I am not a car guy either, so take this with that grain of salt. My pieces of advice are: Call the service manager at a different dealership (same manufacturer) and see if they have any...
I am not a car guy either, so take this with that grain of salt. My pieces of advice are:
Call the service manager at a different dealership (same manufacturer) and see if they have any recommendations.
Call a different lawyer (someone who specializes in auto claims). Sometimes just a request for resolution formally submitted by an attorney on letterhead can get these things moving. My mom is an attorney and did this for me several times through the years.
See if one of the TV stations in your area has a consumer watchdog, and if so, contact them. It's a very compelling story for them, and the dealership may be motivated to resolve it to avoid the negative publicity.
Thank you. I just did that and it was helpful. They said the goodwill case is my best bet. On insurance they said: "I don't think insurance will really help just because it's not of outside...
Call the service manager at a different dealership (same manufacturer) and see if they have any recommendations.
Thank you. I just did that and it was helpful. They said the goodwill case is my best bet. On insurance they said: "I don't think insurance will really help just because it's not of outside influence or inflicted damage. This is a mechanical defect." They thought the catalytic converter was consequential damage from the engine failure. Also said going the legal route would likely be more productive than insurance, which I found interesting. But they were willing to email the regional manager to ask for updates so that's great!
Call a different lawyer (someone who specializes in auto claims). Sometimes just a request for resolution formally submitted by an attorney on letterhead can get these things moving.
I'll do that. Maybe a letter could spur action to handle this internally instead of me having to bring in all these external pressures.
Awesome! Thanks for following up. If you end up going the legal route, it may take longer, but in the end I would think you should be able to negotiate for recompense for loss of use of the car....
Awesome! Thanks for following up.
If you end up going the legal route, it may take longer, but in the end I would think you should be able to negotiate for recompense for loss of use of the car. 100+ days is beyond the pale!
I hope it resolves for you soon, and you end up with something for your trouble.
I am somewhat a car guy, but this is certainly a new one! Contact YOUR auto insurance. Give them the rundown of what's going on, and they may be able to fight for you on this. You may need to get...
I am somewhat a car guy, but this is certainly a new one!
Contact YOUR auto insurance. Give them the rundown of what's going on, and they may be able to fight for you on this.
You may need to get a lawyer. Don't sue or do anything just yet, but having a letter sent on the lawyer letterhead might scare 'em enough to get a move on.
Seconding your insurance. Not sure of your coverage, but: Half the cost of your car seems steep for catalytic converters. Not a mechanic though, so what do I know. If that's true, then insurance...
Seconding your insurance. Not sure of your coverage, but:
Half the cost of your car seems steep for catalytic converters. Not a mechanic though, so what do I know.
If that's true, then insurance would consider it a total loss. I doubt they'll want to pay out a total loss without having you go to someone they trust for a second option. If it is totaled then they'll want to go after the dealership to recoup their costs.
The reason I'm hesitant to call my insurance generally is because I've heard they're prone to start claims the minute you call. So in my head it's kind of a last or near last resort. I'm also not...
The reason I'm hesitant to call my insurance generally is because I've heard they're prone to start claims the minute you call. So in my head it's kind of a last or near last resort. I'm also not sure what the claim would be for exactly. Although I have a lot documented, negligence seems difficult to prove.
The thing about your insurance is that, unlike you, they have people whose whole job it is to get the responsible parties to cough up money over stuff like this, and when you're not the...
The thing about your insurance is that, unlike you, they have people whose whole job it is to get the responsible parties to cough up money over stuff like this, and when you're not the responsible party that can be a boon. I'm not knowledgeable enough about car insurance to say whether this would affect your rates or not, so I'm not necessarily saying you should do it, but it is definitely worth considering the potential plusses to getting them involved.
What sort of car are we talking about? Barebones econobox? Or luxury SUV? The more expensive the car, the better luck you’ll likely have in getting resolution (luxury manufacturers really don’t...
What sort of car are we talking about? Barebones econobox? Or luxury SUV? The more expensive the car, the better luck you’ll likely have in getting resolution (luxury manufacturers really don’t like the idea of losing repeat customers).
Definitely the first one unfortunately. Pretty sure this dealership is hoping I never come back. Even the national support folks have told me their responses to them have been unproductive and...
Definitely the first one unfortunately. Pretty sure this dealership is hoping I never come back. Even the national support folks have told me their responses to them have been unproductive and irrelevant.
i can definitely* see a ruined exhaust system being half the cost of a lower end vehicle, especially if its including the cat. for example, i could easily replace my exhaust system for 2k$+, but...
i can definitely* see a ruined exhaust system being half the cost of a lower end vehicle, especially if its including the cat. for example, i could easily replace my exhaust system for 2k$+, but the resale value still wont be any higher than 4k at best.
im just a stupid young adult, but fwiw, i myself would just total it out to insurance for a new one. i actually like my own shitbox enough that if that happened to me id probably just replace it with the same model/year.
e: just reading your other comments where you said insurance likely wouldnt take this route, thats a shame :(
I wouldn't rule out small claims court. There are things you can do to collect against a business including putting a lien on their property, or sending a writ of execution through your local...
I wouldn't rule out small claims court. There are things you can do to collect against a business including putting a lien on their property, or sending a writ of execution through your local sheriff to help collect.
Most business will just pay rather than deal with all of that.
Gotcha. In your opinion would I ask to be awarded the cost of the repair? I believe my car is worth more than the maximum amount that can be sought in small claims court, at least in my area.
