Dealership employee joy ride gone bad!
#1
01-13-2014, 10:14 PM
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Mentor, Ohio
Posts: 12,163
Dealership employee joy ride gone bad!
One of these stories surface every once in a while.
This one, an owner trusts his prize and babied 2012 Camaro with a dealer... An employee at the dealership helps himself to a joy ride, and it went BAD.
Dealership Totals Customer's Camaro ZL1, Owner And Dealer At War
It's sad when you take your car to a shop you thought was reputable and a mess like this happens.
This one, an owner trusts his prize and babied 2012 Camaro with a dealer... An employee at the dealership helps himself to a joy ride, and it went BAD.
Dealership Totals Customer's Camaro ZL1, Owner And Dealer At War
It's sad when you take your car to a shop you thought was reputable and a mess like this happens.
#3
01-13-2014, 10:24 PM
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Mentor, Ohio
Posts: 12,163
FYI - In my opinion, if I was the owner of the total-ed Camaro, I would spell out a reasonable resolution with the dealer. Sadly, if we could not come to terms, I would seek my own attorney.
I feel given the information stated in this article, this dealer has three options:
1 - Let this custom order a new 2014 Camaro, as close to what his 2012 was (letting the owner decide what options he wants).
2 - Let the owner find an acceptable replacement and pay associated fees (this also includes the dealer sourcing a replacement).
3 - Settle on a cash value and the custom walks away with cash in hand to solve the problem how he deems fit.
I personally feel the kid that caused this is first lucky to be alive, second that he only lost his job and is not facing legal action (if he is facing legal action, I did not see that statement).
This is a tough situation. To any of us who considers our car more then simple transportation, it can be tough to handle this. Those who put blood, sweat and tears into maintenance, cleaning and some also showing there car. It's a passion, beyond a hobby. Luckily, the manufacturer makes more then one of these cars, the problem is, for people like us, it's tough to outright replace something we were passionate about.
I feel given the information stated in this article, this dealer has three options:
1 - Let this custom order a new 2014 Camaro, as close to what his 2012 was (letting the owner decide what options he wants).
2 - Let the owner find an acceptable replacement and pay associated fees (this also includes the dealer sourcing a replacement).
3 - Settle on a cash value and the custom walks away with cash in hand to solve the problem how he deems fit.
I personally feel the kid that caused this is first lucky to be alive, second that he only lost his job and is not facing legal action (if he is facing legal action, I did not see that statement).
This is a tough situation. To any of us who considers our car more then simple transportation, it can be tough to handle this. Those who put blood, sweat and tears into maintenance, cleaning and some also showing there car. It's a passion, beyond a hobby. Luckily, the manufacturer makes more then one of these cars, the problem is, for people like us, it's tough to outright replace something we were passionate about.
#4
01-13-2014, 11:39 PM
Agreed, if something happens to our cars it hurts us a lot more than say someone driving a prius who probably will only be mad about the fact that they can't get to work tomorrow. For us our cars are more than just a car, they're our passion and enjoyment and when they get destroyed, especially by someone elses negligence, it sucks.
#5
01-14-2014, 07:15 AM
I agree with Jason and Keane. If it was me, I'd have contacted my lawyer the first time the dealership started with their attitude. I'd also be contacting GM corporate and let them know what happened at one of their dealerships, and the treatment they gave me.
I'd have contacted GM corporate first and see what their response is. Then contacted my lawyer.
Some of these dealerships pretend to be your best friend. But when this happens, all of a sudden they give you the "sorry for your loss... we have a large selection of cars on the lot you can PURCHASE as a replacement."
In general, I think it depends on the car too, when it comes to enthusiasts. If it's a car we're really passionate about, we care A LOT! But if it's a winter beater, it hurts, but not quite as much. If I had a base model Cavalier as a daily driver/winter beater, and it got wrecked, yes I'd care. But it wouldn't be the end of the world. If it was a car I really cared for, like my Monte or that ZL1 in the story, the dealership would find a steering wheel in their bed. Like in The Godfather.
I'd have contacted GM corporate first and see what their response is. Then contacted my lawyer.
Some of these dealerships pretend to be your best friend. But when this happens, all of a sudden they give you the "sorry for your loss... we have a large selection of cars on the lot you can PURCHASE as a replacement."
In general, I think it depends on the car too, when it comes to enthusiasts. If it's a car we're really passionate about, we care A LOT! But if it's a winter beater, it hurts, but not quite as much. If I had a base model Cavalier as a daily driver/winter beater, and it got wrecked, yes I'd care. But it wouldn't be the end of the world. If it was a car I really cared for, like my Monte or that ZL1 in the story, the dealership would find a steering wheel in their bed. Like in The Godfather.
