This Honda Fit is a piece of E36 M3!

I wouldn't be surprised if someone from Honda has read all 22 pages already...(not joking)

I'm okay with that. I haven't called out the dealer by name (yet) and everything I've posted here is 100% accurate. I'm giving them the chance to make it right. If they do, I'll sing their praises.

5:01 PM - No returned phone call from GM or SM. No phone call (I was told I WOULD here something by 5PM today twice) from Regional Manager.

I want to berkeleying vomit.

Woody wrote: I wouldn't be surprised if someone from Honda has read all 22 pages already...(not joking)

Yeah, the NSA forwarded it to them.

Javelin wrote:

Woody wrote: I wouldn't be surprised if someone from Honda has read all 22 pages already...(not joking)

Yeah, the NSA forwarded it to them.

Lol, "Hey, just so you guys know, we got your back. That dude is an shiny happy person."

poopshovel wrote: I want to berkeleying vomit.

Don't allow yourself to get so worked up.

It's only a car, and you have that quality GM rental in the meantime. You could have much worse problems. Letting it bother you, and getting upset about it won't make it any better. When it's all resolved, you'll realize that.

Zomby Woof wrote:

poopshovel wrote: I want to berkeleying vomit.

Don't allow yourself to get so worked up. It's only a car, and you have that quality GM rental in the meantime. You could have much worse problems. Letting it bother you, and getting upset about it won't make it any better. When it's all resolved, you'll realize that.

QFT. When the dealer bonzos this whole deal, Honda corporate can cut you check with which to waltz into the Mazda dealer and plunk down on a cherry new 2014 SkyActiv 3.

It's not like DipE36 M3 motors fragged your all-original ITR.

Zomby Woof wrote:

poopshovel wrote: I want to berkeleying vomit.

Don't allow yourself to get so worked up. It's only a car, and you have that quality GM rental in the meantime. You could have much worse problems. Letting it bother you, and getting upset about it won't make it any better. When it's all resolved, you'll realize that.

I really appreciate that, man. It's who I am though. Stuff like this really gets under my skin. (I hope I didn't already mention this) but I own a business. In over 15,000 orders fulfilled, I've only had a handful of things that I have had to make the "I berkeleyed up" phone call for - most of them weren't my berkeley-ups, but my employees'. Still, I sack up and say "I did it." In 99% of those few cases, I've deliberately gone WAY beyond what was "required," in order to keep the customers' business and not have them badmouthing me. That pesky little 1% was people who just refused to be happy in the first place, and it became obvious over multiple attempts to please them that they were just angling to get something for nothing.

My wife tells me I expect too much. I don't even "expect" anymore. But I HOPE to be treated as I treat my customers.

Anyway, thanks for the sentiment though. Maybe I need to meditate or some E36 M3...but the happy little bubbles in the stream will eventually turn into service managers and cars covered in tranny fluid.

I just got a call from the Honda Regional (manager?) I don't think she addressed herself as such, and is in California.

Anyway, I was totally honest, up front, and detailed, and was sure to mention my loyalty to Honda, and the mighty 377,000 mile integra.

I didn't get the warm and fuzzies, but she said she could understand both sides of the argument. I agreed that I understood both sides too, but as a business owner, I err on the side of what's going to make the customer happy if it's the matter of a few $100 bills on a $17,000 car that gets serviced exclusively at the dealership in the interest of making sure there are no warranty issues.

She said she's going to call the dealership first thing tomorrow morning and get back to me.

We'll see.

mfennell wrote: Is this really a realistic concern? Synchros start to go at 32k miles, he brings it to another dealer and...what? They notice it's not the original transmission and won't work on it?

They'll work on it, till the tech writes the serial down so Honda can have some statistics, at which point the goddamn plane has crashed into the mountain.

poopshovel wrote: It's who I am though.

I'm that guy too. I also own a business and treat my customers the same way. I think I have reasonable expectations, and I'm constantly disappointed.

