Paint Help! Dealership Scratched my NEW Accord
08-05-2006, 11:39 AM
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Paint Help! Dealership Scratched my NEW Accord
When we went to replace our flood damaged Civic, we bought a new Accord EX in Silver from a Honda Dealership 'bout 90 miles away.
When we picked it up, it was very late and the dealership was a complete zoo (crazy). Anyway, I noticed (upon inspection) a 3 foot long scratch on top of the hood... I also noticed some marring and scratching on the driver's door handle. The dealership employees tried hard to remove the scratches, with their special rubbing compound and a polishing cloth. They made a bunch of the minor scratches go away, but were unable to make the two above listed scratches disappear.
The dealership manager came out and looked at the scratches. He said we could take the car home today and bring it into their affiliate dealership here in my city to have them look at fixing the scratches. He said if I wasn't satisfied with the paint repair, I could trade in my 06 for a new 07 and only pay the difference in MSRP. This would involve a whole day of driving back and forth, and the hassle of toting around my entire family too (infant and 3 year old). I got this agreement in writing.
My question: How do you think the affiliate dealership will try to address these scratches, and will it be a solid fix. My issue is I don't want them to add some quick fix compoud that will fill in the scratch, only to wear off in a year, then my scratch would be visible again. Also, I don't want them to run the clear-coat down (through polishing) so far that the paint protection is compromised. I'm a car paint novice, so I'm looking for help understanding this dilema.
I also don't want them to sand and paint the car either. The last Honda I had "color matched" at the dealership, the half of the hood with newer paint, faded within a few months... I want the paint to be in like new condition that will last for years, and withstand the same punishment the surrounding paint will. If a paint shop can't make that happen, I would opt for the new 07. Considering the difference in MSRP is only $150, I'd be ok with this option, but I would want to be able to give a reason why the normal paint fixes are unacceptable in my situation.
Sorry for the long post. Any help would be greatly appreciated
When we picked it up, it was very late and the dealership was a complete zoo (crazy). Anyway, I noticed (upon inspection) a 3 foot long scratch on top of the hood... I also noticed some marring and scratching on the driver's door handle. The dealership employees tried hard to remove the scratches, with their special rubbing compound and a polishing cloth. They made a bunch of the minor scratches go away, but were unable to make the two above listed scratches disappear.
The dealership manager came out and looked at the scratches. He said we could take the car home today and bring it into their affiliate dealership here in my city to have them look at fixing the scratches. He said if I wasn't satisfied with the paint repair, I could trade in my 06 for a new 07 and only pay the difference in MSRP. This would involve a whole day of driving back and forth, and the hassle of toting around my entire family too (infant and 3 year old). I got this agreement in writing.
My question: How do you think the affiliate dealership will try to address these scratches, and will it be a solid fix. My issue is I don't want them to add some quick fix compoud that will fill in the scratch, only to wear off in a year, then my scratch would be visible again. Also, I don't want them to run the clear-coat down (through polishing) so far that the paint protection is compromised. I'm a car paint novice, so I'm looking for help understanding this dilema.
I also don't want them to sand and paint the car either. The last Honda I had "color matched" at the dealership, the half of the hood with newer paint, faded within a few months... I want the paint to be in like new condition that will last for years, and withstand the same punishment the surrounding paint will. If a paint shop can't make that happen, I would opt for the new 07. Considering the difference in MSRP is only $150, I'd be ok with this option, but I would want to be able to give a reason why the normal paint fixes are unacceptable in my situation.
Sorry for the long post. Any help would be greatly appreciated
08-05-2006, 12:05 PM
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Re: Paint Help! Dealership Scratched my NEW Accord (Trihonda)
Fisrt things first, if you werent happy from the get-go you should have never bought the car, or told them that you would not accept a damaged vehicle & you will wait for a new one.
Now that you have the car, I would tell them that you are not happy with the paint's condition & that rather than having to go through all the fiasco of getting your NEW car repaired, take the 07' & be done with it. $150 is nothing for a newer year car, they might even eat the cost at the expense of their reputation.
All in all, it was your fault for taking a damaged car. They are stealerships... they would try to sell anyone that car to get it off their hands. Go get an 07'
Now that you have the car, I would tell them that you are not happy with the paint's condition & that rather than having to go through all the fiasco of getting your NEW car repaired, take the 07' & be done with it. $150 is nothing for a newer year car, they might even eat the cost at the expense of their reputation.
All in all, it was your fault for taking a damaged car. They are stealerships... they would try to sell anyone that car to get it off their hands. Go get an 07'
08-05-2006, 05:15 PM
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Re: Paint Help! Dealership Scratched my NEW Accord (Intense2.2)
I agree with you, and I would normally never have accepted the.. However, we NEED a car now since our Civic was totally submerged in a flood (and lost). We are a two car family and need a second car. Also, we were having a hard time finding the Accord/Civic we wanted (inventories were dwindling).
Secondly, it was 8:45pm and the dealship was closed at 8pm. Our kids nap times were also at 8pm, and they were getting unruly. We had a long drive ahead of us and we'd waiting for so long already. This was honestly the last stop of all the dealerships we'd looked at. Had it been a different situation, I would have walked away from the car at that point.
So, that said... I promised the dealership manager I'd let the local dealer's paint guys have a go at it first. However, my satisfaction was the only condition listed in the written deal. I don't want to be a weeny, so I want to be able to provide some reason as to why any paint fix is not going to be satisfactory.
Thanks for the input.
Secondly, it was 8:45pm and the dealship was closed at 8pm. Our kids nap times were also at 8pm, and they were getting unruly. We had a long drive ahead of us and we'd waiting for so long already. This was honestly the last stop of all the dealerships we'd looked at. Had it been a different situation, I would have walked away from the car at that point.
So, that said... I promised the dealership manager I'd let the local dealer's paint guys have a go at it first. However, my satisfaction was the only condition listed in the written deal. I don't want to be a weeny, so I want to be able to provide some reason as to why any paint fix is not going to be satisfactory.
Thanks for the input.
08-05-2006, 10:54 PM
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Re: Paint Help! Dealership Scratched my NEW Accord (Trihonda)
I can understand that... I figured the kids might have something to do with it. Well, just tell them that your sched. is too full to have the car painted, & that you just will not settle for anything less & that you are not SATISFIED. You dont have to give them an excuse, just go in there & get your new car, they wont be loosing much money.
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