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I need help!

Discussion in 'Maserati' started by VeroBolognese, Jul 7, 2006.

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  1. VeroBolognese

    VeroBolognese Rookie

    Jul 7, 2006
    3
    #1 VeroBolognese, Jul 7, 2006
    I'm new to this board, but have been a proud owner of a 2002 maserati coupe cambiacorsa since december 2002. I have loved my car and would buy another in a heart beat!


    My problem is that on March 31, I was involved in a minor accident where a river rock boulder (from my driveway) broke loose from its cement encasing, wedged under my front end, and damage my steering column, radiator, and engine mounts. I took my car to the LA autogallery that same day, and I HAVEN'T SEEN MY CAR since! It has now been 99 days and the answers (excuses) recieved from the service advisor are no longer sufficient.

    Does anybody have the contact information for Maserati of North America so I can lodge a formal complaint?

    Does any one have any other suggestions?

    Am I overreacting?

    This is my first Italian car, but my family is from Bologna where I visit yearly and I've been to the factory in Modena. I have always dreamed of owning an Italian Car and until this episode I have been very happy. My Maserati is my only car and a daily driver!


    Marc in South Pasadena, CA
     
  2. Ferrari 360 CS

    Ferrari 360 CS F1 Veteran

    Dec 4, 2004
    6,888
    Cape Town,SA
    Full Name:
    Jacques
    #2 Ferrari 360 CS, Jul 8, 2006
    Really sad story, would start to complain really loudly if I were you, I mean 99 days seems a might excessive to me, thought I cant of course see the damage.

    Would phone the dealer or probably best option consult and attorney....perhaps try and scare the dealership.....
     
  3. kbrookings

    kbrookings Karting

    Apr 26, 2005
    53
    #3 kbrookings, Jul 8, 2006
    Marc, I just sent you a private message
     
  4. kizdan

    kizdan F1 Veteran

    Dec 31, 2003
    5,505
    #4 kizdan, Jul 8, 2006
    The parts that were damaged on your car are not something that would normally be kept in a dealer's parts inventory. I am betting that these parts needed to be ordered from the factory in Italy, so a delay would certainly not be out of the ordinary.

    There is absolutely no benefit for a dealer keeping a customer's car for an undue length of time - believe me, they want the car out of their shop and back into your hands ASAP.

    What is the service advisor telling you?
     
  5. VeroBolognese

    VeroBolognese Rookie

    Jul 7, 2006
    3
    #5 VeroBolognese, Jul 8, 2006
    Thanks for the replies!

    The advisor claimed the car was mechanically ready after a long delay for parts and sent to the body shop in early june. He was set to give me the car back on june 14, but discovered a "new problem" which would take 2-3 days to fix. By 7/6/05 nothing had been done on the car and he was STILL waiting on parts for the "new problem" but he would have a second set "overnighted".

    Clearly, autogallery has not made it a priority to get my car finished in timely fashion. I'm not sure why it takes 3 weeks to get parts if they can be "overnighted".

    BTW The original time estimate offered to me by the advisor was 3 weeks. When I called him after 3 weeks (it took 4 days to get a hold of him), he hadn't started on the car!

    Marc
     
  6. stardoc

    stardoc Formula Junior

    May 5, 2005
    669
    The big oven
    Full Name:
    K RA
    #6 stardoc, Jul 9, 2006
    It sounds like an awful long time and I would certainly talk to a lawyer. One thing to remember though is that some parts take a VERY long time to be shipped from Italy. Point in example, the plastic trim around the mirror on my suede sunvisor cracked and a new part needed to be ordered. It took the dealer here 8 weeks to recieve it from Italy. They went as far as to say the part had to be "manufactured."
     
  7. The Godmother

    The Godmother Formula Junior

    Nov 5, 2003
    679
    Plano, TX
    Full Name:
    Marci H.
    #7 The Godmother, Jul 9, 2006
    In the meantime, what loaner car did they give you to drive?
     
  8. VeroBolognese

    VeroBolognese Rookie

    Jul 7, 2006
    3
    #8 VeroBolognese, Jul 9, 2006
    As this was not a warranty issue, no loaner was offered.
     
  9. RossoCorsaItaly

    RossoCorsaItaly F1 Rookie
    Rossa Subscribed

    Jun 9, 2004
    4,684
    LA & OKC
    Full Name:
    Kevin
    #9 RossoCorsaItaly, Jul 10, 2006
    99 days is excessive for something like this, but note that sometimes it really is out of their hands, parts suppliers aren't exactly always the best, we have been let down in the past by people quoting us a certain time, it is very dissapointing.

    Either way I hope everything works out and you get your car back soon.
     
  10. LMP234

    LMP234 Formula 3

    May 8, 2004
    1,518
    TN
    Full Name:
    Leon
    #10 LMP234, Jul 10, 2006
    Never have owned an exotic. But I did own a '94 Toyota Supra.

    If I ever got anything done, and they weren't specific, I would demand details. Not in a harsh way, but it is your car.

    If you were going to a doctor for a surgery, I'm sure you would want to know exactly what they were planning on doing. And if you were awake during the procedure and they said "Uh oh...", I'm sure you would want to know what the hell went wrong.

    Write down all the questions you have. Call them and get them answered.
     

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