Screwed by Dealership - HELP !!

Hello guys, I recently had my 2003 996 C2 appraised for insurance purposes because of my upgrades and found out that the entire back of the car (bumper and truck lid) were repainted. The dealership did not diclose this fact and I am a little pissed to say the least. The appraiser said that there is no evidence of an "accident" and as a result did not impair the value of the car. But my take is that if I wanted a damaged and then repainted car I would have went looking for one - I was under the impression that this car was brand new in all respects. Does anyone have any experience with this and perhaps shed some light on what my rights are? What should I do or say to the dealership - I love the car and do not want to give it back - but I feel that I should be entitled to something asa result of this find - am I off base here?? Johnny.

if it was repainted, it impacts the value of the car.

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">Originally posted by Johnny996: <strong>- am I off base here?? </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">Not at all... I would certainly have a chat with them.

Johnny, did you specifically ask them if the car was in "original" condition before you bought it. Personally, I wouldn't confront them right off the bat. I'd have a chat and see what you could discover about the car before you tell them what you know. You might learn something that you otherwise wouldn't have if you just flat out confronted them. Just my $.02

Johnny. I know this is an '03 and don't want to assume anything. Was the car purchased new on the floor? If so, I would have a littloe chat with them.

BMW had an issue were they had to repaint some cars that arrived straight from the factory because of weather damage to the paint. Somebody found out that his car had been repainted, sued and won.

. . . not only did the BMW purchaser sue and win, he won millions in punitive damages (later reduced significantly by the court). If it was a new car, your chat will be easy. If it was a used car, and they made any representations about the paint/accident history, and there is any chance they knew differently, it should still be easy. I don't know anything about your state's consumer protection laws, but this should fall squarely within them. The difficulty issue will be what they can do to make it right. Just my thoughts . . ..

When I was shopping for a 996 last year, the dealer (Beverly Hills) had just received a new C4S which I was interested in. But they discovered that it had paint damage (or a paint defect) and they had decided to send it back to the factory to have it redone or whatever. It doesn't cost the dealer anything but lost time on a purchase, and they send it back on the empty ships that have to go back. What is the fate of these cars afterwards, I don't know, but they are repainted at the factory if that is any consolation, and will have full warranty. Maybe they can extend the paint warranty if you insist. I would be pissed if it was not disclosed. I thought I would share this.

When I was shopping for a 996 last year, the dealer (Beverly Hills) had just received a new C4S which I was interested in. But they discovered that it had paint damage (or a paint defect) and they had decided to send it back to the factory to have it redone or whatever. It doesn't cost the dealer anything but lost time on a purchase, and they send it back on the empty ships that have to go back. What is the fate of these cars afterwards, I don't know, but they are repainted at the factory if that is any consolation, and will have full warranty. Maybe they can extend the paint warranty if you insist. I would be pissed if it was not disclosed. I thought I would share this.

Caveat emptor. Your buying the car, it's the buyers responsibility to discover anything about the car, not the seller. The US is far to litigatious. It's actually disgusting that someone can actually sue McDonalds for being fat and sue RJ Reynolds for cancer cause by smoking. How about using your head before you buy that car, before you eat that greasy BigMac and before you smoke that carton of smokes, rather than RELYING on a lawyer, as a Mr Fix-it. Anyways, if the appraiser says there is no decrease and value then whats the big problem? If you bought the car used, you should have been diligent in finding all about the car, caveat emptor, buyer beware.

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">Originally posted by RR: <strong>Caveat emptor. </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">Caveat emptor would apply if the car was sold as used, which isn't clear from the first post. If sold as new, the buyer has no burden to "discover" defects in the car. Even with a used car, full disclosure is usually best on the part of the seller, though not necessarily required legally (unless the buyer specifically asked about paint work or body work).

