Sad story
Newbie
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
From: Lenox, MA
Just posted this on EvoXforums.: Looking for more thoughts on my next action.
So here's my lovely story for the day. Dropped my X off at Mitsubishi (not going to name dealerships yet) on Monday to have the clutch replaced. I picked it up at lunchtime today. First thing the manager says to me is, "Hey, what happened to your hood?", which of course concerned the hell out of me. He said there was some paint missing! I told him that there sure as hell wasn't any paint missing when I dropped the car off. So I go to the back to look at my car with him, and my ARC hood scoop was torn off, and the paint is missing around the air inlet. So of course I go kind of ballistic, and asked if the car was left outside overnight, which he replied, "I don't think so, well, yeah maybe it was."
So I was pissed, but they told me they'd pay for the part (which of course no one has anymore) and I figured that **** happens, so whatever.
Anyway, I get a call from one of their techs an hour later, and tells me to please call the owner and the service manager and tell them to stop yelling at him, because he'll take care of everything. I was basically like, "WTF are you talking about?" Long story short, he took my car HOME with him for the night (about a 25 minute drive) and left it at the bottom of his driveway, where apparently it was vandalized. He wanted to "make sure no CELs came on and the clutch was ok lol. So God knows what happens when a 20-something year old mechanic (who drives a Lancer with a fartcan) takes home a 400 horsepower Evo for the night with a brand new ****ing clutch in it (which needs to be broken in for 500 miles).
Anyway, my blood pressure soared, and I thought about it for about 15 minutes and called the owner of the dealership, and pretty much asked him what kind of dealership lets their employees take customers sports cars home with them for the night. He was apologetic as expected (I've spent about $70,000 over the last 3 years with them, and referred an Evo and Ralliart purchase to them, so I'm rather a preferred customer lol).
So what would you do? I assume something they've done is against the law. The worst part (besides having my baby stolen for the night) is that it seems like they tried to cover it all up. Bondo and I remembered after we left, that the manager was yelling at the tech when we walked in about something. I assume it was regarding the grand theft auto that occurred. I'm so pissed.
So here's my lovely story for the day. Dropped my X off at Mitsubishi (not going to name dealerships yet) on Monday to have the clutch replaced. I picked it up at lunchtime today. First thing the manager says to me is, "Hey, what happened to your hood?", which of course concerned the hell out of me. He said there was some paint missing! I told him that there sure as hell wasn't any paint missing when I dropped the car off. So I go to the back to look at my car with him, and my ARC hood scoop was torn off, and the paint is missing around the air inlet. So of course I go kind of ballistic, and asked if the car was left outside overnight, which he replied, "I don't think so, well, yeah maybe it was."
So I was pissed, but they told me they'd pay for the part (which of course no one has anymore) and I figured that **** happens, so whatever.
Anyway, I get a call from one of their techs an hour later, and tells me to please call the owner and the service manager and tell them to stop yelling at him, because he'll take care of everything. I was basically like, "WTF are you talking about?" Long story short, he took my car HOME with him for the night (about a 25 minute drive) and left it at the bottom of his driveway, where apparently it was vandalized. He wanted to "make sure no CELs came on and the clutch was ok lol. So God knows what happens when a 20-something year old mechanic (who drives a Lancer with a fartcan) takes home a 400 horsepower Evo for the night with a brand new ****ing clutch in it (which needs to be broken in for 500 miles).
Anyway, my blood pressure soared, and I thought about it for about 15 minutes and called the owner of the dealership, and pretty much asked him what kind of dealership lets their employees take customers sports cars home with them for the night. He was apologetic as expected (I've spent about $70,000 over the last 3 years with them, and referred an Evo and Ralliart purchase to them, so I'm rather a preferred customer lol).
So what would you do? I assume something they've done is against the law. The worst part (besides having my baby stolen for the night) is that it seems like they tried to cover it all up. Bondo and I remembered after we left, that the manager was yelling at the tech when we walked in about something. I assume it was regarding the grand theft auto that occurred. I'm so pissed.