I know how hard it is, but take a step back. Getting all worked up will not make a difference in the outcome, but will make you feel like E36 M3 for a week.

poopshovel wrote: Anyway, thanks for the sentiment though. Maybe I need to meditate or some E36 M3...but the happy little bubbles in the stream will eventually turn into service managers and cars covered in tranny fluid.

Meditation is for Bob Costas. You should drink.

poopshovel wrote: I didn't get the warm and fuzzies, but she said she could understand both sides of the argument. I agreed that I understood both sides too, but as a business owner, I err on the side of what's going to make the customer happy if it's the matter of a few $100 bills on a $17,000 car that gets serviced exclusively at the dealership in the interest of making sure there are no warranty issues. She said she's going to call the dealership first thing tomorrow morning and get back to me. We'll see.

Don't sweat the lack of warm fuzzies just yet. Put yourself in her shoes. I'd be willing to be she gets a TON of calls about dealerships on a regular basis and would guess that most are the fault of the owner, not the dealership. So, she has to take every call like this with an initial, non-committal reaction.

-Rob

In reply to Datsun1500:

AGAIN!!!! If the used transmission has a Honda warranty matching his original, then it's okay, but they berking don't. Why is that so hard for you to understand?!?

Datsun1500 wrote: Do you not see the irony in that statement? You have no solid proof that the dealer screwed up the car, yet they are stepping up to the plate, taking nothing but your word, and trying to keep you as a customer. You are angling for them to replace a used transmission with a new one.... And this is from a dealer you have badmouthed from the first post....

Lets say you buy a new car, with a warranty and such, then lets say 20k miles later, with a lot of warranty left the engine blew up because some moron kid at the dealer forgot to put oil in it or something to that effect.

Would you take a junkyard motor with no warranty from the manufacturer, like the rest of the car has, for an answer, or fight for a FACTORY BACKED engine?

In reply to Datsun1500:

The dealer already admitted he berking did it!!!! Why does poop have to prove anything?!?

And, again, the dealer will warranty the used transmission, not Honda USA. That's not making him whole!

And poop himself mentioned his mythical trip, which is real, maybe you should read? Also note that the reason he bought this new, warrantied everywhere car is so his wife and child would never have to be stranded and worry about renting a car to get home. How do you not understand this?!?

Zomby Woof wrote:

poopshovel wrote: It's who I am though.

I'm that guy too. I also own a business and treat my customers the same way. I think I have reasonable expectations, and I'm constantly disappointed. I know how hard it is, but take a step back. Getting all worked up will not make a difference in the outcome, but will make you feel like E36 M3 for a week.

Thanks man. I'm consulting my psychiatrist, Evan Williams right now, and he's making me feel much better about the whole thing.

Speaking of getting all worked up, there's one person who should be all in a frenzy right now, and that's me. No need to get all bold letters and caps-locked out, dudes.

poopy said: UPDATE: Finally got a call back from the general manager, who was EXTREMELY upset and asked specifically for names so he'd know (in his words) who the hammer would fall hardest on. Having just heard the story for the first time, he immediately called bullE36 M3 on the service writer who suggested the service in the first place, AND said "Well I don't know about you, but it sounds like some dip E36 M3 didn't torque the drain plug. A half hour later I received a call from the service manager, who also apologized and said that the plug had indeed fallen out. "

Trying to keep a somewhat similar story short - I (uninformed - my fault) bought a new '09 WRX that ended up having the silver-bearing problem. When I discovered engines failing left and right (rod knock/blow up!) I did oil and filter analysis at the first recommended change - 3750 miles. Sure enough - massive levels of silver in both oil and filter. Despite the evidence of a pending disaster they would do nothing. Got on a first name basis with President of Subaru N.A. in NJ. Sure enough - 18 months and 21,000 miles later it let go.

Brand new engine (not reman or used), brand new turbo, flat bed tow, rental -- all paid for by them. But I insisted on and they agreed to a 'platinum level' mechanical insurance policy -- basically warrantying the driveline for 7 years/100k miles. That might be an approach you'd want to take. Working with the dealer was a TOTAL waste of time. All my efforts were focused on the manufacturer's customer service org and the Regional Technical Mgr.

