Life since I've pickup this car has just be hell. First off the dealership drilled the license plate bracket holes when I asked them not to do so. Then when I take it to the tint place, recommended and paid for at the time of purchase, they use a heating torch and burn the lower rubber trim of the passenger window.

As luck would have it I take the car back to them to repair the front holes that had been drilled for the licensee plate bracket. They tell me it would only take two to three days to repair my car. I take my car in on Wed. Call them on Sat. and can't get through to anyone who could answer any questions about my car. I sent email to my internet sales manager on Sunday so that he'd read it first thing Monday morning. He didn't reply on Monday so I called Monday evening, after I got off work, he was gone for the day. Turns out he'd pick my car up from the repair shop that day and it was sitting on their lot (show and tell to get more sales I'm sure...). As luck would have it we had a hail storm come through Monday night, while my car sat OUTSIDE on that lot. It got hail damaged while their 'loaner' 2002 Maxima sat in my garage protected from the hail... I'm pissed now! The least they could have done was put my car in a covered parking lot if they weren't going to call me to pick it up.

Tuesday comes and I don't even get a call to let me know that the car is ready..(more show and tell to get more sales). I call Tuesday evening around 6:20 p.m. and I'm told "we'll call ya back when we find something out...". They call me back around 8:40 p.m. and tell me "your car is ready.. come pick it up and drop off the loaner car...". They close at 9 p.m. so the sales guy stays there and waits for me. He gives me my keys then hops in his car and takes off before I get the chance to look my Z over (very unusual huh?).

I start to look at the front bumper and it looks really nice... But then, I look across the hood and see the little dents all over it (from the hail storm!!)! My heart drops as I stand and look at the roof and rear of my car (same dents). I wanted to smash up every car on that damn lot!! I got in my Z and drove home pissed beyond belief. Wed. I called the General Sales manager and request to meet with him when I get off work.

I get there and the 'internet sales manager' tries to catch me before I make it inside to speak with his boss (General Sales Manager). I just kept walking. I'd typed up all the problems I'd had with the car and the service so I handed the general sales manager a copy and told him to read it then we could talk more about it. He was surprised that I didn't get called on Monday to pick up the car. I took him outside so that he could see the damage. He said "please let us make this situation right.. We'll fix the hail damage. No charge". The general sales manager promised to personally all me when my car was ready for pickup. I left them with the Z and took the loaner Maxima back home.... Bastards

 

Damn...sorry to hear that, what a bummer. I have several friends that had cars damaged in the storm. Hope the stealer takes care of everything and makes you whole.

 

Damn Glen, that's horrible. Hang in there man, those chumps will get it right eventually.

 

Wow - What a drag - probably the worst dealer tale I have heard on this site. Hopefully the can use the paintless hail repair and just pop the small dents out. I'm hoping it goes better for you in the future.

 

Thanks guys... I tell ya, I'm really being tested with this car. I'm trying to stay possitive. I know there are those who don't even have their Z's yet and I sure hope they never have to go through what I'm dealing with at this time. I'd choose not to have my Z yet if I knew that when I did get it none of these thing would have happened.... I still love the drive of the car. Just wish it hadn't gotten drilled in the first place. All could have been avoided if they just kept that drill away from my front bumper.

 

Someone dropped the ball at that dealer. Sorry to jear that.
I hear ya on the damage I have 3 dents on my car from acorns. 2 in the hood and one in the roof. I got my clear bra put on at a place that does paintless dent removal and they tacked the dings. The 2 on the hood came out without a trace but he messed up the one on the roof and it looks worse now. It isn't asbad as you mightthink though.

I have to warn you though......watch out for oak trees. This car dings very easily. Especialy the aluminum hood.

 

gmoney1 --

Sorry about the hail damage, but I have to warn you about the repairs.

I had similar damage to my Cobra a couple of years ago. The insurance company gave me a check for almost $2,000, and I thought that it would cover and then some.

My mistake, the repair shops (2) said that they could not gaurantee the work, bacause the roof had so many tiny dents.

I sold the car and kept the check for the new car. Be very critical before you accept the car.

Good luck and make plenty of noise!

 

I'm known, down there at the dealership, for making plenty of noise. I'm actually thinking of selling the car after I get it back from them and just ordering another one.

