Yes - do obtain an attorney's services immediately. You'll need some witnesses to attest to the outstanding condition of your car before the Honda butchers got hold of it. You might also want to consider just taking it away from them, since it seems unlikely that they can or will do the job right. Give it to a well-known paint/body shop w/ a top level reputation and then demand that Honda pay what it cost you to do it.

As to getting your attorney fees back, you can probably forget it. In all but a few states the plaintiff in this kind of a case cannot recover attorney fees. What the law might be in FL I have no idea.

I would certainly file a complaint w/ the FL Attorney General's Office. Surely they have a Consumer Affairs department. If you're lucky, maybe they'll have more expertise than the morons who run voting.

I'd be really hyper by this time if I were you. I think I'd probably sue them at this point, regardless of the cost. The SOBs need a lesson.

Unfortunately, in a small value case, you seldom can recover enough to make it worth your while financially and in truth, you probably won't get much in the way of emotional satisfaction. As a lawyer w/ many years of experience, I can tell you that low Dollar cases are a loser no matter what happens. There are some things that the courts can handle w/ efficiency and effectiveness, but too many are not.

 

Thanks a lot you guys.....

Pixsurguy - I have decided to contact legal counsel for the car situation. Actually, a cousin of mine is an attorney, so I am hoping legal costs are at a minimum.

atalotta - I know exactly what you are saying. It seems like no bodyshops are good anymore. No one can really love and respect the car anymore more than you can. Finding a shop that is reputable is like finding a needle in an hay stack.

Oh, and to top it off for the night. I called Honda Collision and asked for the manager who was supposedly taking care of my car. I was actually surprised to find out he went on a little vacation and is gone till Tuesday. I guess I am not getting my car on Monday then. Just another thing to frustrate me. If you think about it, it has almost been 3 months of not having my car. That is just outrageous.

I have a question though. Is there anyway I can just flat out refuse to take the car? No matter who fixes it, I still don't want it. It will never be the same car.

 

Dam Pappy! Sounds like one hell of a nightmare. NOBODY should have to put up with crap like that! Legal action is almost pure principle at this point. Screw the cost! Did you by chance run a check on these morons with the BBB before you took your car there? You definitely need to file a strong complaint with them about this. Post their name and location on the site so other Honda owners in your area can avoid them like the plague! Hell, take out an ad in the local paper denouncing them and HOPE they sue you for slander (document everything and enlist witnesses first so you will have a case). Be sure and get HA and your insurance company in on this. What a pain in the pooter! Feel for ya man. Good luck!

 

Pappy -

First off, sorry to hear about all these problems. As a fellow owner and enthusiast, I feel for you.

One question. Is this a Honda dealer? You keep referring to it as "Honda Collision" and from that it sounds like an independent shop (i.e. not a dealer) that specializes in Hondas.

 

I'll chime in for Pappy here, because I've been dealing with him and this situation all along. Yes, it is a Honda dealership. Autoway Honda in Clearwater has a body shop next store and this is where his car has been. My favorite part about this whole thing, which Pappy left out...is that after they had the car for the month and a half and Pappy and I discovered all the problems, we went to talk with the manager. And I'm quoting his response, "these S2000's are not perfect, it's a newer model car and so it comes from the factory with a lot of imperfections and defects, so you shouldn't expect you're S2000 to be in perfect condition once we're done with it. We'll do our best, but they come from the factory like that." We we're like WTF???!!!!???? These guy's are clueless...this is a $35,000 car, the top of the line Honda, and they're telling us that he should live with the fact that the car rides higher 2 1/2 inches on one side! You guys have to see it to believe it, on the one side of the car you can literally stick your hand in between the tire and the car, the other side barely fits 2 fingers. And if you guys see how much dirt and grime was on this thing when we saw it this morning, it would make you sick. Maybe I'll grab my camera tomorrow and take some pictures for all to see. I've had a horror story with this collision center, also. And I hate to say it, but when people ask why they should spend an extra $10K on a Boxster or a TT, I think I now know why...

 

take pictures to give to your lawyer.

 

Ditto! Definitely, document everything you can! Pictures, notes on conversations/times/etc. It'll all come in handy.

 

Pappy- I know EXACTLY what you are going through!! Before my S I had a pearl white 98 Prelude SH in which I got ran into. Thinking that I was in good hands by going to the local Honda dealership because you know they might have the right fix-it books and the right formulas for the paint, I took my baby there. Kinda funny but they said 2 weeks and I got it a month in a half later in sh*tty shape!!
They had overspray all over they had paint and on the interior. The fender/bumper/ and hood were all out of line. The headlight was recessed and I kept getting this wierd shake in the steering wheel when I would slow down from high speeds. Any way to make a long story short after dealing with a "Honda approved" body shop I will NEVER NEVER NEVER go to one again. Your better off going to your local redneck body shop. (No offence but they are the ones that still do good work.)

 

Pappy I really feel for your situation on the whole thing. I plan to buy an S2K sometime next year and I'm afraid to take it back to the dealer for servicing.

Regarding your situation, I suggest you take a camera to the dealer and take pictures of all the parts they messed up at the dealership.

If you have a tape recorder, I suggest you take that with you as well. Try to get a hold of a manager and talk to him about your situation. See if he can make you any promises on getting the car fixed to the way it was when you first bought the car. If they still refuse to get it done in a timely fashion, at least you will have some material evidence you will need to take legal action against the dealer/shop.

Don't forget to report them to the Honda headquarters as well.

On another note, I only take my cars to body shop that has awards posted all over the walls with their outstanding works.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Suzuka Flyer
[B]Bad things happen to good people.