RIP 2012 ZL1 #1635

[BSX_Camaro]

Talked to an old friend in Colorado that happens to be a lawyer. In Colorado, based on the known facts, the dealer would be in deep. There are a few things that would make the dealer a little "less" in trouble.

Did this employee "break into" the dealership or did he have access during closed hours?

Did he "break into" the location the keys are kept or did he have access during closed hours?

If he didn't "break into" the dealership in any way but had after hours access to the building, keys, and vehicle, then the dealership is responsible. If he broke into the dealership, they are also a victim.

The dealership was in possession of the ZL1 so their insurance company should be taking care of the totaled car. As far as a new car goes, the dealer should bend over backwards to come to an agreement with the customer on getting him a new vehicle (ZL1, C7, etc). Their current offer is a joke based on the fact it has a registered accident on file and is not equivalent to what the customer had. The "bad press" this dealer is getting will affect sales, the longer it goes, the worse it will be for them.

[BigBoyBlue]

Anyone who involves the guy's child in any way, is a moron. I don't care if the poster is a troll, he is right. Children don't pick who their parents are. Even if the child never sees the post, some of his neighbors might. The child does not deserve to be ostracized in his community because his father is a low life criminal.

[Childs Play]

Originally Posted by edrose

Really ... call me what you want.... my only issue is posting on a child's picture about an issue that doesn't concern him.... you have the whole rest of the page to post any feelings or comments you may have but did you REALLY need to do it on the child's pic ?????? Just becuz I just joined doesn't mean I don't know about the issue..... that is not what I am commenting about.... I haven't sided either way except for the poor child who is trying to raise money for a good cause. He may not see it or understand what is going on but he DOES NOT need to be involved....

I posted the comment. It was funny. You'll get over it. Now lets discuss how much a ZL1 costs and the real issue at hand and we'll see who's really hurting here. Also to the guy above. The kid he's talking about isn't the man's son.

Now the people posting the guys information... That's a bit over the top.

[BigBoyBlue]

Ok. I was not pointing at you, "Child's Play". I was hoping to cut off any more posting under a kid's picture. I don't have Facebook access, so based on the thread I thought it was his child.

The owner of the dealership and the joy riding jerk-off? I hope they get all the misery that they deserve.

[Childs Play]

Originally Posted by BigBoyBlue

Ok. I was not pointing at you, "Child's Play". I was hoping to cut off any more posting under a kid's picture. I don't have Facebook access, so based on the thread I thought it was his child.

The owner of the dealership and the joy riding jerk-off? I hope they get all the misery that they deserve.

[Jalberdi99]

Originally Posted by BigBoyBlue

The owner of the dealership and the joy riding jerk-off? I hope they get all the misery that they deserve.

something like this?

[edrose]

Originally Posted by BigBoyBlue

Anyone who involves the guy's child in any way, is a moron. I don't care if the poster is a troll, he is right. Children don't pick who their parents are. Even if the child never sees the post, some of his neighbors might. The child does not deserve to be ostracized in his community because his father is a low life criminal.

Thank you for your support.... I was only defending the child ...who I want to make perfectly clear IS NOT the criminal who stole the Camaro's child.... the child pictured is simply a friend of the dealership who has a huge heart and is trying to raise money for his friends and family. Once again thank you for understanding my position which is simply protecting an innocent child who has nothing to do with this subject.

[Devryn17]

Not even counting the lost sales, if the Dealership examined the costs associated with this issue (social media control, the hundreds of phonecalls it's probably gotten, and all of the other time taken to fend of the masses), they've probably already spent more than the $20k they'd have had to pay out of pocket if they'd just ordered a new car and eaten everything the insurance didn't cover.

No matter what the "law" says they needed to do, or what we believe they should have done, what they have proven is that they're bad business people since they don't have the first clue as to how to run a business and when to cut losses.

[Mcarltonjr]

Originally Posted by Padre

New article: http://capegazette.villagesoup.com/p...camaro/1098871

It's been three weeks since an car dealership employee totaled Debbie and John Hooper's sports car. They're out a car and still making payments on it, and now they doubt the dealership will ever get them a limited-edition Camaro similar to the pristine collectible they once owned.

“We're not asking for a million dollars, we're really not,” said John Hooper of Long Neck, a published author on Camaros who says they are his passion.

In November, John and his wife Debbie took their 2012 Camaro ZL1 to First State Chevrolet of Georgetown to fix an ongoing paint problem. That was the last time they would ever drive the car.

