i just got my sti 8 back from the subaru dealership after having a ppp fitted, when i dropped it off the car was just over 2 weeks old and had maybe 180 miles on the clock and was in showroom conditon totally unmarked, 0ne week later i pick up the car and it now has got 5 paint chips and a dent to the front passenger wing. the paint chips i discovered before i left the dealership, the dent to the wing i found the next day as i washed the car i have yet to confront them about the dent, no answerto the phone call at 4.30 today.
what is the general response to this type of damage , there is no way after buying a £27 k car that i wont to have paint work from damage sustained at the dealership after only 2 weeks and less than 200 miles.............what do u guys think you would do ?

 

When you took your car in didn't they walk around it with you to check the condition of it. I know you said it was only 2weeks old, but they usually do a check with the customer before hand to make sure any marks are spotted. They go around mine every time it goes in.

James.

 

You have little option, but to insist that the damage is repaired by the dealer to a satisfactory standard. If they do not accept that the dent was caused whilst the car was in their care, threaten them with court proceedings. If the value of the claim is less than £5,000 it will be subject to arbitration and even if the dealer succesfully defends, they are extremely unlikely to recover their legal costs. In other words, it may cost them more than the value of the claim to defend proceedings. If the matter did go to court, the burden of proof is the balance of convenience, or 51%. It will simply depend upon whose evidence the judge prefers on the day. I think that the age and mileage of your car would put you in a strong position. The dealer would therefore be in a no win position.
If the fact that repairs have been carried out mean that the car has depreciated in any event, you could try and argue that you have suffered additional loss, but it would be difficult to quantify and would probably not be worth an independant claim.
Hope the above is of some use.

 

thanxz brandon for your advice, its really a shame that u can not rely on a dealer to take good care of your vehicle, whilst its in their care........

 

Have had "ding" problems at my Dealers. However they have always told me it has happended and arranged for the dent man to fix, at no cost to me of course.

A sensible chat with the DP should sort it out.

 

sorry to here it , it seems all to familiar but in different circumstances. i bought the car of my dreams for 26k (escort cossie) it had everything on it 330 bhp, full leather,etc, etc, to then get it home and be told by a body paneller that it had had a back panel in it. when all confirmed it had and no joy from the wan£er that sold me it, i was gutted to say the least. but where we are both familiar is that what ever happens to that car you have longed after for probably ages is - it will never be the same car that you bought, since it has to be repaired and not original as you wanted it in the first place, it's been painted for instance, that's not new anymore .....be absolutely (addamant?) that this car was a new car on arrival and you didn't expect that when you took the car in, it would be treated with respect as it's a customers car.(not a test car after a conversion)stick out for a new bonnet etc it's not out of the ordinary to get one.

 

I had a nightmare a few years ago I had a 306 diesel as a mile muncher. On the day we pickedthe car up the rear pop out window "popped out" on its own driving down the road from the dealer. Only fault with the car itself dealer replaced catch and in doing so put mastic over the drivers and back seat (half leather). They offered to valet the car and managed to put black cleaner stuff in hand prints on the headlining. I went absulotly beserk at this as the car had 75 miles on it at the time. they cleaned the headling and made it go all fluffy and bald in patches. and managed to damage the handbrake arm by standing on it.

went back in for a new headlining new seats. now has about 300 miles on it. work was done got the car back it has over 800 miles on it !!! and has a big scratch on the bonnet. and the headling had been cleaned again not replaced.

I left the car at the dealership and complained to peugeot directly and "rejected" the car with the finance company.

2 months later I was invitied to the car show for a free lunch by Peugeot. Their customer services guy didnt know what hit him. I feel a bit sorry for the guy now because it wasnt Peugeots fault it was the dealership that damaged the car replacing a window catch I could of done myself.

But I did get a brand new car (GTi) (new plate as 3 months had gone by). for the list price difference and i got 2 k off the diesel one.


But this was a complete nightmare to sort out. I would recommend writing to the dealer not telephoning and getting everything in writing by return. If necesary get some help from a solicitor, take photographs of the damage before they attempt repair work.

and if it alls go nasty report them to trading standards after you think you have gone as far as possible as 3 reports in a year trading standards have to investigate them. and that is a real pain in the **** for the dealer.

 

My current car came back from the dealer when it was less than 6 months old after its first propoer sevice with scratches in the bonnett and drivers wing. This happened when they washed the car. I notice this, reported it (They would'nt polish out) and they promptly rectified the situation and gave me 10% off my next service for the inconvienience.

I guess its down to individual dealers again. I can honestly say that mine was an accident as I have witnessed the care taken with customers cars at the dealership I use.

Good luck in getting it repaired, although luck shouldn't come into it

Steve

 

have a word with your dealer and depnding on their response, write a letter to Suabru Uk or email and send a Copy to the dealer explaining wot has happened and the poor service and attention u received from them.

this will sort things 4 u

 

My local dealer damaged a wheel when it was in and as an act of good faith they replaced it (I had no proof other than my word). Slightly easier than a dent to fix, but worth approaching them (and nicely not aggressively) as they do want your business and will help if they can. With cars not up to scratch within a certain time period, you are within your rights to demand a brand new car, but this does require a certain amount of pressure on the dealer and they will not do it without a fight. Good luck whatever you do.

 

the dealer in question has offered to put the damage right without any pressure from me, im annoyed that my car was was damaged in the first place, but the fact that no one let me know about the damage and the car was dirty when it was brought from the rear of the dealership to me, might suggest that someone knew that the car had sustained the damage and was trying conceal it, this is what ****'s me off the most, fingers crossed they can rectify the damage on wensday without causing more

 

Good luck. When you drop it off go around the car with the guy and agree there is currently no other scratches or damage. That way there's no arguing about any damage that may be done while it's with them again.