Gotcha. In your opinion would I ask to be awarded the cost of the repair? I believe my car is worth more than the maximum amount that can be sought in small claims court, at least in my area.
You would need to look at what your damages are, which is the tricky part. If you wanted to go this route, my recommendation would be to talk with a second, qualified mechanic, arrange to have the...
You would need to look at what your damages are, which is the tricky part. If you wanted to go this route, my recommendation would be to talk with a second, qualified mechanic, arrange to have the car towed and fixed by the new mechanic, and your damages would include the cost to tow, and new repair costs due to damage from driving or anything stemming from negligence on their part, plus any costs you incurred from being deprived of your vehicle for an extended time such as public transit, etc.
It would definitely be work to go this route, but as long as you don't claim anything crazy, be clear to the judge that you are just trying to be made whole from the mismanagement of the repair company, and don't try to use legal jargon you don't understand, they are usually pretty helpful in the process.
Understood, thank you. For now it seems to be in my best interest for my car to remain at the dealership and hoping someone steps up to pay. But this does seem viable if other options don't work out.
Understood, thank you.
For now it seems to be in my best interest for my car to remain at the dealership and hoping someone steps up to pay. But this does seem viable if other options don't work out.
I am not a car guy either, so take this with that grain of salt. My pieces of advice are:
Call the service manager at a different dealership (same manufacturer) and see if they have any recommendations.
Call a different lawyer (someone who specializes in auto claims). Sometimes just a request for resolution formally submitted by an attorney on letterhead can get these things moving. My mom is an attorney and did this for me several times through the years.
See if one of the TV stations in your area has a consumer watchdog, and if so, contact them. It's a very compelling story for them, and the dealership may be motivated to resolve it to avoid the negative publicity.
Thank you. I just did that and it was helpful. They said the goodwill case is my best bet. On insurance they said: "I don't think insurance will really help just because it's not of outside influence or inflicted damage. This is a mechanical defect." They thought the catalytic converter was consequential damage from the engine failure. Also said going the legal route would likely be more productive than insurance, which I found interesting. But they were willing to email the regional manager to ask for updates so that's great!
I'll do that. Maybe a letter could spur action to handle this internally instead of me having to bring in all these external pressures.
Awesome! Thanks for following up.
If you end up going the legal route, it may take longer, but in the end I would think you should be able to negotiate for recompense for loss of use of the car. 100+ days is beyond the pale!
I hope it resolves for you soon, and you end up with something for your trouble.
I am somewhat a car guy, but this is certainly a new one!
Contact YOUR auto insurance. Give them the rundown of what's going on, and they may be able to fight for you on this.
You may need to get a lawyer. Don't sue or do anything just yet, but having a letter sent on the lawyer letterhead might scare 'em enough to get a move on.
Seconding your insurance. Not sure of your coverage, but:
Half the cost of your car seems steep for catalytic converters. Not a mechanic though, so what do I know.
If that's true, then insurance would consider it a total loss. I doubt they'll want to pay out a total loss without having you go to someone they trust for a second option. If it is totaled then they'll want to go after the dealership to recoup their costs.
The reason I'm hesitant to call my insurance generally is because I've heard they're prone to start claims the minute you call. So in my head it's kind of a last or near last resort. I'm also not sure what the claim would be for exactly. Although I have a lot documented, negligence seems difficult to prove.
The thing about your insurance is that, unlike you, they have people whose whole job it is to get the responsible parties to cough up money over stuff like this, and when you're not the responsible party that can be a boon. I'm not knowledgeable enough about car insurance to say whether this would affect your rates or not, so I'm not necessarily saying you should do it, but it is definitely worth considering the potential plusses to getting them involved.
What sort of car are we talking about? Barebones econobox? Or luxury SUV? The more expensive the car, the better luck you’ll likely have in getting resolution (luxury manufacturers really don’t like the idea of losing repeat customers).
Definitely the first one unfortunately. Pretty sure this dealership is hoping I never come back. Even the national support folks have told me their responses to them have been unproductive and irrelevant.
i can definitely* see a ruined exhaust system being half the cost of a lower end vehicle, especially if its including the cat. for example, i could easily replace my exhaust system for 2k$+, but the resale value still wont be any higher than 4k at best.
im just a stupid young adult, but fwiw, i myself would just total it out to insurance for a new one. i actually like my own shitbox enough that if that happened to me id probably just replace it with the same model/year.
e: just reading your other comments where you said insurance likely wouldnt take this route, thats a shame :(
I wouldn't rule out small claims court. There are things you can do to collect against a business including putting a lien on their property, or sending a writ of execution through your local sheriff to help collect.
Most business will just pay rather than deal with all of that.
Gotcha. In your opinion would I ask to be awarded the cost of the repair? I believe my car is worth more than the maximum amount that can be sought in small claims court, at least in my area.
You would need to look at what your damages are, which is the tricky part. If you wanted to go this route, my recommendation would be to talk with a second, qualified mechanic, arrange to have the car towed and fixed by the new mechanic, and your damages would include the cost to tow, and new repair costs due to damage from driving or anything stemming from negligence on their part, plus any costs you incurred from being deprived of your vehicle for an extended time such as public transit, etc.
It would definitely be work to go this route, but as long as you don't claim anything crazy, be clear to the judge that you are just trying to be made whole from the mismanagement of the repair company, and don't try to use legal jargon you don't understand, they are usually pretty helpful in the process.
Understood, thank you.
For now it seems to be in my best interest for my car to remain at the dealership and hoping someone steps up to pay. But this does seem viable if other options don't work out.