Chevy Camaro ZL1 owner fights dealership that totaled his car

Yahoo news ^ | 01/09/14 | By Justin Hyde

[rawhide]

At 580 hp and a starting price of $55,000, the Chevy Camaro ZL1 ranks as the top dog of the Camaro lineup (at least until the Z/28 hits the track.) For Camaro enthusiasts like John Hooper, author of six books on the history of Camaros, it's a dream car — or at least was a dream car, until an employee at a Chevy dealership totaled his ZL1 on an unauthorized joyride. Nearly a month later, Hooper and the dealership have yet to agree on how much that particular top dog was worth.

According to Hooper's posts on the Camaro5 forum, he had taken his 2012 Camaro ZL1 to First State Chevy in Georgetown, Del., for warranty work on a paint issue. On Dec. 15, a Sunday, one of the dealer's employees took the keys from the closed dealership and went for a spin — that ended when the ZL1 sheared off a telephone pole.

The next day, the dealership told Hooper about the incident, and by the end of that week, the car had been declared a total loss. Since then, Hooper and First State have been unable to reach an accord over how to replace the ZL1.

To First State's credit, it immediately fired the employee who took the car and tried to pursue charges against him — but local officials said since the car was in the dealership's legal possession at the time of the crash, no crime was committed. Hooper's ZL1 had about 10,000 miles on it, and while First State has offered other used ZL1s as replacements, Hooper has said those cars were not worth as much as his example was pre-crash.

[ETL]

Wow, you're right. Never heard the term before.

More ridiculous examples here:
http://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images;_ylt=A0oG7h2aM9FSdiQAB0NXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTB0OWllcGhkBHNlYwNzYwRjb2xvA2FjMgR2dGlkA1NNRTM0Nl8x?_adv_prop=image&fr=ytff1-yff25&va=donk+cars

[HiTech RedNeck]

This looks like a car which was still under financing. He’s going to walk away with a paid off loan, and maybe a little more money, but not a car.

By making themselves so small and bitter, he and his cheering team on social media are actually managing to shrink themselves out of the big picture of this dealership. One encouraging missive is worth a thousand “damn you’s.” The dealership could put feelers out all over the country to see what the most comparable car that could be located, would be. And then offer the most sweet heart loan they can possibly wangle to help this guy get it. But if he stays bitter, then he only gets what the law prescribes, which is money.

[Candor7]

“but local officials said since the car was in the dealership’s legal possession at the time of the crash, no crime was committed.”>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Not true. Bailment does not encompass destruction of property.

The issue of a bailment of property converted to crime
goes to the test of intent. The joyride was not within the contempation of the owners bailment to the dealer.

Nor was it within the contemplation of the Dealer.

The joy ride cheese stands alone and he should be charged wity felony theft.The car owners insurance should proceeed with subrogated rights to sue the joy rider and the dealership for the payment of loss, full replacement value.

[Bulwyf]

I drive a big chev with big wheels, and a lift, but then again I’m an electrician in the oil patch and it’s practical for work. I saw those pics of the cars with the big tires and I was speechless, but I guess I shouldn’t be surprised at how stupid people are anymore.

[Bulwyf]

wow, that picture you posted is nice, is that yours?

[Bryan24]

This is a two step process:

Step One - Give the guy a brand new Camaro and cover his payment. You are out $55,000 or so.

Step Two - Dealer file a civil suit against the idiot who wrecked it.

You fight this, it will cost a whole lot more than $55,000

[ChildOfThe60s]

I know it’s a sign of when I came of age, but I didn’t care for the body style changes after 1970 in the Camaro, or many of the muscle cars.

[dhs12345]

It ended as well as it could. My ins paid to repair the damage. She ended up in court and had to pay restitution.

I felt bad for the lady however when I remembered that she what she did, I lost all empathy.

[dhs12345]

Lol. Yup.

[dhs12345]

That might been the name of her friend — dent wizard.

Might be related to earl scheib.

[setha]

Ok. I thought that they had the Impala in the 1980’s(as well as part of the 1990’s) as some variant, but I must have been mistaken.

Another undeserved target for these kind (amongst many) would be the 1980’s era Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme. Too many of them get the wheel & body treatment with not much attention to the engine.

In my personal opinion, subtlety goes a lot further than flashiness.

[Celtic Conservative]

The Impala name was a special options package connected to the caprice nameplate through the 80's and 90's. there was, however enough options and trim differences to differentiate the two at a glance. Looking closer at the taillights it's likely a caprice. Still looks fugly, though.

CC

[Organic Panic]

The guy should call Government Motors and complain. I am still waiting for my new car after bailing that POS company out of failure.

[cableguymn]

I was going to write my car off as a loss this year. what where we suppose to get?

[Organic Panic]

I’ve always been impressed with Japanese companies.

[kelly4c]

Got a Pontiac Firebird afterwards and although it was a more attractive car it just didn’t have the get up and go the Camero did. The former got totalled when a kid pulled out in front of me from a stop sign and I was disappointed with the pay-out considering the money we had put into the car. A few years later we discovered the vin number was still valid, the car had been restored. Didn’t even know that’d be legal to do. Tell someone their car can’t be fixed, give them a few thousand, then fix it up and sell for more money. Was never given the option of having it fixed.

[PapaBear3625]

“but local officials said since the car was in the dealership’s legal possession at the time of the crash, no crime was committed.” Baloney. Ask Steve McQueen what happens when you take a vehicle out without authorization.

Exactly. How much you want to bet that the joyriding employee is a relative of a cop or politician?

[ChildOfThe60s]

Ask Steve McQueen what happens when you take a vehicle out without authorization.

Like in The Reivers? /grin

[ChildOfThe60s]

It was 69 or 70, can’t remember, but a classmate had a Firebird with the overhead cam 6 and a performance geared rear end. It was a hot little number. Not the brute power like the SS 350 or SS 396, but that overhead cam was pretty cool at the time. And I did like the Firebird body style initially.

Which is funny now because my Hyundai Sonata has dual OHC and 24 valves. Would have killed for that configuration at that time.