Have to take my new RX-8 back to the dealer tomorrow and I need your opinions.

Long story short, I test drove my car Thursday, a week ago, and got a quote from the salesman. I called the salesman back on Saturday and worked him a little more and ended up with a fair, not great, price for my RX 6-speed with Sport Package. I told him I would pick the car up Monday, a week ago. He said he would get the car to clean up and get it ready. I told him to inspect the car after clean up and call me and let me know how it looks. I explained to him that I am 39 years old and this would be the first new car purchase for me and I wanted to make sure the car had no dents, dings, scratches, etc. He said he understood and called later in the day to say everything is good.

I went in to pick up the car which was still being cleaned up, (I know, my first clue!). I did all the paperwork on the car and now was the time to see my ride. On the first walk-around, I noticed 1)two small paint chips next to the license plate bracket approx. 3-5 mm in diameter. 2) some small scratches on the driver’s door which I think will buff out with some wax. 3.) a relatively small 2” dent on the passenger front fender that could easily be removed with paint-less dent repair. 4) a 1” cut in the bottom panel of the drivers’ side rear seat cushion. :mad:

At first, I was going to back out of the deal but at that point I really wanted the car. I made him replace the lower seat cushion with one from another car before I would take delivery. As for the other 3 items, the sales manager gave me a “we-owe” and said they would all be taken care of. I was a little uneasy about the whole situation but never-the-less went ahead and accepted the car.

Here’s my dilemma, I am an Expert Volvo Technician and work on customers cars all the time. In 15 years, I can honestly say that I have never put a scratch, scrape, ding, or have done damage in any way to a customers car that I have worked on, but on the other hand, I have worked in the dealership environment for a long time and I have seen many occasion where the porter door dings the car, the wash guy opens the door into the cinderblock wall, etc. Quite honestly, most people just aren’t as careful as I am with other people’s cars. The dealership service adviser called and wants me to bring my car in tomorrow to have the remaining items taken car of. I am mostly afraid that I will get it back worse than it is now. Here’s my question;

A) I know a paint-less dent repair guy that we have been using for years that simply can work magic. I would rather have him fix the dent in the fender than dropping it off at the dealership and letting someone I don’t know. The inner fender liner for the pass front fender will have to be loosened and folded back for access to the inner portion of the fender and quite frankly I can envision the dealership dent guy prying on the plastic fender causing even more damage.
B) The service advisor told me he wants to have the bumper repaired by the mobile paint guys even though they have their own body-shop. Once again, we use our own mobile paint guy and I know he could work wonders, I am a little scared as to if the dealerships guy does the work, will it match correctly, will there be overspray, etc.

Do I, ask the sales manager if he would be willing to let my guy take the dent out or just let them deal with it?

Do I, let there paint guy spray and blend my front bumper, or should I ask them to replace the cover with another one?

I’m not really that worried about the scratches in the drivers door because I’ve already removed most of them with a little wax.

I know most of you guys will probably flame me for something so simple and I know that over time there will be many paint chips, etc. but being my first new car I just wanted to a least start off right if you know what I mean…….

Sorry for the long post……you guys help me make the decision on the purchase of my 8 and I really appreciate the vast resource of information here.

Well its a new car an its a RX-8 so I would be picky too. If I where you I would have the replace all the damaged crap little scratches would fix. I treat my car like gold so when I find things that I know I would not do to my car. I have them fix it or fell my rant!

I would make them feel my wrath and then want it all fixed!! ASAP!!

I think you may have given up all of your leverage by signing and receiving the car. If you have folks you trust to do that work I think that would have been your best course. Unfortunately, you're not liekyl con convince the dealership who sold you the RX-8 pay someone else for these fixes (clearly it's to their advantage to use their service department or their regular subcontractors).

Given that - here's my point of view: You'll probably need to use/trust this Mazda service department for warranty work someday. You may as well develop a relationship with their service department and find out if you can trust them right now. The angle I would take would be to switch from dealing with the salesman to dealing with the service manager as soon as possible. You need to get your salesman to transfer the 'we-owe' (preferrably in writing) to the service manager with the understanding that the dealer's service department fix A), B), and C) to your satisfaction at no cost to you.

Then, you can speak frankly to the service manager about dent repair techniques, overspray concerns, etc, etc. They *might* be a good shop! The service department I use in Rochester is fine.

Hopefully, this will not develop into a nightmare scenario with bumbling service twits breaking 3 things for every 1 thing they're asked to fix, but there just aren't any guarantees in life, right? Taking the other route your car could get totalled by a drunk driver while on the way to your paint-less dent-repair guy.

Don't worry about being fussy about your brand new car being perfect at delivery. Most of us here are a little crazy about our RX-8s too, so we'll understand (even if your family/co-workers/friends do not).

All that said - Hey, welcome to the forum and congrats on your purchase.

I concur, you signing that mess of paperwork absolves them of anything and hurts your case. I would also talk to the people there and try to build a relationship with them, becuase you never know when you're gonna need them. Those folks at the delearships can work miracles if they want to. Me, I never like to burn bridges until there's nothing else to do. I think you should check out the shop talk to some of the customers lingering around and get their opinions on the quality of service.

You should be concerned and your concerns are well within reason.


My question to everyone: Isn't there some kind of law that protects anyone entering a contract 72 hours to get out of it? If worse came to worse couldn't he just drop the car off and leave it and let them know he was severing the aggreement?

That would be a kick ass law... always thought all sales were final?

Thanks for the comments. I guess I'll just take it in tomorrow and see how things go. I figure it's only right to give them a chance to correct the items that were wrong at delivery. I'll let you all know how it goes....

Look the bottem line is this is/was a new car they aggred to fix the car and restore it to its og condition. If not take them to small claims court and to help build a case take pictures of what ever they did not fix. On my car the body shop charged the INC CO. for a new front passanger wheel. Guess what? its not new its all chiped and scraped up!...

depends on the dealership, good dealerships are actually really nice to you and do everything they can to help you, they benefit from this because you are likely to go back to them for your services during the tenure of your ownership.

When I got my car brand new I noticed a tiny paint chip on the inside of the trunk (yeah it was pretty picky since you cant even see it normally) and I told them about it, they volunteered to fix it for me at no charge, that was after my dad paid them cash for it. (im not that spoiled, im paying my dad back 400 a month :p: )

realistically speaking though, you'll have paint chips and rock chips and dings and all that good stuff eventually. they are innevitable muahahahahahaha.

IN florida I know we have a 72 hour contract law...I am unsure how it will work in this case, I believe he can go back to the dealer and get out of it, the dealerships do it to people all the time when they say you have credit and then call you a day later and tell you to bring the car back. But like I said I do not know how this will work in this case

The "Buyer's Remorse" laws are state laws - some states have them and some don't. And for those that do every state is different.

If they screw you, call the Better Business Bureau and if that doesnt work, just keep good notes and go to your local TV Stations consumer reports rep....they are always looking for a good story