Some guy's '12 ZL1 is Totaled by Dealership Employee and the Dealer Won't do Squat!

"K-Roll-PorscheTamer" (k-roll390)
01/08/2014 at 21:36 • Filed to: None

EDIT 2: Just so everyone can see how "totaled" the ZL1 was here ya go!

I think this needs to be seen. It's not my car nor is it my story in at all; but when I saw this on Facebook, I knew that this needed to be put on here so that everyone could see the sheer stupidity and pure rubbish that is going on in this world. This also may be the worst dealership story I've heard to date; so bad in fact that it may surpass any "VW Horror Story" I've read to date.

Anyway, short story is this: some Chevy dealership employee takes someones brand new ZL1 for a joyride, totals it and the dealer says it's not their problem.

"Dealer Wrecks Customer's 2012 ZL1 Camaro"

http://www.lsxtv.com/news/dealer-wr…

And here's the forum where all the actions taking place

http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthr…

If it were me, I'd raise all hell until they gave me a brand-new loaded 2012 ZL1

EDIT: Here's more on the story, if not, the same with more info.

http://capegazette.villagesoup.com/p/in-for-a-pai…

Update: I just found the story on Yahoo News!

DISCUSSION (48)

Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
01/08/2014 at 21:41

What asswipes. Some people, guh.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur
01/08/2014 at 21:43

I know! Check out the entire story that a ZL1 owner posted on this forum!

http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthr…

Bad Idea Hat > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
01/08/2014 at 21:43

I sense lawyers.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Bad Idea Hat
01/08/2014 at 21:51

I'd say tis time for that ZL1 owner to lawyer up if he hasn't yet.

I_AmDeath > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
01/08/2014 at 21:51

Wow. The way the dealership dealt with that is scummy. I hope that they do right by the owner in the end though.

davedave1111 > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
01/08/2014 at 21:53

It's amazing how stupid some business owners are.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > I_AmDeath
01/08/2014 at 21:54

When you say that, I hope you mean that they are forced to do the right thing, then punished as a result of their greed and vileness.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > davedave1111
01/08/2014 at 21:56

Unfortunately it's the cruel and incredibly stupid world we live in.

I'd say it's more than just "stupid"; but I can't think of a better word to describe it.

Doug DeMuro > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
01/08/2014 at 21:56

This is an easy one. Chevrolet needs to provide First State Chevy with an extra Camaro ZL1, built to this guy's liking. The dealer should take the insurance payout and apply it to this extra ZL1. Then they should give the guy this ZL1 at his current interest rate and payment terms. Anything in between they should consider a loss. And next time, they should do a better job when deciding who to hire.

Wild story indeed.

I_AmDeath > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
01/08/2014 at 21:57

I'd rather them not have to be forced to do it but instead manning up but odds are this will have too go through the court system and all that bullshit. Has the owner contacted Jalopnik?

Mathias Rios > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
01/08/2014 at 22:04

Just read the thread and thats F***ed up. this should be FPed to help the owner of that ZL1.

davedave1111 > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
01/08/2014 at 22:04

Stupid's the right word, because it's just bad business. Unless the dealership's already going bust next week, it makes no fucking sense at all.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Mathias Rios
01/08/2014 at 22:06

If I could do anything, I'd setup a benefit to get that car lover a brand new ZL1 or a loaded '14!

Jeff-God-of-Biscuits > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
01/08/2014 at 22:08

It's in Delaware too, East Coasters!

1st State Chevy dealership in Georgetown

So let it be written, so let it be done. Forever have they been barred for Fuckery most foul.

I_AmDeath > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
01/08/2014 at 22:08

You should attach a few images of how badly the car was damaged.

Jeff-God-of-Biscuits > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
01/08/2014 at 22:09

Nah, I think the Dealer is gonna handle that, like it or not.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Jeff-God-of-Biscuits
01/08/2014 at 22:16

They've got a Facebook page too I think.

Oh wait! It's been deleted.

Jeff-God-of-Biscuits > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
01/08/2014 at 22:24

Alrighty, the "accident" occured just before Christmas. As of today, here is what the Camaro owner had to say... (tl:dr- tried to use the crash as an opportunity to sell him a previously crashed zl1 with more miles to replace the car they trashed)

"The latest in the saga of the totaled ZL1 #1635...

The dealer was supposed to be finding me a 2013 ZL1 new. They agreed (or so I thought) that it would be for the best since buying a used one (yes, ME BUYING from them) could only lead to problems down the road.

I have been patient. I finally got a call on Monday (1/6) to come over to look at the car they "found" for me. They were sure I would be pleased. Imagine my surprise when the car they "found" turned out to be a trade-in on a new Stingray. The car was a 2012 ZL1, black like mine, but with a sunroof (which I do not want), 34% more miles than mine, new tires (why did it need new tires at 13,588 miles?), different wheels than mine, non-Chevrolet emblems front and back, and tinted windows. Also absolutely NO documentation on the car, even though I was told the car had more documentation than mine.

