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Forum Thread
Engine mysteriously died in a new car - how can I turn it to my advantage?
May 14, 2013 at
08:36 PM
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Brief version, without any names:
Six weeks ago, I bought a brand new car, with warranty and all that other good stuff. Two days ago, as I was driving on a highway, the coolant light came on, followed by an engine light, followed by my car dying just a minute later.
After it got towed to the dealership, they said the cause was a leaking radiator hose. (Keep in mind, the car is 6 weeks old and has only 850 miles on it!) After they replaced it, it kept acting up, so they decided to hold it a bit longer. (They got me a rental car in the meantime.)
When I called them earlier today to see if they had any updates, I was told this: "Oh, hi there. Uh, we don't really know what's wrong with your car, so we decided to replace the whole engine!
We'll get a brand new one tomorrow and it'll be good to go by Thursday! "
When I asked what exactly was wrong, they just kept repeating the same thing. I don't know a whole lot about cars, but a friend told me that getting a replacement engine pretty much destroys the car's resale value because people will wonder what else might be wrong with it. Is that correct? Logically, it would seem that, for example, a 10-year-old car with a 1-year-old engine is better than a 10-year-old car with a 10-year-old engine, but consumer psychology is a strange animal.
Personally, I plan on driving the car for 10 years and 120,000 miles (it's got an extended warranty) before I trade it in, so the resale value isn't a big deal for me. That said, is there any way I can spin this to get some major freebies (e.g., get the car company to shave off a few grand off my loan balance) or something along those lines? Right now, they're just paying for my rental car and nothing else. Given the sheer immensity of this colossal fark-up, though, it seems to me that they owe me a lot more than that.
Got any comments, advice or suggestions?
Thanks!
Six weeks ago, I bought a brand new car, with warranty and all that other good stuff. Two days ago, as I was driving on a highway, the coolant light came on, followed by an engine light, followed by my car dying just a minute later.
After it got towed to the dealership, they said the cause was a leaking radiator hose. (Keep in mind, the car is 6 weeks old and has only 850 miles on it!) After they replaced it, it kept acting up, so they decided to hold it a bit longer. (They got me a rental car in the meantime.)
When I called them earlier today to see if they had any updates, I was told this: "Oh, hi there. Uh, we don't really know what's wrong with your car, so we decided to replace the whole engine!
We'll get a brand new one tomorrow and it'll be good to go by Thursday! "When I asked what exactly was wrong, they just kept repeating the same thing. I don't know a whole lot about cars, but a friend told me that getting a replacement engine pretty much destroys the car's resale value because people will wonder what else might be wrong with it. Is that correct? Logically, it would seem that, for example, a 10-year-old car with a 1-year-old engine is better than a 10-year-old car with a 10-year-old engine, but consumer psychology is a strange animal.
Personally, I plan on driving the car for 10 years and 120,000 miles (it's got an extended warranty) before I trade it in, so the resale value isn't a big deal for me. That said, is there any way I can spin this to get some major freebies (e.g., get the car company to shave off a few grand off my loan balance) or something along those lines? Right now, they're just paying for my rental car and nothing else. Given the sheer immensity of this colossal fark-up, though, it seems to me that they owe me a lot more than that.
Got any comments, advice or suggestions?
Thanks!
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In the State that I live in there is a 'Lemon Law'. If the dealer cannot repair the problem in THREE tries, you're entitled to a new car.
If replacing the engine fixes your issue (third try), there is no 'place' further to go.
If the problem persists with the new engine, check your state's law on 'Lemons'; you're likely entitled to a new vehicle.
Six weeks ago, I bought a brand new car, with warranty and all that other good stuff. Two days ago, as I was driving on a highway, the coolant light came on, followed by an engine light, followed by my car dying just a minute later.
After it got towed to the dealership, they said the cause was a leaking radiator hose. (Keep in mind, the car is 6 weeks old and has only 850 miles on it!) After they replaced it, it kept acting up, so they decided to hold it a bit longer. (They got me a rental car in the meantime.)
When I called them earlier today to see if they had any updates, I was told this: "Oh, hi there. Uh, we don't really know what's wrong with your car, so we decided to replace the whole engine!
When I asked what exactly was wrong, they just kept repeating the same thing. I don't know a whole lot about cars, but a friend told me that getting a replacement engine pretty much destroys the car's resale value because people will wonder what else might be wrong with it. Is that correct? Logically, it would seem that, for example, a 10-year-old car with a 1-year-old engine is better than a 10-year-old car with a 10-year-old engine, but consumer psychology is a strange animal.
Personally, I plan on driving the car for 10 years and 120,000 miles (it's got an extended warranty) before I trade it in, so the resale value isn't a big deal for me. That said, is there any way I can spin this to get some major freebies (e.g., get the car company to shave off a few grand off my loan balance) or something along those lines? Right now, they're just paying for my rental car and nothing else. Given the sheer immensity of this colossal fark-up, though, it seems to me that they owe me a lot more than that.
Got any comments, advice or suggestions?
Thanks!
Oh, and that was 9 years ago with no further problems to the car that GM wasn't already aware of (pump rub in the 4x4)
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Emotionally, however, I want the f**kers to pay.
Instead all he gets is the fat service manager
Doesn't that strike you just a little odd that they wouldn't disclose all the information to their customer and make up some tale about a mysterious engine glitch that may never be completely investigated?
Sounds to me like they didn't connect the coolant line to the engine at the factory, then failed to check it before shipping the car out, and then the dealership was too cheap and/or lazy to do a thorough check on an allegedly brand new car. Now that they've realized it, they're trying to cover their ass by playing dumb...
Doesn't that strike you just a little odd that they wouldn't disclose all the information to their customer and make up some tale about a mysterious engine glitch that may never be completely investigated?
Sounds to me like they didn't connect the coolant line to the engine at the factory, then failed to check it before shipping the car out, and then the dealership was too cheap and/or lazy to do a thorough check on an allegedly brand new car. Now that they've realized it, they're trying to cover their ass by playing dumb...
Here is what likely happened. Dealer really had no clue what went wrong but needed a new engine for you. They cant just get one without a good reason so they made up something to tell corporate to warrant them sending the dealer a free engine.
The dealer is being honest with you, but lied to corporate. Corporate is being honest to you with the information they got from the dealer. Quit being a lil B and be happy they did something. They could have said it was a user caused issue and make you pay the whole damn thing.
It's not like were talking about a good car here, but one of the biggest POS on the market. Yes maybe that is a wonderful car for you in your eyes, but in reality its not. Just be happy they did something and call it a day.
Here is what likely happened. Dealer really had no clue what went wrong but needed a new engine for you. They cant just get one without a good reason so they made up something to tell corporate to warrant them sending the dealer a free engine.
The dealer is being honest with you, but lied to corporate. Corporate is being honest to you with the information they got from the dealer. Quit being a lil B and be happy they did something. They could have said it was a user caused issue and make you pay the whole damn thing.
It's not like were talking about a good car here, but one of the biggest POS on the market. Yes maybe that is a wonderful car for you in your eyes, but in reality its not. Just be happy they did something and call it a day.
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Not sure why there is such a difference but there is and it was something GM even did marketing on.