NEW TOP - NEW ISSUES

[texfre]

Originally Posted by mikeec

I refuse to buy a slower vehicle. Plus, when was the last time you actually saw a vert mustang with it's top down. That's the reason they don't have marks, they just don't put them down.

How do I start a complaint with the BBB? Is the one in Detroit or a local one?

At least on my 05 GT mustang I was able to put the top down. Got my 11 Convert March 19 and after contacting my dealer, thanks Camaro5, I had to wait unti May 3 to get the TSB done, so I took the top down for the 2nd time on the way home. The new TSB increased the wind noice significantly on the reight rear side. I did not have one problem with the Mustang in 7 years. it was almost as quick, you could actuallt put stuff in the trunk and didn't need premium gas. If I could switch back, I would. The Camaro has to go back to the dealer in 3 weeks, for wind noise, rotor rust, a/c module reprogrammed so although the car looks great Iam not too happy with GM right now. In Canada this Camaro was $53,740 MSRP, the Mustang $10K cheaper.

[cam62]

Originally Posted by bulllett

Really interesting that you say that. I specifically discussed this with my dealership for the same reason as cactus and they told me that I file against them. As well as the fact with my previous filing (ironically, in trying to purchase the car ), I filed on them.

I say "really interesting" because I'm always wondering about motivations; why would somebody do something. This makes me wonder if what the dealer said was honest or was he just trying to use my intentions as a tool to keep me from filing.

Though I would think, like any other lawsuit (which this is in the same ballpark), that you file against the representative you got the item/service from. And it would be up to them to show proof to get them out of the loop.

I can't speak for the motivation of your dealership. Quite possible they are simply ignorant to the process. The Better Business Bureau has many functions. As birdible said - If you have an issue with your dealership that you can't seem to get resolved you can file a complaint with your States Better Business Bureau and they will work on your behalf to resolve the complaint to the satisfication of everyone.

For what it's worth here is a link to Connecticut Better Business Bureau Lemon Law program.

http://www.bbb.org/us/connecticut-lemon-law/

I don't know about Connecticut but in Florida and many other states dealerships are required to provide a lemon law handbook to the purchasers of new cars the describe the process. We are also required to sign that we recieved the handbook.

Simply filing with the Better Business Bureau does not mean you are insisting on a new car. You will generally have an opportunity to negotiate an agreed upon resolution. So, if you are attached to your car, you don't need to INSIST on a buy back.

What I was specifically referring to was Cactus' question. From his comments here, he does not have an issue with his dealership, but with the issues related to the top which are clearly a manufacturer defect. In that case he would file against the manufacturer.

[Micki]

Originally Posted by cactuseater

Just a question about the BBB thingy. Exactly who does one file the complaint against? Specific dealership or GM ? If it's GM, what address and contact do you file it under? Just in case I need to get this done. My gripe isn't with my dealer, they've always been on the same page as me, and so truthful it hurts laughing WITH them sometimes. The deal is, I'd like this to go right to GM if I file so as to not tarnish those who have actually been trying to help. It's GM that keep getting in their way with approvals and dis-approvals..... ????? Any help is invited, PM me if you need to. Thanks

Just look up the BBB...once you are on the site. Pick your state. It walks you thru the process. If you have any issues you can also call them. I had to file over the phone because it wouldn't let me pick "2012" for the year of my car. Within 4 hours of filing, GM called me. I talked to my dealer before I filed. I didn't want them to have an issue. They told me to file because it has nothing to do with them. It doesn't effect them in any way. I hope this helps

[Micki]

Originally Posted by cactuseater

Sounds really bad Micki. Ouch. My coupe is perfect, but wifey's vert has it's problems as well, nothing near as bad though. Gateway? No way, even if they were across the street....no use for that kind of arrogance - especially since reading that public post on FB. I actually use Chapman Chevy down in Tempe. My vert top replacement will be their first, and gotta let them give it a shot. I am hoping for the best. They've been overly good to us since I've been a customer down there, nothing bad to say. The manager down there told me he will not give me the car back unless it's right. It's really crappy to hear someone having so many issues and the dealer can't get it worked out. Do what you need to do to get that thing resolved, you've got yourself a bad car. Bummer. Such a good looking automobile and yet so many things wrong. Good luck girl, start the process for a buy back. Bummer.....

I'm sorry your wife's car is having issues. I know people that had their tops replaced and so far no issues. My dealer can fix some of my issues...other's they can't figure out. It's not their fault. They didn't build the car. GM needs to take responsibility. That post from Gateway was bad... A GM rep actually turned that post in to customer service. It's sad that someone from a dealership would write that.

[Micki]

Originally Posted by cam62

I can't speak for the motivation of your dealership. Quite possible they are simply ignorant to the process. The Better Business Bureau has many functions. As birdible said - If you have an issue with your dealership that you can't seem to get resolved you can file a complaint with your States Better Business Bureau and they will work on your behalf to resolve the complaint to the satisfication of everyone.