Evolving Member
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 146
Likes: 0
From: San Jose, CA
I am an agent for commercial insurance and may have some helpful info for the OP:
While I'm not entirely sure of the insurance regulations in your state, I can tell you that the dealership is required to have Garage Insurance (which protects the dealership/service dept. from perils such a natural disasters, fire, and to a lesser extent, incompetence. This insurance also covers vehicles that are being driven off premises for diagnosis by an employee of the dealership/service dept. I do not believe (at least in my state) this covers an employee taking a vehicle home -- which means this is going down the road of being a theft, and thus a police report needs to be generated. In this case, the dealership will likely fire the employee and this situation would be handled by your insurance company filing against the employee's (which generally, should not affect your premium. But let's hope it does not go down this route... Taking this to a lawyer and/or going crazy at the dealership is not the wisest move. Let a cooler head prevail. Based on my experience with clients and If I were in your shoes, this is what I would do: Be polite and ask for either a replacement or the replacement value of the part that was damaged and the damage to be repaired. Then, I would ask for a reimbursement and warranty on the clutch job. Don't mention anything to them about theft, incompetence, etc. If they are wise, they will agree to this -- this amount is peanuts to them compared to their deductible and will be off the record. If this fails, don't threaten them! Ask what they are willing to do. If what they offer doesn't suit you, contact your local Better Business Bureau (the dealership is likely a member). You'd be surprised at the pressure they can put on them. A lawyer would not likely get involved, there is little opportunity for profit for them. If this doesn't work, contact MMNA.
I've heard of many cases like these: cars falling off lifts, wrecked on diagnostic drives, and even the good 'ol body shop guy keeping an exotic car an extra day so he can take his girl out for a drive... and all have been dealt with satisfactorally.
While I'm not entirely sure of the insurance regulations in your state, I can tell you that the dealership is required to have Garage Insurance (which protects the dealership/service dept. from perils such a natural disasters, fire, and to a lesser extent, incompetence. This insurance also covers vehicles that are being driven off premises for diagnosis by an employee of the dealership/service dept. I do not believe (at least in my state) this covers an employee taking a vehicle home -- which means this is going down the road of being a theft, and thus a police report needs to be generated. In this case, the dealership will likely fire the employee and this situation would be handled by your insurance company filing against the employee's (which generally, should not affect your premium. But let's hope it does not go down this route... Taking this to a lawyer and/or going crazy at the dealership is not the wisest move. Let a cooler head prevail. Based on my experience with clients and If I were in your shoes, this is what I would do: Be polite and ask for either a replacement or the replacement value of the part that was damaged and the damage to be repaired. Then, I would ask for a reimbursement and warranty on the clutch job. Don't mention anything to them about theft, incompetence, etc. If they are wise, they will agree to this -- this amount is peanuts to them compared to their deductible and will be off the record. If this fails, don't threaten them! Ask what they are willing to do. If what they offer doesn't suit you, contact your local Better Business Bureau (the dealership is likely a member). You'd be surprised at the pressure they can put on them. A lawyer would not likely get involved, there is little opportunity for profit for them. If this doesn't work, contact MMNA.
I've heard of many cases like these: cars falling off lifts, wrecked on diagnostic drives, and even the good 'ol body shop guy keeping an exotic car an extra day so he can take his girl out for a drive... and all have been dealt with satisfactorally.
Evolved Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,096
Likes: 1
From: 10,000 frozen lakes
What a horrible story indeed. This is what I woudl do:
1. Get the dealership to fix the hood scoop area and if possbile, get a replacement for the scoop that you had stolen.
2. Tell the owner that you want $500 for your grief so that you do not take legal action against him and the dealership. Remind the owner of your customer loyalty and the referrals that you have made.
3. Tell the owner that you demand that that particular tech be fired for taking your car home and leaving at the end of his driveway.
4. Get a letter in writing that if you ever have your car serviced at that dealership again, that nobody will drive the car w/o your consent and that if somebody does, the dealership will have to go to court for a breach of that agreement.
