Picking up a Vette?
02-21-2007, 02:19 PM
#41
Racer
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At this point, I would tell the dealership where you are going to have it fixed and not let them choose. There are a couple of good body shops in LA that can do either the on car repair or new panels the right way.
Doug's Custom in the valley is located right next to LAPD and does great work. I have seen cars that come out of there and they are always done right. Most of the places that do custom paint work tend to be of a higher quality anyway.
There is also a place on Washington between Overland and Madison in Culver City. I believe it is called Premier Autobody (might be Prestige). I drive by that place every day and they are always Ferraris, Lambos, and high $$$ MB and BMW cars having body work done. I never really look at the name of the place since I am usually too busy drooling over the cars
I have no experience with this place other then being impressed with the high $$$ clientele.
Doug's Custom in the valley is located right next to LAPD and does great work. I have seen cars that come out of there and they are always done right. Most of the places that do custom paint work tend to be of a higher quality anyway.
There is also a place on Washington between Overland and Madison in Culver City. I believe it is called Premier Autobody (might be Prestige). I drive by that place every day and they are always Ferraris, Lambos, and high $$$ MB and BMW cars having body work done. I never really look at the name of the place since I am usually too busy drooling over the cars
I have no experience with this place other then being impressed with the high $$$ clientele.
02-21-2007, 02:52 PM
#42
Racer
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I don't think we should be criticising the mechanic for lack of training/instructions specific to the Corvette. This is the responsibility of the service manager. He is the one who should be taken to task for not ensuring that his staff knows the quirks of the car. JMHO
02-21-2007, 10:26 PM
#44
Nujinsky3;
Really sorry you have to go through this-Best of Luck.
By the way, are you an editor or professional writer? You can really tell a story-only wish this were a different topic.
Take Care.
Really sorry you have to go through this-Best of Luck.
By the way, are you an editor or professional writer? You can really tell a story-only wish this were a different topic.
Take Care.
02-22-2007, 01:58 AM
#45
Pro
Thread Starter
At this point, I would tell the dealership where you are going to have it fixed and not let them choose. There are a couple of good body shops in LA that can do either the on car repair or new panels the right way.
Doug's Custom in the valley is located right next to LAPD and does great work. I have seen cars that come out of there and they are always done right. Most of the places that do custom paint work tend to be of a higher quality anyway.
There is also a place on Washington between Overland and Madison in Culver City. I believe it is called Premier Autobody (might be Prestige). I drive by that place every day and they are always Ferraris, Lambos, and high $$$ MB and BMW cars having body work done. I never really look at the name of the place since I am usually too busy drooling over the cars I have no experience with this place other then being impressed with the high $$$ clientele.
Doug's Custom in the valley is located right next to LAPD and does great work. I have seen cars that come out of there and they are always done right. Most of the places that do custom paint work tend to be of a higher quality anyway.
There is also a place on Washington between Overland and Madison in Culver City. I believe it is called Premier Autobody (might be Prestige). I drive by that place every day and they are always Ferraris, Lambos, and high $$$ MB and BMW cars having body work done. I never really look at the name of the place since I am usually too busy drooling over the cars
I have no experience with this place other then being impressed with the high $$$ clientele.I'm not sure if they will go for it, but it's worth researching and finding a good place and then hitting them up for it.
Thanks for the info! If you happen by that place again and can stop drooling long enough...can ya get me the name?
02-22-2007, 02:00 AM
#46
Pro
Thread Starter
No, I am neither...but thanks!
I'd be willing to give it a shot if someone wanted to pay me for it though!
02-22-2007, 02:51 AM
#47
Melting Slicks
Wow, sorry you had to go through all this "stuff". I'd opt for a custom body shop myself. Let us know what you do and how it turns out. Sounds like your starting to listen to those instincts! 
02-22-2007, 03:04 AM
#48
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02-22-2007, 01:37 PM
#50
Instructor
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What dealer was it? I live in Lakewood also....... just wondering. Really sorry to hear about your Vette. It sucks that we all drive $40-$75,000 Corvettes and still have to put with the same treatment that a 6,000 dollar Geo Metro customer gets!
Andy
Andy
02-23-2007, 12:54 PM
#51
Racer
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Good luck!
02-23-2007, 05:15 PM
#54
Racer
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The drive on lifts they have, have ramps to get the car up onto them...these are too steep for the vette. The nose of the car would hit the ramp before the car got high enough to avoid it.
I do wonder why GM hasn't come up with a Vette specific lift machine of some sorts. If they are making 200+ of them every production day, one owuld think they would have their dealerships outfitted with something specifically designed to handle the Corvette's needs.
I do wonder why GM hasn't come up with a Vette specific lift machine of some sorts. If they are making 200+ of them every production day, one owuld think they would have their dealerships outfitted with something specifically designed to handle the Corvette's needs.