I was not even told the mileage on the car until I went out and sat in it for myself. Amazing that we had to go over all the figures first. And yes, I was to buy this car from them. They did offer $4K "feel good" (their words, not mine) money to buy the correct emblems and rims. However, nothing was mentioned about a lower price for the higher mileage.

My wife and I just were not that happy with the car. We offered a counter-offer and let the dealership for them to discuss our proposal.

When we got home last night, we discovered through this forum (thanks, guys) that the car was a TWO owner car, not a one-owner car like we were told. We also found out that the car was hit 3 days after the original owner purchased the car. WE paid $55 for a CarFax report—the dealer didn't even offer that for us. They did have some other report, but it wasn't a CarFax.

So they were basically trying to SELL us a 2-owner vehicle that had previous body damage, along with tinted windows, incorrect emblems, more mileage, the apparent need for new tires, and heaven only knows what else.

They called today to tell us that their original offer to buy THAT car from them was ALL they were going to (or willing to) offer. Take it or leave it. We really did not want a twice-used car with no documentation and do not feel it was a reasonable replacement for our show-winning, pristine, fully documented car with much less mileage.

So folks, almost a month later, I am still making payments on a car I do not have, and certainly cannot drive. And the dealer is unwilling to step up and "do the right thing."

I have retained an attorney, but really, why should I have to pay attorney fees when I am the innocent party in all of this. I did not ask for my car to be stolen by a dealer's employee.

The dealer is upset about the negative press they have received, yet they seem unwilling to do anything to remedy the situation.

I guess they will get what they deserve, even if I do not get what I fully deserve (my car replaced at no expense to me).

If this hadn't actually happened to me, I don't think I would have believed it.

The story has now been covered in the local newspaper (Cape Gazette), the local news station (WBOC), and a Philadelphia station (NBC10). Simply amazing...

John"

Jeff-God-of-Biscuits > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
01/08/2014 at 22:26

https://www.facebook.com/firststatechev…

Corey CC97, MAZDA DPI IS STILL BAE JOESTACTIV JOESTACTIV JOESTACTIV JOESTACTIV VISIT FLORIDA RACING LIVES FOREVER IN OUR HEARTS > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
01/08/2014 at 22:30

Something similar happened to my dad's friend in the 90's when he had a Mitsubishi 3000GT Twin-Turbo. He took it in for a service, then the mechanic took it for a joyride and wrecked it. A year after he bought the car.

Victorious Secret > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
01/08/2014 at 22:31

I'm only on Page 8 but wow, how was this not escalated to Jalopnik, Autoblog, Reddit and GM's PR department?

This is a nightmare through and through.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Jeff-God-of-Biscuits
01/08/2014 at 22:31

Saved me the whole read. I'm only on page 9. But I'll keep on reading anyway! Thanks for posting this, as it really does show the poor quality and unprofessional ethic of this dealership.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Victorious Secret
01/08/2014 at 22:33

The WORST nightmare for any car enthusiast, car lover, owner or anyone who enjoys cars! I'm surprised this wasn't posted elsewhere besides the Facebook post I saw and on the Camaro5 forum.

Jeff-God-of-Biscuits > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
01/08/2014 at 22:35

I didn't make it through all the way either, but the above was about 2 pages in from last.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Jeff-God-of-Biscuits
01/08/2014 at 22:43

I'm on page 10 now...

Never have I been so invested in reading a Chevy or Camaro Forum before....

It's a "Porch-uh" > Jeff-God-of-Biscuits
01/08/2014 at 23:44

The reviews are fantastic.

M54B30 > It's a "Porch-uh"
01/08/2014 at 23:53

They lit that page up

Burrito de EJ25 > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
01/09/2014 at 00:41

This needs to be on the front page ASAP.

Shift24 > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
01/09/2014 at 01:09

Welp off to court.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > Doug DeMuro
01/09/2014 at 02:05

Agreed. I'm looking at buying a fiesta ST in the near future and I've heard some horror stories of the local ford dealership doing similar shenanigans to "problems" that occured after cars were brought in for service. I have little to no evidence besides what people at work said who owned fords, but I will drive the extra distance to go to a much better reviewed dealer for mine.

midnightautoparts > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
01/09/2014 at 05:41

Dates are very important here. If the owner owned this vehicle for less than 365 days he needs to file a lemon law complaint. His paint issue is unresolved. Section 5003 - Remedies upon failure to repair.