#6
01-14-2014, 07:34 AM
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Southeast PA
Posts: 25,136
There actually was finally a resolution to this. The owner (mr. Hooper) posted this on C5
Also some sponsors have gone out of their way to send him new goodies for his NEW car. Our CAI sponsor ColdAirInductions even went out of their way and they are sending him a FREE CAI 
It's great when communities can help others
Originally Posted by jhoop302 View Post
Just a quick update for everyone...
1. I never demanded a new car. I merely stated that I should not HAVE to be forced to buy a new [read "different"] car when mine was totaled through no fault of my own. If I had been driving the car, I would accept the loss.
2. The difference in price between a good, used 2012 ZL1 and a new 2013 ZL1 is only about $5-6K considering rebates, etc.
3. Yes, the OP really was to just let everyone know what happened to #1635 that appeared on the ZL1 registry many months ago.
4. We actually made 3 payments on the car while the car was in the dealer's possession while they tried to figure out what to do about the paint issues [read "left the car there for weeks on end without actually doing anything."] I believe the last time I drove the car was the weekend of October 25, 2013.
5. GM and Berger Chevrolet (Grand Rapids, Michigan) have stepped in and are paving [not paying] the way for a new 2013 ZL1 to be sent to First State Chevrolet for me to purchase.
6. We have apologized to many of the employees at First State for the actions taken by many of the people who have been infuriated by this whole story and have called First State to voice their opinions. Anyone who thinks the dealership has not been affected by all of this must have his head in the sand.
7. We want to thank everyone for their support. We never expected this to take on a whole life of its own. A special thanks goes out to the suppliers who have so graciously stepped up to provide parts at their own expense to help ease the heartache we have experienced in this ordeal.
8. I am not the biggest tech guy out there, and I have never made it a practice to post on forums, don't have a Facebook page, etc. But I do plan to stick around on this forum, and I hope to meet many of you in person at various events.
9. When the situation is resolved, I will post photos of the new car. I understand that it will be about two weeks before the insurance check is cut, the old car is paid off, the new car arrives, and a new purchase contract will be signed by my wife and I for the PURCHASE of our new ZL1.
Thanks,
JRH (jhoop302)
Just a quick update for everyone...
1. I never demanded a new car. I merely stated that I should not HAVE to be forced to buy a new [read "different"] car when mine was totaled through no fault of my own. If I had been driving the car, I would accept the loss.
2. The difference in price between a good, used 2012 ZL1 and a new 2013 ZL1 is only about $5-6K considering rebates, etc.
3. Yes, the OP really was to just let everyone know what happened to #1635 that appeared on the ZL1 registry many months ago.
4. We actually made 3 payments on the car while the car was in the dealer's possession while they tried to figure out what to do about the paint issues [read "left the car there for weeks on end without actually doing anything."] I believe the last time I drove the car was the weekend of October 25, 2013.
5. GM and Berger Chevrolet (Grand Rapids, Michigan) have stepped in and are paving [not paying] the way for a new 2013 ZL1 to be sent to First State Chevrolet for me to purchase.
6. We have apologized to many of the employees at First State for the actions taken by many of the people who have been infuriated by this whole story and have called First State to voice their opinions. Anyone who thinks the dealership has not been affected by all of this must have his head in the sand.
7. We want to thank everyone for their support. We never expected this to take on a whole life of its own. A special thanks goes out to the suppliers who have so graciously stepped up to provide parts at their own expense to help ease the heartache we have experienced in this ordeal.
8. I am not the biggest tech guy out there, and I have never made it a practice to post on forums, don't have a Facebook page, etc. But I do plan to stick around on this forum, and I hope to meet many of you in person at various events.
9. When the situation is resolved, I will post photos of the new car. I understand that it will be about two weeks before the insurance check is cut, the old car is paid off, the new car arrives, and a new purchase contract will be signed by my wife and I for the PURCHASE of our new ZL1.
Thanks,
JRH (jhoop302)
It's great when communities can help others
#8
01-14-2014, 08:39 AM
So I don't get this. Now they're accepting that they're going to pay for the car? It should be given to them at the very least.
I would have lawyered up immediately at the first sign of trouble from that dealership.
I would have lawyered up immediately at the first sign of trouble from that dealership.
#9
01-14-2014, 08:55 AM
What I got from it, is they're going to pay the difference between the 2012 model and the 2013 model. Unless I'm reading it wrong. But they're also getting other stuff thrown in too.
#10
01-14-2014, 09:43 AM
I'm glad they got it figured out, especially since this isn't the first incident with these cars.