Philosophical Question Time!

"philipilihp" (philiphilip)
05/21/2014 at 09:53 • Filed to: Diesel, Porsche, Cayenne, who's fault

This is an issue that came up on the radio this morning:

Person A lends their Porsche Cayenne diesel to Person B, who is moving. Person B is grateful, and wants to fill up the tank before returning the car. Then Person A drives the car later, but all goes bust because Person B put regular gas in the tank instead of diesel. $15k in damage, who pays?

Should Person A have specified, "hey my car is a diesel, just in case you want to refuel it," or should Person B have been smarter and looked at the badging on the rear of the car or the little note under the fuel door?

DISCUSSION (26)

CalzoneGolem > philipilihp
05/21/2014 at 09:55

My question is who uses a Porsche Cayenne to move?

Brian Silvestro > philipilihp
05/21/2014 at 09:57

The 328d in my driveway right now has SO many labels to let you know it's diesel. Two in the cabin, and two on the fuel cap itself. It'd be hard to miss them.

Party-vi > philipilihp
05/21/2014 at 09:57

Something about the "DIESEL FUEL ONLY" stickers would lead me to believe Person B is a clod.

Jagvar > philipilihp
05/21/2014 at 09:57

Person A should not have lent out his car in the first place. :)

But in that scenario, I can't imagine the owner not saying a thousand times, "Remember, it needs diesel!"

philipilihp > Jagvar
05/21/2014 at 09:59

I think if my car was diesel and someone borrowed it that is exactly what I would do!

PushToStart > philipilihp
05/21/2014 at 09:59

It's both of their faults. As for who pays, I say Person B, because when Person B was lent the car, they (should've been) assuming responsibility for the vehicle. Essentially, it's no different than backing into a pole. There's damage done to the car, and the person who did the damage is responsible for fixing it.

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > philipilihp
05/21/2014 at 10:00

Kinja'd!!!

thats a toughy... but I lean toward mentioning the above...

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > philipilihp
05/21/2014 at 10:00

If I'm lending someone my diesel Cayenne, I'm telling them a million times that it's diesel. Plus there's stickers and warnings everywhere telling you it's a diesel. So person B is just a bit of an idiot and I'd make them pay every cent.

Jagvar > CalzoneGolem
05/21/2014 at 10:01

Kinja'd!!!

People whose Laforzas are in the shop.

crowmolly > Party-vi
05/21/2014 at 10:01

Person B.

philipilihp > Party-vi
05/21/2014 at 10:02

Most likely. So who pays?

Aya, Almost Has A Cosmo With Toyota Engine Owned by a BMW. > philipilihp
05/21/2014 at 10:02

Well, person B borrows my car, that means that he's responsible for every single damage he did to my car as long as it's in his possession.

And i think in this ocassion, that's his own fault. He should pay for all the damage he caused.

philipilihp > PushToStart
05/21/2014 at 10:06

I think that's a good way of putting it. Sucks for them it's 15 Gs.

philipilihp > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t
05/21/2014 at 10:06

Yeah it's pretty clear that diesel goes in there. They should've seen that.

Party-vi > philipilihp
05/21/2014 at 10:08

Nobody - file a claim with insurance to cover the cost. Person B pays the deductible out of their pocket.

philipilihp > Party-vi
05/21/2014 at 10:09

Yeah that would be the outcome. But I'm glad everyone seems to agree that Person B is the idiot who's insurance will be used.

Nibbles > philipilihp
05/21/2014 at 10:10

Neither. The government should pay because they didn't mandate enough differentiation betweeen pump nozzles.

Party-vi > philipilihp
05/21/2014 at 10:10

Ah good call.

Racescort666 > CalzoneGolem
05/21/2014 at 10:12

Isn't that what people are touting the "practicality" of wagons for?

CalzoneGolem > Racescort666
05/21/2014 at 10:14

Just rent a truck dadgumit!

philipilihp > Nibbles
05/21/2014 at 10:20

THANKS OBAMA!

Racescort666 > CalzoneGolem
05/21/2014 at 10:27

This is why I think performance wagons are dumb. Anything that I would be doing that would require a wagon (moving, hauling lumber, picking up car parts, picking up furniture, moving anything that's big and bulky that isn't a chubby girl) I should be doing with a POS truck, van, or POS wagon, not my nice car.

ttyymmnn > philipilihp
05/21/2014 at 10:36

That's an interesting question. So few regular Americans have experience with diesel that they rarely think of buying it. However, I would bet that it says something about diesel near the gas gauge. But if the vehicle has specific refueling requirements, the owner should have indicated that to his friend.

A friend once loaned me his Ford Ranger pickup to drive for a week when I visited from out of town. He told me that he only put premium fuel in it. It killed my to pay that much, but I honored his wishes. But I had been given specific instructions.

Ultimately, though, the person who put the wrong fuel in the car should offer to make restitution. They should take responsibility for their mistake. And ideally, the owner should accept some responsibility for not making the car's requirements known. So, here's how I think it should play out:

Person B: Damn, I'm sorry. I didn't know it was a diesel, and I didn't think to ask or check.

Person A: Yeah, I should have told you. So, let's split the cost of the repair.

EDIT: Wouldn't it say "DIESEL ONLY" on the fucking fuel fill??

CalzoneGolem > Racescort666
05/21/2014 at 10:42

That sounds like a man that doesn't have children, a wife and dogs.

Racescort666 > CalzoneGolem
05/21/2014 at 11:02

I still don't see the reasoning for combining a utility car and a fun car if you're going to load it up with things that are going to destroy the interior. When you start getting down to it, it starts to make more sense to separate them. Plus, having the utility car listed as the primary on your insurance should help the insurance on the fun car.

Mattbob > philipilihp
05/21/2014 at 11:16

it should say right on the gas gauge. Person B is an idiot and should pay. You break it, you buy it.