Ok, so I drop off my car today for the usual oil change. However, I left it there for the 2004 recall for the fuel filler hose possibly cracking in result causing fuel leakage from the hose while refueling. I get a phone call from Nissan. To my surprise, they told me that my car had fallen off the lift while it was up in the air!!!! Upon arriving at the dealership, it had fallen forward once the rear end had been dropped. The whole front end landed on the ground. The passenger side rear quarter panel has a huge gash in it due to the lift catching it. The front bumper is f*ed up and the hood got pushed back from the impact along with the rear quarter panel as described with the big gash in it from the lift. They took me to the GM of the dealership. He offered me either another 2004 350z like mine, a 2006 350z or nissan car for a really good price. I told him I wanted him to pay me for the car and Ill figure that part out myself. He said he would pay me 21,1000 for my 2004 enthusiast coupe with 35k miles on it. Now, I doubt anyone here has had this problem before, but what should I do? I already paid off 30 of the 60 payments on the Z and now Im pretty much forced into buying another car and starting over once again. I would like for nissan to give me all of my 30 payments back on my Z along with my downpayment and then charge me the milage that ive driven on it. Kinda like a LEMON car. Im looking for some ideas on this issue as to I really wasnt ready to get rid my Z yet..............

 

That suck dude. I'm really sorry. Don't know what to tell you to do, but 21k for your car sounds pretty fair. Trade in on that car is practically nothing. Were you heavily modded? If you file a claim through their insurance they would probably give you less than 20k. I would get their offer in writing and then demand their insurance information, then follow up with their insurance company and see what they say about filing a claim. Most likely they would offer to fix the car or if it's totalled, buy it out. I have to tell you, the buyout will most likely be less than 21k.

 

My short answer is get the 2006. Check out Consumer Reports pricing information for the 2006. It will cost about 10-12 bucks but can save you hundreds or more. That is what I did and found out that I could buy a new Z for under invoice. The thoughts I am providing are off the top of my head without research. Also, confuse the dealer by saying that you want the OTD price rather than them adding to the agreed price. I also have a Pikes Peak White Enthusiast which is a 2005. So my guess off the top of my head is you should get into a new Z for about 7K total. That would work out to be about 20 cents a mile. Keep us posted.

 

Wow, that's a shame. Sorry about your loss. Do you have any mods and if so, are they reuseable? If the dealer agreed to pay you back the 30 payments less mileage, then you would still have the other 30 payments due your lender which means you would be in the hole... no car, no money.
I would ask the GM what he meant by a really good price on a 2006. If they give you $21,000 and you owe let's say $14,000 then you have $7,000 in your pocket. If they come through with a really good price on an 06 and with your $7,000 you may end up with better payments then you were paying on the 04. Obviously, these are what-if's and are just thought starters. IMO, without knowing all the facts, if you can get a new car at a better deal then the 04 then go for it.

 

sorry to hear about that, I'd be pissed as hell. what dealership was that?

 

tell them you want an 06 base coupe for free

or 21grand and an 05 for 1/2 price

 

All your ideas are great, but heres the thing, unfortunately, Ive been looking to get out of my car for about a month now. Ive test driven a new Lexus IS350 "automatic", a new Acura TL and a used 2004 Bmw M3. I love my Z, but I really need back seats now with a child on the way. I have a set of Gold SF Challenges in 19x9.5 and 19x10.5 on the car along with Tanabe springs, plenum spacer and a Kenwood double-din touch screen indash dvd player. The dealer will allow me to take out all these items and replace them with the factory parts. The GM says he will then fix the car and sell it. Ill post up pictures as soon as I get some good ones. I took some with my camera phone, but they didnt turn out all so great. I just feel that Ive paid 500 bucks for 2.5 years = 15k plus my 3k down on the car that I should get more than roughly 7k back. I owe 14-14.5k on my loan now. So figuring they give me 21.1k, thats roughly almost 7k. Also, since the Nissan dealership that I bought my car from and goto, also is owned by the same company that owns the local Lexus dealer, the GM said he would contact the GM over there to see if he can get me a good deal on a new Lexus IS 350. I would be happy with a new IS350 at say invoice since dealers arent really moving on this car since its selling like hotcakes right now..........LOL