5. Find out if possible what the service agreement policies are in writing.
6. Contact Mitsubishi about this and complain that you are a loyal Mitsubishi owner who is terrified to bring your car to a Mitsubishi dealer because of the morons who work in the service area.
7. If all else fails, take them to court and sue for damages.
Again, I hate to hear stories like this. I could write a book on all the horror stories I have personally witnessed or heard about where techs and lot attendants have abused performance cars.
1. Get the dealership to fix the hood scoop area and if possbile, get a replacement for the scoop that you had stolen.
2. Tell the owner that you want $500 for your grief so that you do not take legal action against him and the dealership. Remind the owner of your customer loyalty and the referrals that you have made.
3. Tell the owner that you demand that that particular tech be fired for taking your car home and leaving at the end of his driveway.
4. Get a letter in writing that if you ever have your car serviced at that dealership again, that nobody will drive the car w/o your consent and that if somebody does, the dealership will have to go to court for a breach of that agreement.
5. Find out if possible what the service agreement policies are in writing.
6. Contact Mitsubishi about this and complain that you are a loyal Mitsubishi owner who is terrified to bring your car to a Mitsubishi dealer because of the morons who work in the service area.
7. If all else fails, take them to court and sue for damages.
Again, I hate to hear stories like this. I could write a book on all the horror stories I have personally witnessed or heard about where techs and lot attendants have abused performance cars.
Well, the owner called me back this evening. The tech was fired today. They ordered me a stock hood scoop, are cutting me a check for the ARC part, and crediting me the bill for the work. So they've done the right thing IMO. They will also stand behind their work should anything go wrong with the drivetrain. I still feel bad that somebody got fired, but I guess they had to do it. And oh yeah, when I got into my car after picking it up from the dealership, the info screen said 9 MPG lol.
Drove the car around tonight, and it feels good. There's a shimmy in first gear, but I guess that's the Spec clutch breaking in. I'm not seeing any knock, but I also haven't taken it over 4k rpms due to break-in.
Drove the car around tonight, and it feels good. There's a shimmy in first gear, but I guess that's the Spec clutch breaking in. I'm not seeing any knock, but I also haven't taken it over 4k rpms due to break-in.
Evolving Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 280
Likes: 0
From: Boston
As pissed as I would be, it sounds like the resolve and resultion was more than fair.
It sounds like you got what would have been legally entitled anyways, as the work was performed before damage and they still have to pay for the specs, tech salary, receptionist overhead. Plus that credit is gold!
Sorry to hear you are selling it.
It sounds like you got what would have been legally entitled anyways, as the work was performed before damage and they still have to pay for the specs, tech salary, receptionist overhead. Plus that credit is gold!
Sorry to hear you are selling it.
the mitsubishi dealer i bought my car from is a **** place, mission mitsubishi in san antonio. didn't like the attitude of the employees and they took over a month to get my friend's referral check and he threatened to call the bbb because they were given him the turn a round, only reason i went to that dealer is because it was the only dealer in san antonio that had an evo when i was shopping.
glad to hear that tech got fired, stupid kid. hope everything works the best it can to OP
glad to hear that tech got fired, stupid kid. hope everything works the best it can to OP
Evolved Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,096
Likes: 1
From: 10,000 frozen lakes
I wouldn't feel the least bit bad because that tech was fired. That was gross negligence on his part. Unfortunately, this kind of crap goes on all the time at dealerships. I got a couple of lot attendants fired at the dealership where I bought my Civic Si because they were starting Si's cold, revving the heck out of them and then putting them on the limiter and doing burnouts. I told the service manager who took immediate action and the next day those morons were gone. Glad to hear that it worked out well for you!
Evolved Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 591
Likes: 0
From: Mesa, Az
Before seeking out an attorney I think you should give the dealership a reasonable chance to rectify the situation (you also have to be reasonable here as well, for example, don't expect to get a new car over this). If you explain your stance to the owner, I would think that they would b emore than willing to work something out with you.