Well, I picked up my car exactly 8 days ago from the dealer now. It's an 03 touring 6spd and already had a few hundred miles on it but was sold as new. During pickup, I noticed some imperfections in the paint. Looked like "flake." The salesman said they would be taken care of and wrote me a "WE OWE YOU" slip. I have had this car for 8 days and these are the problems I am having:

1. Transmission: Vibrating noise in 1st and 2nd. Rattling in neutral

2. The infamous Window Streak

3. Bose Radio volume controls itself

4. Several interior plastic pieces needed to be "snapped" back in throughout the car. (whats up with that?)

5. The hood is not aligned

6. There is overspray on the side rear window and hatch glass that I JUST noticed. There was some on rear tailight during pick up and I was told it was from another vehicle. Obviously not.

7. The imperfections in the paint(read below)

I took the car in for service today (oil change and to fix the paint) and the service guy came out. He looked at the "imperfections" and said it was under the clearcoat. A nissan inspector is coming next week to look at it. This means the car may need to be repainted. Not to mention, all the overspray I found. And yes, it is silver overspray paint. It is on the rear taliight, side rear window, and hatch glass. On the hatch glass, it is in a perfect line. Which means the car was probably taped up.

I am in contact with NNA about this and told them I would want a new Z if it had to be repainted. I said the car would lose it's integrity and that I've only had it a few days. He said he's not sure if they can do that, but he is going to document it and contact the dealer.

I have had this car for a week, and already I have a TON of problems and now I may have to get it repainted. This is not right for a week old "new" car. I don't care if it's covered under warranty. I shouldnt have to do this.

I can live with some of the other problems since theyre common on the Z33, but I will not be keeping this Z if it needs to be repainted a week after I own it!!!!!

What should I do??? I want a new Z. This is rediculous.

 

"It's an 03 and already had a few hundred miles on it"

What it sounds like is you got a demo car, and obviously it ain't a few weeks old.

 

How did the car get a few hundred miles? Is it a used car? How much did you paid for it? You must have got it at a lower price. Since the car has been driven for a while, of course there are some imperfections in the paint (paint chip). If you can ask for a new car because of this. Everybody is going to do the same thing. Paid less to get a used car and exchange for a new one.

 

I have to agree. It sounds like you either got a demo car or a car that's had some work done. The interior plastic panels should be pretty tight. They won't come off unless somebody has tried to take them off.

Problems 2,3 and 5 are fairly common. Perhaps even problem 1 to some degree. Paint imperfections in the Z, like in many cars is probably also somewhat common. At least, orange peel is. Overspray is odd though.

 

I'd say pull up carfax report on the car, just to check it out and make sure the older dealer didn't pull a fast one on ya. Now does the paint match all over the car? Check the overspray against other areas on the car to see if it matches exactly.

 

Thanks for replies guys. The car didnt have the window sticker on it when I bought it and it had 796 miles. I was specifically told by the dealer that this was a brand new car. NNA is prying and trying to find out how 796 miles got on a "new" car. I was given the sticker upon purchase. They told me it "fell off the window." Funny, it was missing on the other demo Z they had there. This car WAS probably a demo. Funny thing is, they had a Pikes Peak White Z there at the time with 2000 miles. They told me up front that the white one was a demo. But the chrome silver (one i purchased) was brand new according to them. It is even marked as new on all the paperwork. This is fishy. The vehicle price on this '03 touring with floor mats, 6spd, aero package, splash guards and spoilers was $31,000. With a $3000 trade in, and silver warranty coverage, I ended up paying $31245

The imperfections are not chips. It looks like a bright silver under the clear coat. And it is on the roof, behind door panel and rear quarter panel. I only noticed the one during pick up. When I got home in my garage is when I noticed the rest.

 

Carfax was just run and yielded no results. Isnt selling a demo as "new" against the law?

 

I honestly don't know on that one. Hmmm all the carfax report means is nothing was ever reported to insurance if something happened to the car. It was worth a shot, but I honestly get the feeling this car was the Demo for the dealership and was "put through its paces". Sounds like NNA is gonna be your best bet of getting this resolved.

 

Whoa, whoa, whoa, it had 796 miles on it? I would hardly call that a new car. I would definately investigate this, the car is obviously used and there should be some recourse since the dealer sold it as "new".


I just can't believe that a car dealer would be dishonnest and lie to a customer.

Dealers are scum bags and should be treated as such.

 

I just called NNA again to ask them if it is illegal to sell a demo as new. The customer service rep I spoke to wasnt sure but said he could look it up. I told him I would wait until the guy I deal with gets back to me. Pretty bad experience for my first "new" car.

 

Make them take it back. Call a lawyer and have the lawyer contact them. Do something. 800 miles is not a new car. Specially if it has had paint work. Dude, why'd you buy a car (new) with 800 miles on it anyway?

 

sounds like a used car to me. Maybe got rear ended and sold it back to dealer. Dealer could've or previous owner had it fixed and repainted (hence the overspray and loose panels). 700 miles on it isn't new, 70, yeah, but not 700. Would get some legal aid if you can't get a new car in exchange. would suggest to do your business at another dealership.

 

Dude, good luck but I think you are SOL. Dealers have it made with these cars, case being they get so few of these Z's. You knew the car had that many miles on it, you should have never signed the contract.

Nissan dealers

 

Tough position. You knew it had high miles before you bought the car. Im afraid your emotions go the better of you. Try calling a lawyer and get some advice.

 

No offense, but if a car has 800 miles, I would hardly consider it new. Why did you accept it? This is a car that has been driven... A LOT! The demo cars (the cars they used for test drives) around my dealerships had less than 100 miles. I was offered these demo cars at reduced prices, but I wanted a brand spankin' new car. Preferrably with under 10 miles. My car had 11... I took it anyway.

 

It is probably a demo or a car that the GM drove as his car ; that's why there's over 700 miles on it. They may claim that it is new because it was never registered and only employees drove it for recreation, work , etc.

 

Yup, it sounds like a Z that the General Manager drove, and had an accident in it. They can sell it as a new car because it was never officially titled. This also allows them to "skirt"carfax. Sounds like you got screwed. Sorry dude. Why did you ever buy this car???????

 

At the time, I thought I was getting a good deal. I didn't mind the mileage becasue of that. Little did I know people were getting the same price for a touring with 0 miles. I admit my emotions got the better of me. The only overspray I saw was on the drivers side taillight. It wasnt til I took the vehicle home did I notice the other overspray. I didnt think I would be screwed because this guy has known my family for many years (owners son of dealer). My family has bought a lot of cars from this dealership over the years.
I think I am going to call them and request a new car. If they don't do it, I will try NNA. Any other advice is appreciated

 

Did you ever go back to the dealer to talk about this? If so, what did they say? If not, why not?

And who is this dealer, and where are they located?

 

The manager was at a tent sale today and wasnt at the location. Tomorrow morning, I'm going to a body shop to see if this car was hit and/or repainted. I am then going to Nissan to speak with any available manager.