep or showing him the damage. But I was there with the seller, who I had just met a half hour earlier, and did not want to get into an awkward situation.
I would not have backed out of the sale on account of this. This dealership was suggested by the seller. But it is the only Chevy dealership in that town, so there really was no other choice. I am the one who wanted to have the inspection done. So if anything it was a joint decision.
Even though I did not show anyone at the dealership or complain at the time, I did call the seller over and show him the damage while the car was still up on the lift. So he witnessed it. Plus the car is perfect in every other way.
I called the service manager. He's supposed to be calling me back. I'll post a picture of the damage as soon as I find the cable for my camera. It sounds like a poll is unnecessary--so far it's 100 percent in favor of "I'd be mad."
On the bright side, I am an attorney. I know already that they are responsible for the damage, and I know how to go about holding them responsible if they decide to not do the right thing.
I would not have backed out of the sale on account of this. This dealership was suggested by the seller. But it is the only Chevy dealership in that town, so there really was no other choice. I am the one who wanted to have the inspection done. So if anything it was a joint decision.
Even though I did not show anyone at the dealership or complain at the time, I did call the seller over and show him the damage while the car was still up on the lift. So he witnessed it. Plus the car is perfect in every other way.
I called the service manager. He's supposed to be calling me back. I'll post a picture of the damage as soon as I find the cable for my camera. It sounds like a poll is unnecessary--so far it's 100 percent in favor of "I'd be mad."
On the bright side, I am an attorney. I know already that they are responsible for the damage, and I know how to go about holding them responsible if they decide to not do the right thing.
I took my '04 Z16 into the local dealership for a four wheel alignment. The car is lowered 5/8" and 3/4" on oem bolts/uncut bushings. They tried to use lumber to get the car up on the raised lift. They feared they'd damage the front fascia and suggested I take it to another local shop with an alignment pit. The service writer and I checked the car for damage before the car was moved into the bay. I told them I had just taken multiple images as well.
Initially I was upset they wouldn't do the job but in the end I really appreciated their concern and honesty.
Last edited by hotwheels57; 03-07-2012 at 04:04 PM.
03-07-2012, 04:04 PM
#18
Instructor
Thread Starter
03-07-2012, 04:06 PM
#19
Melting Slicks
It shouldn't matter who picked the dealer as, clearly, it was the dealer's fault and they should fix it. All I'm saying is that I wouldn't buy it broken, so the pressure is on the seller to make sure that the dealer fixed it right. I wouldn't be walking away from the deal, but I also wouldn't be buying it until I saw, to my satisfaction, that the work was completed. It's in the seller's best interest to deal with the dealership, and shouldn't be left up to the buyer.
