Here we go again. I think it was a year ago we heard of a almost brand new Camaro at a dealership that a kid wrecked taking for a joy ride.

Now, Adventure Subaru, a dealership close to where I live, messed messed a guy's 2015 WRX that has less then 2K miles!! In short, an employee had to take the car home for the night and somewhere along the way hit a deer and left his text books in the car.

The owner has pics and video in the link below (as well as pulled some public record info about the guy who took the car):
Dealership crashed my brand new 2015 Subaru WRX with 1300 miles - NASIOC

 

Years ago when I was looking for my Monte, I test drove a black/silver Monte SS at Adventure Chrysler in Willoughby (a car they took in on trade). I could nto believe they let someone test drive it, all 4 brakes were done (there's at LEAST $300 in parts). The inside stunk of cigarettes, a couple of rust spots, the clear coat on the 3 of 4 diamond spoke wheels was peeling and a few other issues. When I mentioned the brakes the sales guy tried to say they are still good and I told him not just was the pedal feel horrible, but you could hear it screeching!

They wanted top dollar and would not budge on price. I remember handing the sales guy the keys back and just heading out. He never tried to haggle or do anything to get me interested.

 

Unfortunately, some dealers sacrifice safety to make a sale They know there are people who will pay what they want just to have a Monte.

 

I just want to add, I skimmed a lot on this story. In my opinion, the owner of the WRX really messed up and made this situation very difficult now.

Basically, the WRX owner wants to "share his story", but it's not a story, it's a developing situation. By naming the dealership, he's caused a storm for the dealership before everyone had a true sit down at a table to discuss what options are available (and I get the WRX guy posted things that simply sound like the dealership is doing wrong, but immediately taking this to social media before speaking to insurance and maybe an attorney was not the right course of action).

Bottom line, we as a society need to spend more time learning when it is the right time to "go public" on social media with a dispute with a business entity. And this WRX owner picked "too soon".

 

When I was looking for my Monte, so many people thought they were sitting on gold mines with these cars. It was crazy! And that black/silver one, no exception. I was really wanting to land a blue/silver '03 Pace Car, I came close with my blue/silver '04 (and with my custom touches, I feel she's better than the '03 Pace Car, but still doesn't stop me from looking at the '03 the rare times I see one on the roads).

 

You are so right about some thinking they were sitting on a gold mine!!! I had wanted a newer Monte for quite some time but the Grand Prix I had was doing just fine. Fortunately, I was able to take my time and find what I wanted at a reasonable price. Before I found my 2002, I had been numerous places looking and they would either flat out lie to me or try to pressure me into buying it right then!!! Both resulted in me getting in my car and leaving. Both of my Montes kind of found me. When I stopped looking so hard to find just the right vehicle, there they were!!!

 

When I bought the one I own now, I was test driving another Monte Carlo and it would have been a great ride, but it didn't have Cruse control.
I had an errand to do out of town and the guy said take it for the day, see if you like it.
I stopped in the other town and found another Monte and it had more features than the one I was driving and they guy asked me if I was from the dealership that the tags showed, I said no just looking for a Car he sold me the one I presently own for a lot less than the one I was test driving and it had cruise and it was Black.
They both had about the same miles but the Console lid was still good on the first test drive car. Anyway he wasn't upset I purchased the other car. Mainly cause I had bought some from him before that.

 

I read an update on the WRX, apparently the latest news is the owner is getting a full replacement, brand new car. People are claiming it's as a result of the out cry done from people in the social media that forced the dealership to do this.

Honestly, I think the WRX owner stood a strong chance of this being the outcome without social media involvement. I know some of what the WRX owner shared sounds crappy as far as how the dealership was handling this. But the truth is, this was all via text and phone calls, they really needed to have a sit down and honest discussion of how to best resolve this. Keep in mind, even if they are the facts, they are painted by the emotions of the person living the situation.

So, in a world of hypotheticals, let's say the with or without social media involvement, the outcome would still be the same (WRX owner is made whole with a shiny new car). Which is better:
1 - WRX owner keeps this quiet at least until he has a sit down with the dealership owner (a face-to-face to see if this can be resolved easily). Say at that sit down, shiny new car is the resolution. WRX guy can share "This story sucks to begin with, but ends with what feels right". Everyone walks happy.
2 - WRX owner shares every detail with the Internet from the second this happens. Now, the Internet is full of people banging on the dealership from every angle telling them what to do and making threats. Dealership makes the guy whole with a shiny new car, everyone now believes this is 100% a result of the rally of people from the Internet. WRX owner walks away feeling vindicated and the dealership now has damage control to try and re-build a reputation that was soiled before all parties could have a civil discussion.

Again, I recognize some of the WRX guy's info sounds like the dealershipwas not putting a best foot forward. I'm sure the dealership did not have a full scope yet of how to resolve this issue either. And the big thing people throw out there is "Why is the dealership telling the owner to call HIS insurance". Well, I don't know enough about how the system works, I don't have the answers (sure that sounds goofy, but it might be part of a process in these matters since the accident did not happen on the dealership's property).

Everyone of us owes a business a chance to work with us and resolve a situation (I have resolved a lot of disputes with businesses with an old fashion letter to a CEO, and I'm ranking pretty close to a 100% success rate in multiple disputes).

Sorry, just food for thought....

 

Jason-
I agree with what you are saying. Basically how I feel about any conflict. If I have a problem with someone, I go to THAT person to attempt to resolve the problem. Not their cousin, spouse, neighbor, etc. If it's a business, most respond fairly well if a situation is brought to their attention directly instead of having to defend themselves by answering to the media, etc first.
Doing it any other way, IMO, is like trying to solve a Big Mac problem by complaining to Burger King!!!

 

Or trying to drive a finish nail with a 2lbs sledge lol.