For what it's worth here is a link to Connecticut Better Business Bureau Lemon Law program.

http://www.bbb.org/us/connecticut-lemon-law/

I don't know about Connecticut but in Florida and many other states dealerships are required to provide a lemon law handbook to the purchasers of new cars the describe the process. We are also required to sign that we recieved the handbook.

Simply filing with the Better Business Bureau does not mean you are insisting on a new car. You will generally have an opportunity to negotiate an agreed upon resolution. So, if you are attached to your car, you don't need to INSIST on a buy back.

What I was specifically referring to was Cactus' question. From his comments here, he does not have an issue with his dealership, but with the issues related to the top which are clearly a manufacturer defect. In that case he would file against the manufacturer.

I'm in Jersey and my dealership told me to file. They said it won't effect them

[Bonanza7]

Originally Posted by mikeec

I refuse to buy a slower vehicle. Plus, when was the last time you actually saw a vert mustang with it's top down. That's the reason they don't have marks, they just don't put them down.

How do I start a complaint with the BBB? Is the one in Detroit or a local one?

One, the Mustang is NOT a slower vehicle. If anything, it is faster since it is hundreds of pounds lighter. Second, most rag top owners don't put the tops down that much. BUT...I had my Mustang convert...3 of them since '99, and never once had a top problem of any sort. and mine was down nearly every time I drove it. I put the top up whenever I got out of the car, and never left it down overnight, as I was told by a great top installer, who, as usual, replaced tops on GM verts. From '99 to '08, never a rub mark, pinch or problem with the Mustang vert. Only some fold marks, which were quickly removed with Simple Green. So, your remarks about the Mustang are way off base, and just partisan, instead of based on facts. Fact is, GM can't, and does not have the will to do it right. GM is playing C5 vert owners as if they were fools. The old saying goes: "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me".

[dakota74]

Reading your posts about the BBB/Lemon Law, I am definitely going to go that route if these guys don't make good on replacing my roof. Still waiting to hear on that issue.....

[Fnfalguy]

My convertible currently does not leak. However, the recall repair will be applied to my top at the dealership so it better not leak afterwards! I have to admit, as nervous as I am about the "fix" going to the dealership does allow me to look at new SS' and possibly a ZL-1 if I'm lucky!

[topscomindown!]

I just dropped my vert off at the dealership to get the recall done. They said about two to three days it'll be ready.. I had no leaking or rubbing issues yet but didn't wanna wait til it happened so I took it in right away.. Will let you know the outcome

[mikeec]

My remark about the Mustang of course is tongue and cheek. My real feeling is you are either a Camaro person or a Mustang person. My first muscle car was a '78 Camaro. It was a six cylinder and didn't have major muscle. I've seen plenty of Mustang verts with their tops down. It comes down to the old adage; Ford or Chevy? I hate to admit it, but at least the Mustang vert doesn't seem to have the issues as those of us with the Camaro Vert. My new top has now been down four times and the indentation by the passenger window is getting worse.

[Bonanza7]

Originally Posted by mikeec

My remark about the Mustang of course is tongue and cheek. My real feeling is you are either a Camaro person or a Mustang person. My first muscle car was a '78 Camaro. It was a six cylinder and didn't have major muscle. I've seen plenty of Mustang verts with their tops down. It comes down to the old adage; Ford or Chevy? I hate to admit it, but at least the Mustang vert doesn't seem to have the issues as those of us with the Camaro Vert. My new top has now been down four times and the indentation by the passenger window is getting worse.

Both Mustang coupe and Camaro coupe are fine cars, regardless of the enging/tranny. Convertibles, though are a different story. Just seems that GM never gets it right. With all their so called "engineering" capability, they just seem second rate in that area. My first GM ragtop was a 91 Cavalier. The wife and I each had one. Neither top was worth a damn. Fabric pinched, rubs and holes and cracked fabric in less than a year. Tops replaced...no difference. After the warranty, an independent shop put a new top on, and made some adjustments to the mechanism, and it was perfect for 10 years till I sold it. GM didn't want to be bothered with designing it, so they farmed it out to ASC. What a disaster that was. ASC also installed the tops, and the workmanship under all the rubber covers and molding was something worse than what a 5 year old could do with a hacksaw and hammer. I will bet the farm that they farmed the design out on the C5 Camaro also. Which would explain everything. We had three Solstice converts, and while there was serious lemon issues with one of them, the tops worked perfectly, even if they were a Rube Goldberg affair. We still have one of them, and the top is still perfect, after 4 years. Go figure.

[Michael Rophone]

Originally Posted by mikeec

My new top has now been down four times and the indentation by the passenger window is getting worse.

When I picked up my Vert at the dealership just before Christmas '11, the salesperson and I looked over the car from the Get-Ready Shop. There were no creases in the top over the passenger or driver doors. He put the top down to show me how it worked and put on the tonneau.

