Buyer Be Really F***ing Aware

So, we bought a new car from a large Seattle-area dealer. I drove over, finalized the deal, and brought the car home on a trailer. When I picked up the car I looked it over, didn't notice anything, gave it a short drive around the lot (because I've driven one before), made sure everything worked, etc... Then loaded it and drove home. This car is a 2018 and had been at this dealership for probably 9 months or more. This was on the 15th of Feb.

The car sat under my carport for about a week because the weather forced me to drive my truck to work. Then, the 3-day WA registration had expired, so it sat a few more days until I could get a temp ID registration. When I was able to drive it I noticed a strong diesel exhaust smell in the cabin. Not the new kind of diesel exhaust smell - that doesn't really smell - but the old kind. Like an old city bus or something. That strong, obnoxious diesel smell. I started smelling it as soon as I'd get into the car. I initially thought it was from my tractor that is parked next to it under the carport. I'd used it a lot for snow plowing and such and I thought the exhaust was just getting into the car somehow.

After a few days I realized it wasn't the tractor. I opened the hood and the odor was really strong...as in there was definitely a leak in the exhaust system somewhere.

Took it to the dealer in town and it had 304 miles on it when I dropped it off. That was last Thursday, the 28th of Feb. Service advisor logged it in as a warranty repair and gave me a loaner since it would require an overnight stay for repairs (that's part of the Chevy warranty).

Today the service guy calls me and tells me that the catalytic converter and some other exhaust components along with some sort of underbody cover or shield had been punctured by something the car had obviously hit. He sent me pictures and I have to agree...it definitely looks like the car struck something. It's no longer a warranty claim. I'm now the lucky guy that gets to pay the $2511.72 bill for repairs. I have no idea if they're gonna charge me for the loaner they gave me when we thought it was a warranty issue.

So I'm waiting to hear back from the Seattle dealer to see if they're gonna just play dumb or work something out with me. It's quite possible they had no idea the car was damaged, either. I'm certain this had to have happened on a test drive or maybe on the lot. I've seen the way lot guys treat some of the cars.

Bottom line...make sure you REALLY check over any car you plan on purchasing.

My insurance company (GEICO) is willing to cover this as a no-fault comprehensive claim which is pretty cool since it's obviously a collision of some sorts. The adjuster said since I have no idea where/when it happened or what caused it he'd just do it that way. So that'll save me $500 on the deductible at least. I thought that was a pretty nice gesture.

Whatever was hit would've obviously been noticeable. That's a helluva hole.

https://i.imgur.com/xmPta8Y.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/BNXj4L8.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/BhLvIYh.jpg

Looks almost like shrapnel hit it. Weird. Really bummed for you :(

Pretty sure you still owe the deductible on a comp claim, but it is upstanding of him to handle the claim that way. I don't know every policy in every state, so it's possible you have no, or lower deductible on comp. If so, more the better for you.

ETA: That is a crazy puncture. There is no way whoever was driving it at the time didn't know it happened. Not that it's helpful, but my guess is some salesman took the car to lunch, ran something over and just parked it without saying anything. I used to see that all the time when I worked at a dealership.

One time this guy was high on coke and totaled a car, then limped it back onto the lot and pretended like nothing happened. Haha.

I would just MIG welded it.

Darn rabbits. They'll chew through anything if it sits long enough.

That really sucks.

So...what'd you get that's a 2018 diesel? Did you get another Cruze?

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Originally Posted by Irving

Pretty sure you still owe the deductible on a comp claim, but it is upstanding of him to handle the claim that way. I don't know every policy in every state, so it's possible you have no, or lower deductible on comp. If so, more the better for you.

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Yeah, I have $1000 ded on collision and $500 on comp.

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Originally Posted by Gman

That really sucks.

So...what'd you get that's a 2018 diesel? Did you get another Cruze?

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Yeah.

New off the lot and they aren't covering it? What has the dealer that sold it to you said?

Haven't heard back from them yet. I doubt they're gonna be much help.

However, I do have a little leverage. Not much but it's something. Rather than just pay cash I financed it thru GM to get an additional $1250 rebate. The dealer asked me to make at least 4 payments before paying it off, otherwise they have to eat the $1250. And I also haven't got my Customer Satisfaction Survey from GM yet.

So if they don't want to help me with this I can at least cause them a little pain with those things.

I think you're in a good position. Hope they work with you. Thanks for clarifying on the deductible.

Bailey all I can say is that's a huge pile of BS, sorry you have to deal with that crap man.

Wow, yeah that looks terrible. Looks like the car may have at one time been up on ramps (the ones they use to angle it up in the air or set it higher than others) to garner more attention. A lot boy may have drove it off and punctured it on the ramps. Just driving around the lot may not have indicated a smell in the cab.

