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Dealer smashes my Tercel on test drive
Had my wife take the car into the dealer for a 60,000 kilometer service. Mess from the start in that the dealer has a couple operations in Vancouver, and booked the service at the wrong one, so she had to wait four hours instead of one. Then, after the simple service, they took it for a test drive and had an accident. Okay, that can happen-- I understand. But she phones me (we live about two hours away) and says there is considerable damage. The manager says not very bad. He wants her to take the car home, have the repairs done here on our insurance (!), and, in short, deal with this headache ourselves. To me, taking it to the dealer (big operation and pricey) means if something like this happens they should do whatever to make it a relatively trouble free situation for the customer. But no. Some serious arm twisting before getting a loaner (and the manager had said they had no loaners on the lot-- turns out they had two!). Now it has been over a week, so my guess is the wife's evaluation of the damage (ie, considerable) is closer to the truth than the service departments claim of minor. Now too I am thinking two things: one, in my experience a car that gets a good whack is often never quite the same; two, if the damage is over one thousand dollars which seems likely, this goes on the Provincial records, and effects the resale price, should we sell it. Not happy, but not sure what to do in this situation. Any ideas, or words from anyone who has dealt with this type of situation would be greatly appreciated.
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In the meantime, they need to put you in a rental and repair your car - after you contact YOUR insurance company to have someone else on your side.
Good Luck
My old insurance company, Farmer's Group, ran an annual CARFAX report and a DMV printout on each car and driver on each policy. They adjusted your rates accordingly. If the insurance company knows the facts about the accident, there's no issue...
Never having had experience in this type of situation (thank goodness!), I do wonder what would be fair as far as making this 'right'. That may seem like a silly question, but I really do not know. Would a lawyer be able to make suggestions in this regard? Or should I know before I go to the lawyer?
It is a 1999 Tercel four door that had run perfectly and never been involved in any accident, and has been well looked after.
We have already suffered some inconvenience and it looks like more is on the way. First, that unpleasant unwillingness on the manager's part to provide a loaner (they did, but only after a lot of hassle), second, it occurred to us just as we were setting out on a short Spring school break holiday that only my wife could drive, since she had signed the papers for the loaner-- that was not good. Third, when I phoned to check on the status of the damaged car, again the manager was unpleasant, and pretty much snarled that he would get in touch with us when it was fixed, and it might be a month (!). Last, as I mentioned, if it is over a thousand (Canadian) dollars, which I am guessing it will be, then this goes on the record, and will very much effect resale, should we sell it.
If it goes over a thousand (the repairs) one possibility may be that the dealership exchanges it for a used car of the same year. But that does not seem like a very good solution, since that car may not have been well looked after, or driven with the care with which we drove ours.
Would it be unreasonable, since Tercels are no longer made, to suggest replacing it with an Echo? Or should we just take it that accidents happen, and live with it? Any reflections on what would be the 'right' thing here will be read with great interest, and appreciated very much. Thank you again. Tim
I don't think it would be fair for them to give you a brand-new Echo, since the Tercel is now 4, almost 5 model years old. The fair thing in this case would be for them to take the Tercel off your hands, and give you retail value for it (what they would sell it for if it had not been in an accident), and let you put that towards an Echo or other new car.
then, there are loser pinheads whose idea of a test drive includes repeating all the stunts that Evel Knievel couldn't pull off.
if the dealer is stiffing you, either his insurance has canned him from hiring and holding on to too many useless car-wreckers, or they're skating on way too many edges trying to get through by the grace of God to the next quarter.
the lawyer and if necessary court is the way to go here. you should not pay a penny for any of this. THEY messed you up, THEY should fix you up.
If the damage weren't severe (just a fender bender), I'd be happy with my car repaired impeccably, compensation for car rentals and any other reasonable charge your attorney can come up with.
If you get into diminution of value, you are going to start a war and things will escalate. I would avoid a diminution demand, but rather stack up other legitimate charges that end up compensating you for the diminution anyway.
If you have a record of the repairs done, and this is not serious, this should mitigate most diminution at the time of sale, if you show this to the new buyer.
If the repairs are substantial, you may wish to strategize differently, with a car swap or purchase of a new car at what we would hope would be a most excellent price.
The dealer is not on good legal ground here at all, but he can more successfully defend a diminution suit, especially if damage is not severe. So in essence the diminution dispute will hold up the entire settlement, and this may not be a wise move. Sometimes you need to wrap it up and get going with life, you know?
this does, however, lead into the thicket of diminished value. it depends on how badly you need that couple thousand or so to get into the new ride.
If you do not get the sort of help you need from your Insurance company, then hire your own lawyer. After all, why do you have insurance other than to protect yourself.
Where Kinley when we need him?
Harry