Dealership dinged our car up...advice pls.

[Buzzard]

Hey guys. I'll try to make a bit of a long story short here. We had our car in the other day at a local, well known dealer for some repairs which were on warranty. Now, to be honest, I can't stand these clowns, but we get free oil changes and go there for warranty work which happens to have been three times now. (it's a 2010). Every single time we have to deal with them, there seems to be some kind of issue, and I'm not exaggerating.

So my wife went there to pick the car up. One of the service dudes was bringing it around from the back and somehow skidded around the turn and slid into another customers car. My wife watched it happen. Now they made no bones about it, they'll have the damage repaired asap.

Now I've had a couple days to chew on this. There's probably a good $5000 or so of damage I bet. The whole front bumper as well as quarter panel will need replaced. In all honesty, I can not be confident that this will go off without a hitch. They're bound to screw this up somehow. Now we like the car, it's been good, but I do have fears that once the warranties up, it may become a bit of a money pit going by some of the issues we've had with it. Before this even happened I was considering looking at something else to replace it. And now, if and when we do want to sell it at a later time, there's the record of body damage to it, so of course it's going to be worth less.

I guess my advice needed here for someone maybe in the know, is it a possibility to somehow negotiate this damage into buying a new car through them somehow? If so, any advice how to go about it in a way that puts us ahead, rather than them? FWIW, I'm not underwater on the loan on it, I've made quite a few extra payments.

I really hate to even think of buying a another vehicle through them, but it might be a better option, and moving forward, forget the free oil changes, and go to another dealer for any possible warranty work if needed.

Advice appreciated, Thanks

[jayswin]

Yep, I'd try at least. If it was me I'd put it in very simple, stern terms, so they can't start muddying up the conversation to try and back out of a new deal.

"It went into your dealership as an accident free car, and it will come out as a car repaired due to an accident. Just fixing it is simply not acceptable on my end."

[rain_e]

I doubt there will be a record of body damage/accident. Was it reported to the police or insurance? If it hepened on a dealer lot and the said they are going to fix it they probably won't report it unless you did.

[llwhiteoutll]

Very unlikely this would show up on any CarProof report. The dealer wants to keep this out of insurance more than you probably.

If you do want to get into a new car, I'd try asking that they give you pre-accident trade in value on your next purchase. Or warranty extension on this car, or free service/ service credits.

You can try for diminished value, but my understanding is that it is VERY hard to get and this would need to be reported to both police for the accident and then insurance for the claim. After that, it is pretty much guaranteed to show up on reports.

[JonDuke]

[zamler]

Originally Posted by Buzzard

I guess my advice needed here for someone maybe in the know, is it a possibility to somehow negotiate this damage into buying a new car through them somehow?

Heck yea, I would push them to give you retail value of the car as a trade, the value being before they smashed it up. And get other concessions as well such as extended warranty. If they don't want to work with you, then make damn sure the car is repaired at the best body shop possible.

[I_H8_Crawford]

Agreed with Zamler.

And if you do go through Insurance/Body Shop, you can sue for diminished value (there is now case law precedent in Alberta: http://www.diminishedvaluescanada.co...-park-alberta/)

In this case, you would be suing the dealer too, so it could be good enough for you to negotiate a hell of a deal with them through option 1.

[Madman]

Originally Posted by rain_e

I doubt there will be a record of body damage/accident. Was it reported to the police or insurance? If it hepened on a dealer lot and the said they are going to fix it they probably won't report it unless you did.

If the damage is over $2000, then it legally needs to have an accident report sticker from the Police before anyone can repair it.

If they fix it without that sticker, then it's against the law.

[Erick Estrada]

The moment your car is in any accident you have to call your insurance and get them involved regardless of who was driving and follow their recommendations. You should get the dealerships insurance and let your insurance company fight it out with them and make sure the car is repaired to your satisfaction and see if you can get any extra money for diminished value.

Once your car is fixed to your satisfaction either keep driving it or sell it privately or trade it in to another dealer but why would you give this dealership any more of your money?

This wasn't a Subaru dealership was it? The local Subaru dealers are terrible with customer cars.