On Dec. 16, the dealership called to inform them a joy-riding employee had taken the sports car out for a spin Dec. 15 and crashed it on Zoar Road.

Now, the Hoopers said, they are just trying to get a car comparable to the brand new vehicle they purchased in 2012 and had meticulously cared for.

“The fact of the matter is we bought the car as a collectible car,” Debbie said. “It was going to go to our granddaughter, and it may have even paid for a year of college.”

Two Camaros the dealership offered as replacements are not comparable to what they lost, John said.

The latest was the same year and model but had 3,000 miles more, and it's wheels were less expensive than those on the original car. Even with a $4,000 cash offering, he said, it didn't compare with what they lost. Then Debbie found out from a Camaro website that the car had previously had two different owners and had been involved in an accident. They definitely weren't interested after that, she said.

First State salesman Chuck Ricker said he's tried to find a car to replace the one totaled by the dealership employee.

“It's a terrible tragedy, and they should be put back where they were,” he said.

Following the crash that totaled the Hoopers' car, Delaware State Police charged Eric Peterson, 42, of Georgetown with careless driving and failure to have insurance identification in possession. Debbie Hooper said police told her that she could not file theft or any other criminal charges against Peterson because the car was in the dealership's possession at the time of the accident.

Bob Hansen, co-owner of First State Chevrolet, said Peterson also would be charged with unauthorized use. A magistrate judge told Hansen that Peterson could not be charged with theft because he was a dealership employee with a key, Hansen said. Peterson no longer works at the dealership, he said.

“He's going to be charged with as much as we could charge him with,” Hansen said.

In 2012, Hansen said the Hoopers bought the brand new, limited-edition vehicle from First State for about $56,000. At the time of the accident, he said, the vehicle had about 10,000 miles on it.

Hansen said he feels confident that there are models with comparable mileage available to replace the Hoopers' car, and he wants to help them find a replacement.

“But if they want to go up to a brand new 2014, it's going to cost them something,” he said. “They're not going to get a brand new car.”

After determining the Camaro was totaled, the Hooper's Geico adjuster estimated the car was worth $44,176 – a much lower price than the nearly $60,000 the couple paid.

Hansen said he has liability insurance, but would not comment on whether that would cover any of the expenses incurred when the Hoopers' car was in the dealership's care.

“I have no further comment,” he said. “We're still negotiating.

In the meantime, Debbie Hooper said they continue to make payments on a vehicle they will never drive again.

She said they met with an attorney this week, but was told they are entitled to no pain and suffering, lawyer or court costs.

“It's going to end up costing us more money if we go forward with the attorney,” she said.

The Hoopers said they have been driving a loaner car from First State with a cracked windshield since their car went in for the paint problem. While they said they appreciate the loaner vehicle, they would rather have their old car back.

“We're losing sleep over this, time off for work and this still isn't resolved,” John Hooper said. “This is so ethically and morally wrong it isn't funny.”

“But if they want to go up to a brand new 2014, it's going to cost them something,” he said. “They're not going to get a brand new car.”

To me that seems like they arent truly making an effort. The dealership should really think about that comment and reconsider

[Kevins89notch]

Hi, I'm here for the drama!

Originally Posted by scoticus.rex

http://www.firststatechevy.com/
https://www.facebook.com/firststatechevrolet
https://plus.google.com/104918506907...ut?gl=us&hl=en

Their facebook page is back again.

[scoticus.rex]

Originally Posted by Kevins89notch

Hi, I'm here for the drama!



Their facebook page is back again.

...and their review rating is down to 1.5 stars... surely we can get it down to 1!

[ScooterZL1]

Mr John Hooper can you PM me with your vin# I would like to help you find a 2012 with the same options and miles. I know someone that has location business and if you want we can try to find a car similar to what you had.

Dan

[Kevins89notch]

The dealership is actually responding to texts. Yes I see my grammar error. Damn autocorrect.

[Ringo64]

Originally Posted by Mcarltonjr

“But if they want to go up to a brand new 2014, it's going to cost them something,” he said. “They're not going to get a brand new car.”

To me that seems like they arent truly making an effort. The dealership should really think about that comment and reconsider

I don't understand this either... so they're willing to give them a used car that is probably worth in the ballpark of upper $30's but whoa buying them a new one for $15-20k more is "too much". Please, you already lost 5x that from the PR this story has gotten. If I was their PR manager, I would be yelling every second of the day for them to just eat the $20k and buy them a new ZL1. This is like arguing over pennies for the dealership when you're losing $100's.