When we put the top back up and clamped it down...there was a deep indentation over both driver and passenger doors. Worse on the driver side.

I said, "Hey, what are these dents?" He said, "Oh, nothing. They'll stretch back out."

They sure are stretching...little by little...deeper and deeper.

[mikeec]

Made my complaint to BBB and received a call from GM complaint line today. I'll have an answer by next Monday. A shame you have to go that route to get any satisfaction.

[Micki]

Originally Posted by mikeec

Made my complaint to BBB and received a call from GM complaint line today. I'll have an answer by next Monday. A shame you have to go that route to get any satisfaction.

I'm supposed to get my answer today.... hopefully GM will step up and handle this correctly.

[dakota74]

Originally Posted by Micki

I'm supposed to get my answer today.... hopefully GM will step up and handle this correctly.

What's your dealer?

[Micki]

Originally Posted by dakota74

What's your dealer?

My dealer is Pine Belt Chevy in Eatontown. I am dealing with GM now. My car is really messed up.

[cactuseater]

Originally Posted by bulllett

What post are you talking about? Since its a post on a public site, you can certainly quote it up here..........



I've spoken with my dealership about these very concerns. Unfortunately, you have to file against them.

That post was made a little bit back, like last week or so, and it's on a Facebook group for the vert top issues. You'd have to dig deep to find it by now. Thanks for the info on the BBB thingy. Just getting ducks in a row in case I must file, but I am optimistic the the dealer I am using can get this thing fixed right....even being their first top and all. Hoping for the best outcome. The design flaw is not their fault, and the fix should be a new mechanism and top...not just the top and a hack job on the mechanism. We'll see. Best regards...

[cactuseater]

Originally Posted by Micki

I'm sorry your wife's car is having issues. I know people that had their tops replaced and so far no issues. My dealer can fix some of my issues...other's they can't figure out. It's not their fault. They didn't build the car. GM needs to take responsibility. That post from Gateway was bad... A GM rep actually turned that post in to customer service. It's sad that someone from a dealership would write that.

Ditto. Keep us posted on how things go. Best of luck, seriously. This stuff is a time bandit and a pain in the butt. Her car goes in the 14th now for the first top replacement, hoping for the best.

[topscomindown!]

Originally Posted by topscomindown!

I just dropped my vert off at the dealership to get the recall done. They said about two to three days it'll be ready.. I had no leaking or rubbing issues yet but didn't wanna wait til it happened so I took it in right away.. Will let you know the outcome

They were done a day early with the recall on my top.. I asked them what they did.. Couldn't tell me.. Just said we followed GM's guidelines to the T for the recall.. They gave me a page receipt of the work done but it's not specific.. There was also a air bag that needed to be worked on as part of the recall.. So far no issues

[Chevrolet Customer Svc]

Hello topscomindown!,

I am so happy to hear that the issue with your convertible top was fixed under warranty. If you have any other concerns or follow-up questions please feel free to contact me.

Brandon
Chevrolet Customer Service

[mikeec]

Update

GM engineer on his/her way to Va. to inspect my normal problem tomorrow.

[Fnfalguy]

Why not use the improved 2012 convertible roof design as a replacement for the 2011 models or is that the solution being implemented by GM/Chevrolet?

[mikeec]

I'm hoping that I get the new roof design. GM doesn't seem to want to do this though. My car is garaged. Yesterday I was caught out in the rain with it (oh the shame). Anyway, by the wrinkles in my top the water was pooling up. I can honestly say, I don't ever remember that happening when I washed the car. I'm sure I'll be told that's normal.

On to a side note for those people out there who say rub marks are normal. If this had been a hard top and every time I put the top down, it rubbed and scrapped paint off the top, would that be normal? So why the double standard for a ragtop? Sorry, I'm not buying it.

[bulllett]

Originally Posted by mikeec

I'm sure I'll be told that's normal.

On to a side note for those people out there who say rub marks are normal. If this had been a hard top and every time I put the top down, it rubbed and scrapped paint off the top, would that be normal? So why the double standard for a ragtop? Sorry, I'm not buying it.

Lol. Thought you would enjoy this one Mike; those "normal" rub marks that GM said they would do nothing more about (oh yeah, and I should wash them off with soap and water ?) Have started to rub holes from the inside out!

Well, I guess maybe that is "normal" for their defective design

[Chevrolet Customer Svc]

Originally Posted by bulllett

Lol. Thought you would enjoy this one Mike; those "normal" rub marks that GM said they would do nothing more about (oh yeah, and I should wash them off with soap and water ?) Have started to rub holes from the inside out!

Well, I guess maybe that is "normal" for their defective design

I am so sorry for your frustration with this concern. Did your dealership check your VIN for any applicable warranties or recalls? If you would like to send me your VIN and any other details, I will be more than happy to see what options are available to you. I look forward to your PM.

Brandon
Chevrolet Customer Service