And once they repaired the car, I sold it immediately with a full disclosure to the buyer. He was thrilled - flawless 25k mile car with brand new engine, turbo and 7 yr/100k mile (transferable) warranty. Every chance I get, and lots of people ask for my input on car purchases, I steer them away from that make. And every time I do - I send another letter to my buddy's at Subie N.A. to remind them what happens when they don't do the right thing in the first place.

Also, said trip to Tampa is not mythical, but I'm visiting my brother, so it will be legendary.

Whether it's this trip, or the next trip, or the one after that, my point is that I bought a NEW car so I could comfortably drive my family any berkeleying where I want without having to worry about the goddamned thing breaking down. Get it? This is also why I have the car serviced at the dealer...so there's no "YOU must've berkeleyed it up."

If you can't understand that, Datsun. I'm sorry. If you keep insinuating that I'm a liar or a thief, then I'll politely ask you to go perform a physical impossibilty on yourself.

In reply to Datsun1500:

And if they wanted to get nasty, then so could poop, and they have a lot more to lose than they do. In between the local news "on your side" team, Honda corporate, and social media, not to mention flaming bags of E36 M3 thrown all over the dealer, they would get the way, way shorter end of the stick on that deal.

poopshovel wrote: Also, said trip to Tampa is not mythical, but I'm visiting my brother, so it will be legendary.

Lol ... I think Datsun works for the dealership hehe.

I wonder what would happen when he takes his mythical R8 with the navigation option for an oil change and they forget to add oil ...

Datsun1500 wrote: In reply to Javelin: As people keep saying about the warranty, any of that in writing? He was fine with it until people here said he shouldn't be. All I'm saying is IF the dealer wanted to be nasty about it, they could be.

That's not "all you're saying." You've questioned my integrity and accused me of "badmouthing" the dealer. Which dealer are we talking about again? Oh, right, the one whose name I haven't mentioned yet as I'm giving them the opportunity to make it right.

If addressing the fact that their service writers have fought me tooth and nail on little chicken E36 M3 warranty issues, and straight up lied to me regarding the "required service" that resulted in this SNFU in the first place is "badmouthing," then, please, refer to me as "Badmouth McMotherberkeleyer" henceforth.

I don't want a new car. I don't want a berkeleying check or dinner & a movie or free oil changes for life. All I want is a goddamned Honda with AC and airbags that I can haul my girls in anywhere the berkeley I want.

poopshovel wrote:

Datsun1500 wrote: In reply to Javelin: As people keep saying about the warranty, any of that in writing? He was fine with it until people here said he shouldn't be. All I'm saying is IF the dealer wanted to be nasty about it, they could be.

That's not "all you're saying." You've questioned my integrity and accused me of "badmouthing" the dealer. Which dealer are we talking about again? Oh, right, the one whose name I haven't mentioned yet as I'm giving them the opportunity to make it right. If addressing the fact that their service writers have fought me tooth and nail on little chicken E36 M3 warranty issues, and straight up lied to me regarding the "required service" that resulted in this SNFU in the first place is "badmouthing," then, please, refer to me as "Badmouth McMotherberkeleyer" henceforth. I don't want a new car. I don't want a berkeleying check or dinner & a movie or free oil changes for life. All I want is a goddamned Honda with AC and airbags that I can haul my girls in anywhere the berkeley I want.

How unreasonable your are Poop, go stand in the corner and write 100 lines.
"I must be a bad boy cause my transmission berked itself."

Seriously, what the dealer did is called fraud, I know who would get the wrong end of an investigation into this mess.

fraud (frôd) n.
1. A deception deliberately practiced in order to secure unfair or unlawful gain.
2. A piece of trickery; a trick.

a. One that defrauds; a cheat.
b. One who assumes a false pose; an impostor.
[Middle English fraude, from Old French, from Latin fraus, fraud-.]

AND! AND! AND!

If you want to talk about irony. I'm supposed to be on tour right now. That would've made the suckage exponentially worse.

Datsun1500 wrote: And Slippery, I'm trying to find an R8 without navigation, not one with navigation, there's plenty of those.

Lol ... Thats probably why its mythical ...