Posted on 01/10/2014 6:48:28 PM PST by 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.
(Excerpt) Read more at autos.yahoo.com ...
Dealership p0VVnz the vehicle. The previous owner should get a new vehicle.
Yup, that is what I would have done. Said “We’ll take what our insurance company pays for your car and cover the rest. Lets get that new Camero ordered for you. What would you like to drive until it gets here?”
That’ll buff right out.
In the age of the internet, no bad deed goes unnoticed. Now folks around the world know about First State Chevy in Georgetown Delaware.
This has been reposted on automotive forums far and wide, LOL.
“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.
What if the employee had taken cash from the dealership and went out and had a good old time. It is the same thing.
It IS stealing. The dealership should pursue charges. THey should replace the vehicle (I’m certain insurance covers a fair portion), and they should pursue civil charges against the employee and a garnishment of wages until the vehicle is paid off.
I don’t see how no crime was committed...the punk was not authorized by the dealership to take the car...at the very least there’s destruction of private property...joyriding?
I suggest they give him that one and call it a deal.
“I have a friend who works on cars.”
I was actually told this at an accident scene one time. That was right before she fled the scene. She didn’t have a license or insurance and left the scene.
I got her license and the police paid her a visit an hour later.
There may be some reason the guy doesn’t want a convert?
I can understand that, more chassis flex, rollover safety, etc.
“She didn’t have a license or insurance “
I was hit by a girl who had an insurance card, but didn’t have insurance. The cops only look to see if you have the card. CALL THE INSURANCE COMPANY IMMEDIATELY. If they do not have insurance, you can have the car impoiunded and often have the driver arrested.
Also, do not think that criminal court is your only avenue. Contact the DMV or sec of state. I witnessed a guy hit a cyclist who then fled. I got the plate, license, and got a look at the driver. The judge believed his boss that he was at work. The guy he hit was a lawyer and took him to a hearing witht eh sec of state. Your rights do not apply in these hearings. The guy was driving on a suspended license. The sec of state officials did not believe his story, and revoked his license and informed him it would be unlikely he ever got another license in that state.
CA DMV suspended vehicle registration and licenses on the vehicle that hit me. As it was registered to a family and they would not admit who was responsible, they suspended all their driver licenses and all vehicle registrations in their names until they paid a fine and got insurance. It did not help me, but it may stop them from hurting someone else.
I agree, and to top it off, free gas for a year.
They will come out way ahead by settling.
” Relax, all right? My old man is a television repairman, he’s got this ultimate set of tools. I can fix it.”
Ok Seinfeld. lol
I was dating a woman one time. Her car was broken into, and the teenage punks took the car on a joyride. They were caught when they brought the car back. They were charged with Unauthorized use of vehicle. Did some jail time.
Ok Spicolli
lol
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