Dealership joyride destroys customers ZL1 Camaro.

[Forever_frost]

I'd go with a car that was similar to the one totaled (miles, etc) plus some sort of service plan just for the headache such as 5 year free oil change. That said, I'd be livid in his case and would be screaming but at the end of the day, I'd honestly be okay with them paying the vehicle off and returning any payments he'd made already to him and letting him decide what to do.

[stevo]

Case in point. It's a friggin' car, not their first-born son, he's owed nothing more than a direct replacement, it' not like he's "suffering" without a car, the only anguish he's having is that he wants a new car and they aren't giving it to him.

His suffering is objective.

Stevo

[CJ]

MEH, happens all the time. ALL the time at dealers.

[Big A]

His suffering is objective.

Stevo

His suffering is self-imposed, and not the dealership's responsibility.

[HarrisonTX]

MEH, happens all the time. ALL the time at dealers.

Dude that's pretty damn sad to hear. People take their shit to a dealer and pay out the ass to have supposedly top notch mechanics work on it, and then have some asshat raggin your car out. Pretty depressing.

[Baron Von Crowder]

Dealer is probably self insured.

They have an umbrella policy.

[CJ]

Dude that's pretty damn sad to hear. People take their shit to a dealer and pay out the ass to have supposedly top notch mechanics work on it, and then have some asshat raggin your car out. Pretty depressing.

I worked at a dealer for years, that always happens in some fashion. It's almost inevitable they are going to hammer on the gas. In my opinion, as long as they don't damage the vehicle (like burning up tires, etc.) that's the best you can realistically hope for.

[txsr20de]

My only issue is where he was offered other cars that weren't worth as much. If they offered him another car with similar options and miles, and he is holding out for brand new, then that's on him IMO. Too many people think that "they gon git paid" when something like this happens, when all that's owed is a direct replacement.

He had bought the car new, had 10k miles on it and sounds like it was pretty cherry. They offered a "one owner" car that had 13k miles, had new tires(in his mind indicating it had been abused to need new tires in 13k miles), and some sort of appearance mods ("non stock badges front and rear"). It also ended up actually being a two owner car that had previously been in an accident.

Mind you, they weren't actually offering to give him this car to make the situation right. The dealership claimed that since the employee didn't have their permission to be driving the car, they weren't liable. So this "deal" was to let his insurance cut him a check for the totaled car, then allow him to purchase this "equivalent" car, minus $4k as a goodwill gesture to cover badge replacement and inconvenience.

I am with others in thinking that he may be out of line expecting a brand new replacement for his 2 year old car, but the fact that they are trying to force him to make a claim on his insurance company for their fuck up would be a tough pill to swallow Whether or not their employee had permission to take it on a joyride, they are still liable for their employees actions, and should step up and take care of this. The backlash from this among the automotive community will cost them far more than taking care of this the right way would have.

[Scott Mc]

Used to fix "stolen" cars all the time for stealerships. Happens way more than you would think. Seen quite a few cars totaled on test drives and the drivers info be fraudulent also.

[Chili]

Dealer is probably self insured.

You have to be pretty liquid and cash wealthy to be able to legitimately operate as "self insured". Granted, I have mostly only dealt with commercial equipment dealers, but in my experience there, only about the top 5% - 10% actually had the financial wherewithal to operate self-insured.

They have an umbrella policy.

Most do, at a minimum. Which should cover it. I'm guessing the guy had a bunch of mods that the insurance company is trying to negate.

Before we traded in my Mustang, the dealer had it for about a half a day, and during the time they were supposed to just be "appraising" it they damaged the bumpers. I am absolutely sure someone hit something while "hot-rodding" it. But since they didn't reduce the trade in value, and we ended up trading it in, I didn't make a stink about it.

[Big A]

Whether or not their employee had permission to take it on a joyride, they are still liable for their employees actions, and should step up and take care of this. The backlash from this among the automotive community will cost them far more than taking care of this the right way would have.

I think this is a little more gray than that, as this wasn't an employee acting as directed by management during business hours. IMO criminal charges SHOULD have been filed, the guy used his position to effectively steal a car, seems to me like the DA is being lazy on this one. I do think that the dealer is somewhat culpable for making the keys available, but it seems to me that this is primarily on the driver.

All that said, this is what insurance is for, let them figure out who's paying, and pay the man blue book plus a little extra for good will/publicity.

[Scott Mc]

I want to see the other side of the car. From the posted pics it isn't a total. Yes it needs a lot but The cars value is high. That being said I wouldn't want it back regardless.

[LS1Goat]

I want to see the other side of the car. From the posted pics it isn't a total. Yes it needs a lot but The cars value is high. That being said I wouldn't want it back regardless.

All the airbags deployed. It's totaled.

[Scott Mc]

lol not that again! Now I want to write an estimate on it.

[talisman]

Roof damage will usually do it in.