(a). If the manufacturer, its agent or its authorized dealer does not conform the
automobile to any applicable express warranty by repairing or correcting
any nonconformity after a reasonable number of attempts, the manufacturer
shall either replace the automobile with a comparable new automobile
acceptable to the consumer or repurchase the automobile from the
consumer and refund to the consumer the full purchase, including all
credits and allowances for any trade-in vehicle; provided, however, that the
consumer shall have the unqualified right to decline a replacement
automobile and to demand instead a repurchase.

midnightautoparts > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
01/09/2014 at 05:41

liquid_popcorn > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
01/09/2014 at 08:55

Stories like this make me glad I work at a dealership - I know all my service people personally.

Jayhawk Jake > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
01/09/2014 at 09:13

Guy should get GM involved. From what I've seen on the Sonic forums at least GM (corporate, not dealer) customer support is fantastic.

Jayhawk Jake > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
01/09/2014 at 09:18

No, then the dealer gets a pass. They should have to pay for it

NoahthePorscheGuy > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
01/09/2014 at 23:49

regardless, get the Fiesta, join the club. Any questions? Fiestast.net

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > NoahthePorscheGuy
01/09/2014 at 23:55

DON'T TELL ME WHAT TO DO! I might just get one of these instead, just out of spite and to be different. And even when I inevitably end up on the side of the road in a cloud of steam, I will flip off people in more reliable cars because I have something quirky and french, dammit!

NoahthePorscheGuy > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
01/09/2014 at 23:57

O_O. Dude, I wouldn't blame you, that thing is beautiful. beaucoup swag.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > NoahthePorscheGuy
01/10/2014 at 00:06

Nah it's terrible and probably smells like armpit. But I haven;t made up my mind just yet. The fiesta is still in the lead but the Regal GS, GTI/GLI, and others are still on my mind. Hopefully I'll make a decision before the end of winter and have something new and fun to break in before the summer autoX season starts

I_AmDeath > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
01/10/2014 at 02:17

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id… This is the facebook of the asshole who stole the car.

tjirish341 > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
01/10/2014 at 23:55

I had an issue several years ago with a dealership not on this level. I contacted GM writing a personal letter. The executive secretary for the head of Chevrolet called me just to inquire on my concerns.My point is John you should contact the head of Chevrolet Camaro. Now they are not liable but that dealership is licensed by Chevrolet and represents Chevrolet. At very least they might be willing to put a little pressure on the dealership owners. In other words go over there heads. Just an idea.— Tim In Indianapolis, IN.

tjirish341 > I_AmDeath
01/11/2014 at 00:02

I can't believe this dummy has not deleted his facbook page. Now we are all gawking at him.

tjirish341 > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
01/11/2014 at 00:06

It's on yahoo now #5. This is becoming a national story. The bad publicity is just going to get worse for this dealership. Letting this guy a parts consultant at dealership have a key, then wrecking car, then trying give these people a pathetic replacement. It just is going to get worse.If they had just done the right thing they could have turned chicken chit into chicken salad.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > tjirish341
01/11/2014 at 00:27

This story just keeps getting more interesting by the day! Wonder how long this charade will go on for. Maybe it'll hit the national news; but if were to do that, then at that point the dealer should be long gone IMO. I just don't understand how that dealer can't understand that this whole fiasco won't do him or Chevy or GM any good. If he thinks that this negative publicity will get him more business then it may be the most ludicrous idea ice ever heard, if that's the case.

Has Jalopnik gotten ahold of this whole story yet??

I_AmDeath > tjirish341
01/11/2014 at 02:25

Not the brightest fellow on the planet.

tjirish341 > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
01/11/2014 at 15:48

I just went on auto trader put in a search for 2012 certified camaroZL1 and there is one very similar to what John owned at classic chevrolet in grapevine Texas. 2012, 7000 miles listed for $46,987. This dealership owners are the biggest ignoramus's. The insurance company says they pay $44,400. So say the owners of first state pick this car out. If John is interested. Hell pay for plane ticket send John down look at car. John says yeah I take it. Insurance pays, have the car flat bedded to Delaware. Cos maybe $1500 closed container. It cost with insurance firststate maybe $4000. INSTEAD they sit around waiting for trade in or some other POS that comes close to John's car when there are many sitting on autotrader. The owners don't give a chit. If they did they would have done what I just did.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > tjirish341
01/11/2014 at 16:05

I agree. It really is so very easy to search the inventories of Chevy Dealerships around the US. It's just unfathomable how they can't just do a simple search and end this whole thing. But if it were me, instead of looking for a ZL1, I'd be looking for a C7. :p

ncasolowork2 > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
01/13/2014 at 15:18

Document your mileage when you bring it in. Ask the service person if the repair work will require a test drive and approximately how many miles will that test be? Also notify them that you've documented your mileage.