[Voodooman]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

This wasn't a Subaru dealership was it? The local Subaru dealers are terrible with customer cars.

Given the information that the OP is getting free oil changes would lead me to think that it's a North American brand dealership, as imports don't generally drop thier pants like the domestic guys do and give away the farm. The fact that there's been 3 warranty repairs would further confirm that, and lead me to believe the vehicle in question is a Dodge.

I'm going to guess Renfrew Chrysler.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Voodooman

Given the information that the OP is getting free oil changes would lead me to think that it's a North American brand dealership, as imports don't generally drop thier pants like the domestic guys do and give away the farm. The fact that there's been 3 warranty repairs would further confirm that, and lead me to believe the vehicle in question is a Dodge.

I'm going to guess Renfrew Chrysler.

That doesn't mean anything as my last Ford had 5+ warranty items in 18 months of ownership.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by I_H8_Crawford

Agreed with Zamler.

And if you do go through Insurance/Body Shop, you can sue for diminished value (there is now case law precedent in Alberta: http://www.diminishedvaluescanada.co...-park-alberta/)

In this case, you would be suing the dealer too, so it could be good enough for you to negotiate a hell of a deal with them through option 1.

Going through insurance does not change whether or not you can bring a Dimished Value claim.

[Swarly]

Originally Posted by Voodooman

Given the information that the OP is getting free oil changes would lead me to think that it's a North American brand dealership, as imports don't generally drop thier pants like the domestic guys do and give away the farm. The fact that there's been 3 warranty repairs would further confirm that, and lead me to believe the vehicle in question is a Dodge.

I'm going to guess Renfrew Chrysler.

unless the warranty repairs were actually recalls, then most likely honda or toyota.

[JonDuke]

When you bought the car, did you "tell em Lanny sent you"?
I, for no reaosn whatsoever, am guessing Eastside Dodge

[Knut]

Originally Posted by I_H8_Crawford

Agreed with Zamler.

And if you do go through Insurance/Body Shop, you can sue for diminished value (there is now case law precedent in Alberta: http://www.diminishedvaluescanada.co...-park-alberta/)

In this case, you would be suing the dealer too, so it could be good enough for you to negotiate a hell of a deal with them through option 1.

I can let you know how my Diminished Value Claim goes... We will be starting one up soon.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Hesla

I can let you know how my Diminished Value Claim goes... We will be starting one up soon.

Do you mind starting a thread?

I am really interested in this, it is a significant issue (could be lots of $).

[Knut]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

Do you mind starting a thread?

I am really interested in this, it is a significant issue (could be lots of $).

I would rather start one after everything is resolved... Because it may be going to court and lawyers could be involved. My username is my name. Ill PM you

[Hevishot]

Make sure you find out what bodyshop they will be repairing your car with. If it is a dealer that has their own repair facility make sure you are happy with the repair before you take posession of the vehicle again. Also make sure you are happy with the shop before you go signing any sort of work order that allows them to work on your car. If they just go ahead and repair it and you did not approve the repairs they could end up owing your car if you are not satisfied with the repair job.

[Diemenz]

Originally Posted by Voodooman

Given the information that the OP is getting free oil changes would lead me to think that it's a North American brand dealership, as imports don't generally drop thier pants like the domestic guys do and give away the farm. The fact that there's been 3 warranty repairs would further confirm that, and lead me to believe the vehicle in question is a Dodge.

I'm going to guess Renfrew Chrysler.

Toyota, Mitsu and Nissan all offer free oil changes as do Honda, don't kid yourself on pants dropping.

Our 2010 Toyota has been 10+ times and our 2013 Dodge has been in 0; my 2008 Subaru was at the dealership once every 2 months for recalls and even had 3 outstanding when I traded it in.
But haters gonna hate.

[zamler]

Don't let the dealership do anything to the car, take it to get estimates yourself and submit them to the dealer, or their insurance or how ever they want to handle things.

Originally Posted by Diemenz

Our 2010 Toyota has been 10+ times and our 2013 Dodge has been in 0; my 2008 Subaru was at the dealership once every 2 months for recalls and even had 3 outstanding when I traded it in.
But haters gonna hate.

Your Subaru was in the dealership for 25-30 recalls?