I took my car in for an oil change...and look what I get back!!!

More details to come...

 

Oh man, that really sucks

Do you still have the other 7 shown in your sig?

 

That sucks, what happened? The oil change place took it for a ride and crashed it? Reason #125 to do your own oil changes it looks like. Seems like the exact damage as CSM's FD almost.

I hope they are coughing up the money to fix your car.

 

What the hell , whats going on with Calgary 7s crashing.. I think ill stop driving mine... What happened?

 

Yep...sure do. Chances are, I'm gonna switch all of the useable parts out of the GXL into the GX. The GX was a project car so it is kind of stripped down right now...I'm gonna have a busy weekend!!!

I brought the car in for an oil change...which I usually do myself, but I have been working crazy overtime for most of the summer and I hate to put it off, so I brought it into the dealership for a change. I also asked them to take my passenger side front tire off and inspect the steel belts inside...pretty sure I ripped one up driving through all of the construction down in the south end of Calgary. Anyways, they decided to go for a high speed test and hit an on-coming car.

 

I assume they're going to make it right for you, correct? (Have you talked to your insurance company to find out what your position is?)

 

They should pay for that without your isnurance being involved at all. Don't strip the car, make them fix it. That's why they have insurance.

 

I'm not usually the "sue, sue, sue!" type, but if a dealer did that to my car, I'd be calling a lawyer pretty quickly. And the local TV station, radio stations and newspapers....No excuse...

 

Agreed. The Dealer better to fix that! That is brutal!!!!

 

Being a dealer, I have some bad news for all of you! Rear your repair order you sign when you drop your car off! If one of my mechanics or other employees damage a car on a road test, it is THE CUSTOMERS INSURANCE that covers the repair! (at least in Ontario). The only time our garage policy would repair a customers car is if something happened to the dealership ( eg. a fire in the work shop not involving your car) causing damage to the car. Even if your car is damamged or stolen while sitting on our lot, your insurance would cover that not ours. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.

 

Since when do you need a road test to change oil?

And, it really would be a sad state of affairs if a dealership did not at least take partial responsibilty for damaging a customers car in such a fashion. Legal backdoor or not.

 

Not to try and sound like a smart *** but, how many time do you think a customer has damaged one of our cars and just looked at us and said "oh well" sue me! Im not kidding, thats why we dont have loaner cars for service customers anymore, and when we provide a rental car the customer deals direct with the rental company, all we cover is the cost of the car! Like I said you have no idea how poorly customers treat dealers with dishonesty etc. I have only ever had (knock on wood) 2 incidents with customers cars in the 10 years we have been here, and repaired them at our cost both times. BUT the law states differently just so you all know!

 

And that is why you are everyones favorite Mazda Dealer. Not just cause you race...

I'm just wondering, does the dealer have to inform the customer if they are going to road test the car? Or, once the car is in their possesion, it is automatically assumed that they have the right to do that?

 

Here in Calgary , dealerships have to pay for it , thats why everyone that works there pays $10 a month for insurance coverage. There is no excuse for a dealer to crash your car and then try and blame it on you... While its in the care of the dealership , they must take responsibility for it. I would be calling my lawyers about this one.

 

Its funny you ask that Evil, usually if we dont road test the car and give it back and there is a problem, the 1st thing we hear is "why wouldnt you have road tested it?" and if you do and there is a problem we hear "why would you have road tested the car?" lol

 

I wasn't suggesting that his insurance pay for it. I was suggesting seeking advice. Personally, I'd be leaning very hard on the dealership, trying to get the car fixed quickly and completely at their expense.

There has to be more to this story. Who took the car for a joy ride, and under what circumstances did they decide a road test was necessary? And, where did the accident occur?

 

That's harsh! Which dealer is this by the way? I would not want to take my car there...

 

And who was at fault? if it is the fault of the other driver, then it is their insurance who would pay.

 

Just a question regarding the testing of the tire.

Did you not ask them to take it off and test it?
If so, then how come they are road testing the tire.
Also, can't they determine a bad belt, but sticking the tire on a balancing machine (which spins the tire at high RPM?) therefore negating the need for a road test at all?!?

Either way, good luck in getting it fixed.

 

An oil change doesn't need a road test, but perhaps they did it because of the tires?

That actually looks pretty similar to the accident I had in December. If you feel so inclined it's most likely fixable. It's not going to be cheap, but it's worth it if your car is otherwise in good shape.

 

Just to comfirm what Jaymez said...in Alberta there is a thing CGL...basically dealership liability which makes them responsible in a situation like this. My insurance has no involvement, it is all supposed to occur between the dealership and the other girl's insurance.

Fortunately for me...I do have connections in close relation with the owner of the dealership, who has personally stated that he will make sure the matter is looked after in an effective and timely fashion.

More into the story...I've gotten half of the police reports (only the side of the dealership), and they are claiming that the mechanic is not at fault, in which case the onice will be on the insurance company of the girl. I'm still waiting to hear the other side of the story, and also waiting to see if the police decide to press charges against either party.

The adjuster is coming out to take a look at the car today...not really sure how it will turn out. From my brief inspection, most of the sheet metal isn't too bad...needs to be replaced, but in my opinion...the chassis has been twisted...keeping my fingers crossed that this isn't the case, but we'll see!!!

I'm sure there'll be more to come....

 

This is true...but I intend to have the insurance company pay the dealership to fix it. I'd do it myself, but that is like letting these guys off with a slap on the wrist. Now if they decide to write off my car, I will most likely take it on as project #2 and labour it back into working condition.

My hopes are to have it fixed by the dealer though.

 

The fact that your insurance may have to cover the cost of repair does not preclude you or your insurance company from suing the tech, the manager (for letting it go out), and/or the dealership for the cost of the damage. At least that is how it is in the US.

If I returned to the dealership to find my car smashed and it was the fault of the repair person -- AND THEY WANTED IT TO BE COVERED BY MY INSURANCE -- I'd certainly sue.

 

**** dude, sorry to hear that, though you sent a shiver down my spine....

i hope my car doesent get the "road test" treatment....

 

I'm willing to bet that the adjust will declare your car a write off. I remember buying insruance for my 89 TII. They basically told me it has a zero book value and highly suggested against buying any collision insurance of any sort, and against buying any fire/flood/theft. I asked them about having the car apraised such that it would be insurance based on the acutal condition rather than the percieved expected condition. They said they will only insure apraised car if I was over teh age of 25, and at that point most likely they will not insure a 15+ year old non collectors car.

As for the ontario situation. I can't stand ontario insurance, what a bunch of ******* companies out there. I should invest in insurance company stocks so that I can minimize my yearly losses. I speak from experience in that if you have 2 at fault claims they derate up to the point of you having to pay sky high insurance or they just decline to renew your policy. So if this accident happened in Toronto, I would be pissed having to use one of my claims to cover someone else's mistake.