So I finally got it resolved: I left the last small dent and got a $1500 check from the dealer. I figured that was pretty fair on both sides. Now for the question of paying down my loan by $1500 or a lift.......
[cliffs notes version: dealer puts irrepairable dent in my roof, what should I do about it? What can the dealer do for me to make up for the dent?]
Ok, so here's my FJ saga this week...
I took the FJ in because I noticed what looked like little rust specks all over the white roof; they didn't come off easily. Per the dealer, the rust specks are rail dust from the FJ being transported by train. Dealer say he'll take a clay bar to the roof and get it all polished up (he'd seen the same thing before). So far so good.
I go to pick it up twodays later and the roof looks good--no more rust flecks. I give it the ol' once-over right before I drive off and see FIVE BIG DENTS
on the edge of the roof along the passenger side! My best guess is that the guy polishing the roof was too lazy to move his stool to the other side and braced himself (with his knee?) against the side of the roof in order reach the other side of the roof. I was on my way to being
and it only got worse once I got home and thought about it some more!
I tell the service guy and the service manager comes over to check it out. We all agree that it's the dealer's fault and happeed while it was there. I leave my FJ there or the paintless dent removal guy to work his magic the next day.
I go to pick it up and the service manager shows me that there is a little dent that the PDR guy cannot get out. The dent is on the edge of the roof about midway down the passenger side. The dent can't be pulled out and there is no way to get to the backside of the panel. The dent is only noticeable if you look right at the level of the dent; however, that is right at eye level for me everytime I walk by. The other dents that he pulled out left barely noticeable dimples (really hard to see--but still there).
At this point I can either live with the dent or have the dent filled and sanded and repaint the roof. I absolutely do not want to reaint; I trust the factory paintjob more than any aftermarket job and I don't want any bondo on my 3-week old FJ.
This all leaves me with a dent in the edge of the roof of my brand-new FJ...my $30k FJ...my first truly new car!
I spoke with the service manager for a few minutes to see what we could work out. I decided that I needed to think it all over and am going to call him back with some sort of compromise to make me happy.
What sould I do?
I really can't quantify my pissed-off-ness of seeing that dent (that
I didn't put there) everyday for the next 10+ years. What should I ask for? What will I be happy with? What is fair to both sides?
My thoughts have been possibly an extended warranty or prepaid maintenance package in return for living with the dent. What do ya'll think?
