Damage at dealer

Sorry to hear about that. I either truly be upset. Last year I was driving a very clean 458 and I loved that car.

Many things to consider here. Is the repair as good as new? Are the repairs detectable? Do they show on Carfax etc. what is your relationship with the dealer? Are you a good customer in service dept? Do you have other Ferraris? Do you have cars on order?

You can start the negotiation by asking for X amount in diminished value. You can certainly also sue them. This may be a great idea if you plan on doing no further business there. The problem is you sue for 20-30k coats you some legal fees settle for some amount, no more Ferraris from them.

Another alternative is to start off asking for the money, but then tell them let’s make this a win, win for everyone. Have them help you trade this Ferrari for a different Ferrari. If they maintain that there is no diminished value, then they should have no problem buying the car as if it was never damaged. There are also other ways that they could help you. They can give you the first phone call every time a car you want is being traded in. They can also find you a build slot quickly rather than waiting 12 to 24 months for one.

 

I understand your side completely but in cases of damage as bad as everyone feels about it, from working in dealers for years I have never heard of a case being resolved by any more than a high quality repair and a sincere apology. Possibly a free or discounted future service. Nor as a customer would I expect more.

 

Not bad ideas.

 

there is no way a dealer can say honestly that there is no diminished value if a panel is repainted. PERIOD. You know how Ferrari guys are when they buy a car....all original factory paint? Ummmmmm
I would push the issue strongly with the manager or owner of the dealer. Don't waste your time talking with anyone else. Rim is no big deal, but when there is body paint involved, it will be detectable by the next prospective purchaser and many when they find out it's been repainted will walk away and find another model. Let's be honest, your car isn't as rare as a F50, so there are lots of other cars for future buyers to seek. Just my two cents.
I have thought about getting into diminished value for some time now. My firm doesn't handle it, but i am contemplating doing it for this very reason. You will get the run around by the dealer.

 

Good luck. I understand that you are upset but it is a car and they can and do get damaged. Sometimes they get damaged at the factory, on the boat over here, or even at FNA or enroute to the dealer. They don't even have to disclose it to you. And... they don't.

The dealer damaged the vehicle and repaired it and since you are not complaining about the quality of the repair, I suspect that it has been repaired to your satisfaction. That is all you are going to get. By proceeding all you are going to do is damage your standing with the dealer. Sorry to be blunt as I know you're upset and I would be, too. I just don't see a positive outcome more than what has already been done.

 

A lot more cars are damaged at the factory and in shipping than most people know.

 

Yep and its not just Ferrari. It's every manufacturer.

Guess what happens to rental cars? And they don't disclose it either. They are self-insured.

 

I’ve been involved in 4 not at fault accidents where fault was clearly the other person. I’ve recovered complete diminished value dollar amounts in EACH instance and these were in very pedestrian cars.

To make a claim you’d have to compare sales prices of similarly equipped cars with similar repair history vs. similar cars without. It’s not complex at all, and these services are very inexpensive.

Had a buddy 20 years ago recover $15-20k in dimished value after his new M3 was rear ended two weeks after he took delivery. Not sure why this is being discouraged when reasonable avenues to recovery exist.

I’d imagine more than a handful of people on this very forum have done so with their Fcars and hopefully someone chimes in with a recommendation.

 

My company operates (in part) in car transportation/distribution and this is 100% correct. Cars are damaged at various ports from manufacturers to the receiving US port, damaged during unloading of containers, damaged during unpacking and storage, damaged during repack and loading onto trains and car haulers, damaged by car haulers along with the receiving dealer. There are paint shops at port and distribution centers for exactly this reason, and while the manufacturer is notified of damage and subsequent repairs the dealers rarely are and I’m willing to bet the end user/owner isn’t told more than 1% of the time.

Not only that, many of us who have ordered new Ferraris can attest to the inconsistencies when it comes to QC and paint finish. I have had more than one personal car with paint I insisted the dealer redid a panel or two because it was so ****ty (thin, blown metallic, dirt, etc) so the idea Ferraris en masse are floating around with virgin perfect paint and anything less is a significant detractor of value is just silly. If it’s not from a crash, not claimed on insurance where it shows on a carfax/autocheck history, and documented by the dealer/owner with photos and invoices it’s not a big deal and rather than grousing maybe save this one and call in the favor of/when you have a real issue you need the dealer to assist with.

 

Depends on the car, obviously, but how much has the value actually diminished by having one quarter panel that looks factory but the paint meter reads as having been painted? A dinged Carfax will materially affect a car's price, but this isn't the situation. I don't think it's all that big a deal.

It sucks when it happens to you, sure, but it's a 3000+ lb object that's 14 feet long, 6 feet wide, has fragile surfaces and is designed to locomote through its environment. Superficial damage happens.

 

Oh man... that phrase cracked me up!

Just hit me funny as it's uncommon phrasing - carry on!

Kevin

 

So recently I took my Corvette C8 to the dealer with a problem with the top. He fixed it and said it needed something done at the body shop. We both looked over the vehicle when I brought it in and couldn't see anything. But the service guy said it needed something repainted. I'm like -- Ok, you're paying for it.

Then I get a letter from the Dealer: Please bring your car in! We want to buy it!.

Ok, make an appointment. They pull out a CAR FAX that the car had undergone some "minor body" repair and said they wouldn't buy the vehicle at market price because of it. I literally exploded on the salesman. I had no idea that if the dealer does this under warranty its reported to Car Fax. If I had known I would have told the dealer to forget it.

Bottom line: Check if its on Carfax then talk to them about depreciation.

 

I had a great experience with Ferrari of Atlanta, but if you want to pursue a diminished value claim just retain an expert directly - I see various when googling - and make a claim on the dealer's insurance policy. Here in NV I pay $350-650 for the report depending on the evaluation extent/depth.

If you just have the type of detail and precision you would use to get a health insurer reimbursement, they'll cough up.

I kind of agree with Bob, only fear being paint meters. If they can get it repaired without it ending up on any of the services (ie cash pay), then maybe you parlay this experience into service or preferred allocations/order positions in the future...

 

You can absolutely get dimishied value.

The dealer will likely pay.

If they don't just hire an attorney. It will not go to court. No dealer wants to go to court.

They are at fault. Every jury on the planet will find them at fault and probably award 3 times the amount of money because people want to stick it to a car dealer.

I have a very strong feeling the dealer will pay and you may sign an NDA and move on.

Or tell them you will refrain the biggest **** bag attorney and decimare their CSI... Make a complaint to FNA and destroy them online. But... All you are looking for is to be fair and break even. You are not trying to come out ahead. Just trying to get where you were the day before you came into service.