They may also fight you on hauling it on a trailer and the loading/unloading out of their control or miles accrued since you bought it,

I’d call them and explain the $1250, as well as the survey as those are a big deal with corporate GM. I’m sure a deal can be made, as it isn’t that much for a cat, a plastic cover and a heat shield.

How are you expected to complete the equivalent of a Washington state or Idaho state DOT inspection on the Brand new vehicle you took delivery of with that bad back of yours that forced the move from the mountains of Colorado.

So, there are penalties for selling a vehicle without a working catalytic converter. I would kindly let them know this at first. If they are not willing to play ball, then open a dealer investigation (see link below). I did this when I lived in Washington; the dealer cut me a $1,000 check, and had to pay penalties to the state: https://www.dol.wa.gov/business/vehi...complaint.html

Along with the investigation, you can also report a violation regarding the sale of a vehicle without emissions controls to: https://www.dol.wa.gov/vehicleregist...emissions.html

I'm sure the WA version of the EPA would like to know that this dealer was selling a diesel vehicle with damaged emission controls: https://ecology.wa.gov/

It would have definitely been easier if you caught it right away in WA, but the departments of licensing, and ecology can be pit bulls if they get involved.

I just did the same. Bought and drove a truck home from Omaha Nebraska. I've only noticed minor issues, but I paid extra for an extended warranty just in case. I hope the dealer you purchased from is reputable.

Thanks, MED...that's good info.

Does Seattle or where you live have emissions? In CO, it is illegal for any dealership to sell a vehicle that will not pass emissions. Being that it is a defective exhaust, I would think it would not pass that way.

Collector's item
https://www.theepochtimes.com/gm-bui...n_2826951.html

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Originally Posted by davsel

Collector's item
https://www.theepochtimes.com/gm-bui...n_2826951.html

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Their's a Lordston GM documentary somewhere that is pretty good. Reaffirms my not buying GM. Though by all accounts the Cruze is a pretty great car.

^^ They are really good cars. When there's not a big hole in the exhaust system. That's not a fault of the factory, though.

This is our 3rd diesel Cruze. Still have one other. That's why we bought this one. The incentives were unbelievable.

Looks like it could have happened while it was transported or towed. REPO in the past?

I really hope this settles out good for you, Bailey.

Stealerships. Everytime I try to get an inspection from a dealer, they won't do it. So I walk away from the deal. I guess in your case, having it on the lift would have saved some grief. Definitely leave them a negative review online.

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Originally Posted by earplug

Looks like it could have happened while it was transported or towed. REPO in the past?

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No...new car.

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Originally Posted by BushMasterBoy

Stealerships. Everytime I try to get an inspection from a dealer, they won't do it. So I walk away from the deal. I guess in your case, having it on the lift would have saved some grief. Definitely leave them a negative review online.

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It's entirely possible no one at the dealership knew of the damage. The mechanic didn't even see it until he took that heat shield off. I seriously doubt putting it on a lift would've prevented this. That's probably not a practical thing for people to do when buying a new car.

I miss the old days when a hole in an exhaust system made enough noise that it definitely couldn?t go unnoticed.

^^ I thought the same thing when I saw it. But it sounds perfectly normal. Quieter than most cars, even.

Is it a turbo diesel? You'd think that hole would've woken up the neighbors when you started it.

^^ Yep.

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Originally Posted by BushMasterBoy

I would just MIG welded it.

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https://assetcloud.roccommerce.net/w...8/66070074.jpg


Good PSA!

The last used car we bought we paid to have it inspected by and indy repair shop which included pulling codes and putting on a lift. It was really clean and I trusted the dealer but you can never be too sure given the cost of things these days.

My folks have a RAV4 that needs a new converter and they were quoted a similar estimate just this week. A lot of labor to get at it apparently.

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Originally Posted by Bailey Guns

My insurance company (GEICO) is willing to cover this as a no-fault comprehensive claim which is pretty cool since it's obviously a collision of some sorts. The adjuster said since I have no idea where/when it happened or what caused it he'd just do it that way. So that'll save me $500 on the deductible at least. I thought that was a pretty nice gesture.

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So, the Gecko comes through. That is a "silver lining" result.

https://i.imgur.com/HpXoNrK.jpg

Insurance trivia:

Government
Employees
Insurance
COmpany

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Originally Posted by Irving

Insurance trivia:

Government
Employees
Insurance
COmpany

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Used to own the round building at Alameda and Wadsworth.
It's now a drug store.
Times change.

While not as old as Nintendo, GEICO has been around a long time.