Dealer scratched brand new car

Darn, why didn't you just wait an extra day?!?! ;)

I used to be a detailer at a Toyota dealer, and I HATED "Spot Deliveries", because that means people are waiting in the showroom and they want it RIGHT NOW!!! That means RUSH JOB and they lack in quality. And of course, usually about the time the datailing shop is closing up...

You can bring it back, but don't expect a new bumper cover unless the dealer is REALLY NICE. Chances are it will go back into the detailing shop where they have touch up paint, and it will be cleaned, touch up paint applied and blended, and then buffed. If the guy's good and the scratch isn't too bad, you'll barely notice it. Hardly. At all. Since YOU know it's there, you will always see it. Others may, too, depending on the depth of the scratch and the skill of the guy doing the repair. Some come out really good...others...

Perhaps, if you REALLY complain about it, they'll get you a new bumper cover and fire the kid that rushed to get your new car to you.

I'd probably just ask for a free oil change coupon or a set of floormats. You car is gonna get scratched anyway.

NEVER PICK UP A CAR THE DAY YOU BUY IT AND NEVER DO SO AT CLOSING TIME OR WHEN YOU ARE RUSHED. Those "spot " deliveries were a hoot. Once the car is off the lot any cosmetic issues are usually put on the new owner.

So what would have been the best thing to do in this case? It was Memorial Day and I do understand that because it was raining, it took them longer than expected to drive the car from the other dealership. Once we made the deal, are you saying it would have been better to leave the new car there until the following weekend (because we weren't going to take a half day off work to go all the way out there during the week ) and drive our old car even after we agreed on the trade in price? That idea makes me a little nervous.

-yngver

Have you been back? And why so far? was there not a closer dealer?

In my case, I wanted a Scion, and the nearest dealer was at least 50 miles away. So I went there, gave then the down, and told them to get it ready. But, I also had a couple weeks, and PLENTY of other cars. (I call them Fleeters, short for my Fleet of Beaters...)

And I'm still kicking myself over the trade in. I had a Chrysler LHS (and me, a Jap car fan!) and traded it for $600. It wasn't mint, but darn close to it, and was a GREAT car. And, it was free, the best price of all. I should have coughed the $600 and kept it... :(....

Once they located the car you want make your deal and tell them you will be back next weekend. You got what we used to call "CRUSHED". Yes your car could get totalled in that time but you have insurance dont you? The sales contract will state that the trade value is contingent on being in the same condition of course. If the new car was damaged during the week you could of course walk away from the deal. You would have noticed anything wrong with the car and got in writing a resolution- new bumper , repair , whatever. You can talk to the dealer and hope they will fix it but the longer you wait the better the chance of them blowing you off .

Give 'em a try: be polite, firm, and persistent and they may do you good... Went through a similar issue w/ my '02 WRX: discovered a razor blade thin cut down to bare metal at the top of the windshield along the gasket the day after I drove it off the lot (pretty obviously caused when the plastic shipping wrap was removed). My dealer made good & had that section repainted at a local body shop. Granted that was nearly a decade ago, but some dealers know that customer loyalty pays off in the long run: I've had all major repairs & service done there (leaky radiator top cap, leaky AC hose, alignments, & clutch job), buy many items from them even though cheaper online(oil filters, crush gaskets, antifreeze, etc.), and ended up talking my folks into purchasing a Legacy GT from them.

Brent.

No, because the splash guards have not come in yet (part of the deal was splash guards at dealer cost, which we have in writing). When we go to have those installed, will also deal with the scratch issue so they can see it firsthand.

No, there was not a dealer closer that gave a good quote on a Ruby Pearl 2010 Legacy with manual transmission, power roof and all weather package. The dealer that actually had the car (where they went to get it) was even further away and quoted a higher price. Most of the dealers didn't even quote because they said they couldn't even locate a manual transmission car in any of the colors we wanted.

Well, I think if other dealers could have located 2010 Legacies with manual transmission, they would have said so. We were told because it's the end of the model year, there were hardly any left. Could have waited for the 2011--it's supposed to be pretty much the same price-- but didn't know if they would have the same low finance rate with the

2011's. And the car we were trading in, a 1999 Legacy, was making an evil noise that made us fear it wasn't going to last much longer.

We got more than we expected for the '99 Legacy, considering it wasn't in the greatest shape. In fact, we opted not to sell privately since whoever bought it was probably going to be pretty angry in a couple more months when it was going to need engine work.

-yngver

Okay, that just didn't occur to us. The dealer owes us splash guards at cost, which we have in writing, so when we go back, we'll be discussing the scratch as well. My husband emailed them the photos the day we saw it.

So they might blow us off, but on the other hand, we keep getting letters from the general manager about how important it is we give them a good rating when we get the satisfaction survey from Subaru, and please let them address any issues before we do the survey, so my husband is going to discuss with him the fact that we are not inclined to give a good rating right now.

We got a good price for the new car and a good price for our old car as a trade in, so if we don't get the scratch resolved, it's not such a big deal to us (we won't tell them that, of course). The scratch is pretty hard to see, once it was cleaned up. But if they have a good detailer, it would be nice to have it touched up.

-yngver

Thanks. That's what we intend to do. On the other hand, I think they know they are too far away for us to use them for regular service, but my Forester is four years old and we might be buying another Subaru in a few years. Actually would have considered buying from the dealer where we bought the Forester, but they said they couldn't get the 2010 model we wanted.

-yngver

Selling cars is sooo much fun! In all seriousness since you have to go back I'd see what the dealer will do. If they do nothing, I'd be sure to include "delivered damaged vehicle " in the survey and I'd wager the area rep may try to make you happy. Be firm but polite. Good luck.

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PLEASE!!!!!

NOT when I'm drinking coffee!!!

Now, where's that shop rag?!?!?

Thanks. They buffed it out and we don't see the scratch anymore. Haven't received the survey yet but they did address the minor problems we had, so I guess we are satisfied.

-yngver

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LOL! "We can buff that out!'