PT Bruiser - Delayed!!

[mikeyram]

The body shop called me today & said my Cruiser was finally ready to be picked up! I flew out the door, returned my rental, & got to the shop as fast as I could. Driving up it looked great. Of course I was looking at the side with minimal damage. When I started to inspect my "baby", I couldn't believe my eyes! There were small bubbles in the paint where they repaired it. Like under the clear coat! My rear bumper bowed up in the middle, meaning on the left there was a normal sized gap, then it raised up in the middle to touch the bottom of the tailgate, then went back down on the right. The bumper wasn't even damaged in the wreck!

What the poop![xx(] This is a Chrysler body shop I took it to! Well I'm not quite done yet. There were also gaps where the rear bumper meets the rear quarter panels on both sides. The front passenger door which was repaired not replaced still had a definite ripple where the dent was. One of the new body side moldings was chipped. There was paint dust all inside the weather stripping, inside & out. And the entire car was covered in over spray! You can't see it but you can sure as hell feel it! Then I went to test drive it & the power doors & power mirrors didn't work. Again, this is a Chrysler body shop.

I told the man there was no way I was going to take delivery of my Cruiser in this condition & had him call the rental company to pick me back up. I told him to fix it right. He said it will never be the same as from the factory. I told him that might be true, but he damn well better try. It felt like I was at some 3rd rate body shop on the wrong side of town. In my frustration I went into the showroom to find out if I can get into a new one & the sales manager said they would only give me $8,000 for my 2005 Cruiser with 2,220 miles on it! This along with the tranny problems I had in the beginning, I've had my rental longer than I've had my PT!

Anyway guys, thanks for letting me vent. I needed to tell my story to people who would understand how I'm feeling.
Wish me luck!

Mikey

[MichaelDay]

What a bummer. It is so frustrating when things aren't repaired properly. As far as it "never be the same as from the factory", if repaired properly, you should not be able to tell the difference. Sounds like a dealer with low self-expectations. I have seen cars that had been wrecked so badly that the insurance company had totaled them fixed up to where you could not tell that anything had ever happened. Unfortunately, many dealers don't have very good body shops.

[Curruzr]

What is the name of the body shop and where is it? Let's get their name out there! [}]

[mikeyram]

It's "Lone Star Chrysler Jeep" in San Antonio, Texas.[xx(]

Mikey

[turbomangt]

If they continue to do work like that they will be a LONE STAR.

[Goldenturtle02]

Are they a "5" star dealer? Have them fix it to YOUR satisfaction our you go to the distric rep. the zone rep etc. keep being a squeeky wheel. Them saying "It will never be the same" is a poor excuse for shoddy work. And when stuff is changed where it wasn't damaged...... I think I'd get the Better Business Bureau involved. Do you have a lawyer your'e friendly with??

[mikeyram]

They claim to be a "five star dealership". I spoke to a lawyer's assistant & she said that I can't sue for anything but that I might be able to get their insurance company to pay some amount for diminision of value. But even that was a long shot. I asked if they would help me do that & she basically blew me off.

I don't know what to do guys. I'm starting to feel very depressed & hopeless. I just want my Cruiser back.

Mikey[V]

[SRG]

Talk to your insurance co, they are paying the bill right? Also, calling the area Chrysler rep sounds like a good idea too.

SRG

[mikeyram]

Thanks SRG. No, the guy who hit me, his insurance is paying for it.
They are cheap. Travelers Insurance Co.

Mikey

[Cal Cruzer]

quote:Originally posted by mikeyram

He said it will never be the same as from the factory.

He is right. It should never be the same as from the factory. A good body shop should be able to shoot a MUCH BETTER job then the factory mass production job. If they measure their work by the factory job they are losers from the word go!