If the car was purchased new, I disagree with your opinion RR. I think that it's pretty standard to expect that a zero miles car (if that's what Johnney bought) should be a perfect, unrepaired, undamaged car. I also recall the BMW incident - my recollection is that it was finally admitted to have fallen a few feet off the delivery truck's unloading ramp! I've bought new cars since, but have never felt it necessary to ask "Umm - just checking, did this car ever get dropped several feet?" (I completely agree with the McDonalds portion of your post though!)

If you leased the car and couldn't easily tell it had been painted (repainted), then you might not want to worry too much about it. Although I know how you feel. When spending that kind of money on a car, I would hope the dealer would be more up front and honest.

Thanks guys - I have been away for a couple days - just read the posts. The car was sold as NEW in fact BRAND NEW. Why should i expect the car to be in anything but perfect condition "RR" Should I now before buying any car have it appraised?? I am not an autobody man or mechanic and will not pretend to be one - If I order a new porsche from the factory it comes in and I buy it - why should I "beware" of such a thing. I was always under the impression that a new car is just that - NEW !! I have not contacted the dealer yet and plan to first thing next week - I just wanted to get some opinions on this situation. Thanks for all the input. John.

That happened to a buddy of mine. It was discovered after 6 months and 6K miles. The dealership replaced the car with a new one. Roy ps. In this case, an employee had wrecked the car and it was repainted at the dealership. The employee never told management about it. Your car may have been repainted by Porsche at their old PDI center (depends on age). You need to find out when/who it was painted.

Johnny, You were wronged by the dealership -- you bought a car that was supposed to be brand new without any body/paint repairs. Caveat emprtor does NOT apply here. Do not let them get away with it. Regarding the litigious US: I'm all for personal responsibility, and it's hard for me to imagine that anyone remains unaware of the dangers of smoking, BUT; the tobacco companies lost the suit because they repeatedly and publicly stated that tobacco does not cause cancer. Had they acknowledged the danger (the warnings on the packs are legally required -- they are absent from packs in countries that don't require the warnings) I'm confident that they would not have lost the suit.

Depending on the laws where you live the dealer may not be required to keep track of, nor disclose, if a car has been painted post factory painting. Notice my verbage. Dealership painting may, on occasion be better than factory painting. It does not make the car any less new, just different paint. A new car, at least in Pennsylvania where I live,is a vehicle that has not been previously titled or driven more than 6000 miles. Paint has nothing to do with it. In PA. a dealer is not required or expected to disclose minor scratches or lot damage that results in a repair costing less that $500. If a vehicle on the lot is repaired for less than $500, the sales staff involved with it's sale may not even be aware of it's repair. However, if a vehicle has had major damage and consequent repair, I do believe the dealership has a legal and moral obligation to disclose it.

when I got my '00 996 C2 delivered brand new, the factory aero kit was not painted to match the white properly as I was told these kits came from France prepainted and were slapped onto the car at factory. The dealer did repaint it to be closer than the stock paint and covered the fees under warranty. It may be the dealer found some defects upon quality control before they put the car for sale and redid the paint work. I had a bmw before, and it had a different story. I believe it came off the truck delivered at my dealer and was scratched and had a paint work done on the rear end as a result. There was overspray on the back bumper, but by the time I realized this I had the car for a few months already.

FWIW there is no way a Porsche bumper and decklid were repainted to high quality for less than $500. In Calif. that would be somewhere between $1000-2000 I think. The car is no doubt "new" but all the same you had a right to know that. Any dealer would ding you something for repainted panels on one of these cars if you traded it in, they would definitely check that before the mechanicals. The car is not necessarily diminished, I finally had my 30,000 mile front bumper repainted last week and I can tell you it was a reminder how crappola the early cars were painted OE--better than new and finally matches the rest of the car.

Before I charged into the dealership with both guns blazing, I think I would get a second opinion on whether the car had been re-painted or not. If you have clear evidence that you can present to the dealer that it has been painted, I would ask for their help in determining the circumstances under which it was repainted. It may be that they got the car that way, or maybe not. Seems to me you will get farther if you try to determine the "what" first and then try to figure out the "whom". What if it was repainted at the factory?