 

According to dealers, ever car you want is selling like hotcakes. When the new Corvette came out they were selling over list. I went and looked at several and two months later the same cars, that were selling so well, were still in the showroom. I have purchased three Lexus. I still own two (99 ES and 04 RX). Honest you pay close to list but after the sale you have a good experience. (At least that is my experience) I would stick with a Z if you have a second car with a back seat. The reason is a sports sedan is not a sports car. My former sport sedans which were a 3 series BMW and 5 series BMW did not match up to the Z driving experience.

 

Just to give all the Z owners a heads up, if you are taking your car in for that particular recall where the rear end has to be taken out, MAKE SURE THE CAR IS STRAPPED DOWN.... or else your car too will take a nose dive foward just like mine just did.

 

That's crazy!

With the '04 and '06 offers, are those just to serve as replacement cars, but you just pick back up the payments where you left off? Or are they offering to cover some/all of the remainder of your note?

 

If I was to stick with an 04, they would find one of equal to mine, keep my payments and everything, or get an 06 at a really good price, pretty much like buying a new car again after they pay me outright for my car. Pretty crappy if you ask me.

 

It actually sounds like you have a cool dealer. Mine would offer to repair it after about 6 months of calls to NNA..

 

Yeah, that is pretty crappy.

I would think they would at least offer the give you an '04 trade out AND cover some of the note.

Yeah, I realize that mods are a non consequential item to dealerships and insurance, and that's fine, but what about your time invested into the car? Certainly, that's got to be worth something.

Obviously, just giving you a match isn't acceptable, unless they also give you back the entire other car to part out, which would be more trouble than it's worth. You should be compensated for their incompetence. IMO

 

You need to contact their insurance company and file a claim.

 

Any new developments?

 

I got the GM of my Nissan dealership to give me more for my car. He originally offered me 21.1k for my car which leaves me roughly 7k after my loan. He has gotten Lexus to discount the new IS350 1500 bucks for me. He also will now have Lexus take in my car as a trade for 22k which is good because I'm now saving on the taxes for this amount. So its almost like selling my 04 350z Enthusiast with 35k miles on it for 23.5k! Now the hard part is trying to locate an IS with the features that I want. All parts on my Z will be up for sale pretty soon. Ill post up pictures and prices for everything as soon as the Z gets back from the bodyshop. Nissan brought it there to fix and resell.......LOL

 

You'll probably see it on the lot next week for 28.5. It would be interesting to follow whether they Carfax it or not.

It's good to hear that they are working with you on it, hopefully, you'll come out ahead on the IS.

 

I took the car in this morning for routine maintenance, and told them that I've been hearing a clacking sound under the car, and for them to diagnose it. The noise sounds like two spoons clacking together.

I just talked to my dealer service rep. As luck would have it, he said it's something to do with the rear axle, a TSB reported problem, that it's classified as "more of a nusance", but they are going to order parts and tear apart my rear axle and get it repaired sometime next week.

I inquired further and he told me that it was some sort of lubrication problem and that to be safe they were going to repair both sides at once. He said it should be fine for use over the weekend, but I'm skeptical. That really sucks I was planning on going to an autox this weekend, that or drive 2.5 hours to Jax to see my sister. I think the autox is probably out now, it should be ok to get to Jax though.

I'll make sure to mention that they must strap it down properly prior to axle removal. I need to ask about the fuel line issue too.

 

Yeah, Ive had both of my axles replaced awhile back already. My car didnt fall off the lift then. I dont know the process for axle replacement as to having the fuel line recall done. Supposedly, they told me that they had to remove the whole rear end to get to the fuel line. Who knows, who cares.... Well good luck to you and make sure they take extra care to the weight distibution on your car when its up there..LOL

 

wow thats a crzy position to be in. sorry to hear that, i'm supposed to do the recall on mine next week, i'll make sure to let them know what happened.

btw- let me now if you are getting rid of those volks, might be interested.