AsadDK

I bought a 2005 s2000 in September and took it to a repair shop to get the engine looked at. The owner said it needs to be rebuilt and started the whole process. Three months later, while the car was sitting outside the repair shop without an engine, the car was broken into and iinsurance claimed it is a total loss.
The shop owner was reluctant to call his insurance after the incident. The shop owner did not give me any form of an estimate or anything in writing. I did not sign anything as well. Throughout the three months, I never really got any breakdown on costs...all I knew is that the repair might beAround $5k...
At this time, the owner is not releasing the car to insurance until he gets paid his ~$8,000 repair bill. I don't feel liable to pay him this repair cost. I have lost my car and am getting undervalued settlements from insurance on top of all this. The shop had no cameras and the lot is not lit up well at all.
Now, with no car and nothing to really show from this - I am being pressured to pay this repair bill. It is due to his negligence that my car was totaled and I am being put in this situation. I paid $15k for the car and brought it to his shop. At the end of the day, I am left with a devalued insurance settlement and down the repair bill.

Any advice?

JamesD89

Contact a lawyer. What is your insurance valuing the car at? What about the shop's insurance?

AsadDK

My insurance came up to $14k. They are valuing the car without the engine in it and are ready to take it. Still waiting on his adjuster to contact me with there settlement.

The shop owner has that engine in his possession but, yet wants me to pay the repairs to it? Makes no sense

s2000ellier

500$ for a lawyer is a small price to pay

879

ditto on the lawyer, keep us updated with how this goes.

Best of luck, hope it goes well

Car Analogy

Legalzoom. Its cheap, and you can consult with a lawyer and get an idea what sort of case you have.

These engines are difficult to rebuild. Only specialists can do it right. I wouldn't be surprised to learn this guy broke into the car himself, when he realized he got im over his head and couldn't finish your car. Force you to pay, then go with insurance, and never have to deliver a working car.

Either way this was going to end in a shop horror story the moment you trusted him to 'rebuild' your engine. I bet there was nothing that required a rebuild in the first place.

vasquezgno

Insurance prices your car at 14k without an engine? What insurance is this?

freq

You bought the car for $15K and they're offering you $14K? Never accept their first offer but take their second offer and the lesson learned.

Paying $500 for a lawyer doesn't make sense except to teach the mechanic a lesson and drag out your settlement.

It's Winter in Chicago, take the settlement and start shopping for your next S.

MrFunk

That really sucks.
I agree with freq.
You can get a perfectly good running S2k for 15k also... do your research before trusting your car with a mechanic - I'm sure this shop has bad reviews given your experience. Make sure to go on yelp or whatever and give them a poor review.
BTW - What shop did this happen at?

Josh08

^ Lawyer up.