 

With the aluminum hood being so soft, they're going to have to replace the entire hood most likely... so count on a long wait. Sorry to hear of the hail damage, but I think you're the first in a long line of similar experiences that are going to occur in the future. Hail storms are an aluminum hood's most feared condition, so be sure to get your car underneath some protection if a nasty storm is brewing...

 

gmoney1,

It's easy for people not involved in a situation to say, "I would...," but if I were you I would ask for an audience with the general sales manager--the one who said he would make it right--and the owner of the dealership.

When you speak with them, be very kind and non-threatening in your conversation with them. Restate the whole, sordid story. I can't say be cool, composed, and nice enough times. You can't lose your cool or be the least bit confrontational.

Tell them you deserve a new Z. I wouldn't settle for anything less. You get to drive your current Z 'til the new one arrives.

I'm not saying you get a FREE Z, I'm saying you continue to make your payments, or whatever your financial arrangement is, and get a replacement Z. They will eventually get your current Z as a "trade-in," so it should work out for them as well.

With your history, I don't think they can turn you down.

 

DUDE YOU TOTALLY HAVE MY LUCK
I'm am very sorry this happened to you.

The only thing I did different is that I went up their every day to check on the car....It just sat there for days but atleast it was covered...I eventually got ticked and stole my car until actual work was done....The second time around...I called an they said its fixed but we wanna keep it and test it to make sure everythings ok....I was like NAAAHHHH I'll test it now and picked up my car early.

I still never got a free car wash...my bmw dealer and courtesy nissan would always wash the car every time I took a car in the shop....Oh well my car works fine...and 4 valve stem caps would make her perfect (barring rock chips and scratch on the wheel)

 

Holy ****! That's horrible. I thought I had it bad with my busted rim, but your story takes the cake. Stick with 'em and don't let them get away with anything.

 

That sounds horrible and as the thunder rolls overhead and the rains come down I'm glad my Z hasn't made it to the dealer yet (Could be this weekend).
On the license plate thing, I've seen a lot of people commenting on that. Isn't it absolutely required in Texas?
I think the front of the car looks a lot more sleek without it but I don't want to be getting pulled over every other day for no front plate either...

 

There is no way they are going to fix that car to the way it was. You should fight with there insurance company to have the car totaled or make the dealer swap it for a new one.

 

Hey GMoney,

My car got hail damaged last week, out west of you in El Paso. Right now it's at the Body Shop. The first thing they did was order a brand new hood, mine was f'd up. I was suprised, it only took about 2-3 days for it to come in. They are going to fix the rest either using PDR or they mentioned some magnetic system they use. Anyway, I hope your repairs go well. I'm crossing my fingers, hoping it looks as good as new. Make sure they get every last dent out. Sorry about the bad luck.

Allawoowoo

 

Hey G

Damn I am so sorry to hear about the Z

Let me know how your "meeting" goes. Was it Art you were dealing with? The GM..is he the one with the goatee?

Here is a question for all. Even though I bought the car at one dealer..would another dealer be really interested in getting my service business? I mean, most is warranty..until mods surface next year. I imagine labor is fairly profitable for them.

any thoughts?

 

Zygote,

Texas DOES require a front plate, but I had a 1999 Miata for 4 years without a front license plate and NEVER got confronted about it, despite the occasional (okay numerous) tickets here and there. I totally plan to do the same with my Z, as a matter of fact I called my dealership today and related Glen's story to them and they're swearing up and down they won't take a drill anywhere near my Z. I hope they're not BS'ing me, but since they've been very cool so far I believe them.

 

Of course! Service and sales are separately managed profit centers, so the service folks aren't going to care where the car came from. It's all more $$$ for them.

 

I suspected this but don't know enough about their business model as to what "type" of revenue has the highest margin. I wonder how warranty work is recognized? Nissan pays?

Edit - I am asking because 'G' and I got our Z's from the same dealer and based on his run of luck and the issues..I am hesitant to go back there..not to mention I have a dealer who is about 4 miles from me versus 16+

thanks for the response!

 

I guess that means a front plate will be on my car then. Shame really. But in an area where law enforcement routinely pulls people over for having a license plate light out it's not a risk I can run..
I'll just cover my ears whenever I hear the sound of a power tool from now on.