02-23-2007, 05:53 PM
#55
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One day on impulse I turned-into the dealership to see about a quick oil change. I had an excellent vantage point to watch. The first (female) 'mechanic' that came to get my car couldn't even figure out how to open the door. I made her nervous so she got someone else.
The 'mechanic' was preparing to lift the car without any jacking pucks. When I asked him about using pucks/pads....he didn't have a clue what I was talking about. He said "this is the way we always do it" (meaning without pads or pucks). I ran over and got my rectangular BMW jacking pucks out and snapped them in-place. The mechanic said "cool." I asked him wouldn't it be cheaper to buy (even) some hockey pucks instead of risking damaging a customers Corvette. He said "I doubt the owner would spring for them." What, they cost about $20-$25 for a set of four.
Don't ever assume a dealership will know how to correctly and safely lift a Corvette. I wouldn't leave them in all the time but when you take your car to the dealer, snap your jacking pucks in beforehand.
The 'mechanic' was preparing to lift the car without any jacking pucks. When I asked him about using pucks/pads....he didn't have a clue what I was talking about. He said "this is the way we always do it" (meaning without pads or pucks). I ran over and got my rectangular BMW jacking pucks out and snapped them in-place. The mechanic said "cool." I asked him wouldn't it be cheaper to buy (even) some hockey pucks instead of risking damaging a customers Corvette. He said "I doubt the owner would spring for them." What, they cost about $20-$25 for a set of four.
Don't ever assume a dealership will know how to correctly and safely lift a Corvette. I wouldn't leave them in all the time but when you take your car to the dealer, snap your jacking pucks in beforehand.
02-23-2007, 05:57 PM
#56
Instructor
I'd probably settle for the high-end body shop because I'd be forced to (and they'll probably do a fine job) but I'd be considering whether I could make the dealer buy the car back and get you a new one, for a very small out-of-pocket for you.
At the very least they should pay one of the high end body shops and not be pushing back on the cost. They should take responsibility, and all that forgiveness and "nothing against the dealer" makes me sick, and it isn't even my car !
Mistakes like that are inexcusable.
At the very least they should pay one of the high end body shops and not be pushing back on the cost. They should take responsibility, and all that forgiveness and "nothing against the dealer" makes me sick, and it isn't even my car !
Mistakes like that are inexcusable.
02-24-2007, 11:13 AM
#57
Melting Slicks
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J,
I would be careful of not having the dealer fix it. If a high end shop does it and there is an issue the dealer is off the hook and now you have to deal with the shop.
However, I would ask a couple high end shops what they recommend to fix it and then tell the dealer thats what they have to do to fix it.
Now, if they have to replace body panels it will be considered damage that will be reported on your Vin# so when you go to sell it (if you ever will) all the buyer will see is extensive body damage and you will have to try to explain it away.
Sorry for the mess. And if it was me, they would be buying a new Corvette for me, especially if the damage is reported on the Vin of the car.
Mike
I would be careful of not having the dealer fix it. If a high end shop does it and there is an issue the dealer is off the hook and now you have to deal with the shop.
However, I would ask a couple high end shops what they recommend to fix it and then tell the dealer thats what they have to do to fix it.
Now, if they have to replace body panels it will be considered damage that will be reported on your Vin# so when you go to sell it (if you ever will) all the buyer will see is extensive body damage and you will have to try to explain it away.
Sorry for the mess. And if it was me, they would be buying a new Corvette for me, especially if the damage is reported on the Vin of the car.
Mike
02-24-2007, 12:16 PM
#58
Instructor
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I hate hearing about things of this sort for I fear it will cause the person to swear off Corvettes. Dealer incompetence is indeed an issue that we all must deal with. Though nothing of this magnitude, I did have bad experiences with a couple of dealers regarding C4s that I owned. I never took either of the C5s I owned back to a dealer for any reason, which speaks to the quality of the cars, I suppose. Anyway, hang in there and good luck. Let us know the final outcome.
03-02-2007, 10:51 AM
#59
Pro
I'm sorry to hear how your baby was mistreated..I just bought my 07 Lem. Blu baby 2 weeks ago. Now I'm scared to take it in for servicing. I think I'll be doing my own oil changes etc. and only be taking it in for things I can't do ,or warranty work... Thanks for posting your experience. It may save me ( & others ) from going thru what you have ... Just another example of lack of training and a shortage of skilled workers. I think this holds true from janitors to Drs. & lawyers.I'm also hearing that as you look back you wish you would have gone with your GUT feeling and screamed 
at the top of you lungs upon hearing the first creaking sound. Again, sorry about your baby and really appreciate you 
passing it along to the rest of us. 
at the top of you lungs upon hearing the first creaking sound. Again, sorry about your baby and really appreciate you passing it along to the rest of us.
03-02-2007, 02:33 PM
#60
Melting Slicks
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There is no excuse for that. I would make sure the Service mgr, the general mgr, and a GM mgr was made aware of the dealers mess that they need to FIX!