joec@u1100a.UUCP (Joe Carfagno) (07/03/84)
{eat me}
Promise - this is the last article I write on this subject !
For those who don't know, remember, or care, I'm the fellow with the
1983 Chrysler New Yorker 5th Ave. with a skipping engine. Unable to
fix the problem 9 times over the course of 1 year, I went through
Chrysler's Arbitration procedures. They first ruled "Chrysler is
aware of the problem, you'll have to wait until they fix it" (not a
direct quote).
Supposedly, Chrysler had a fix for which they needed EPA approval.
Yesterday, I received the following letter from the Arbitration Board
(this is a direct quote!!!):
"The selling dealer and Chrysler Corp. are to replace the vehicle in
question with a 1985 (yup, 1985) model of equal equipment and option
levels."
I just need to pay a reasonable per-mile charge for usage. The price
increase of the 85 over the 83 cuts that charge by almost half. Not bad,
considering that the first was essentially useless. Speculation - maybe
the EPA turned down the fix; maybe they were sick of my repeated letters
(last one asked what they would do if EPA didn't approve fix or fix didn't
work - cover thy legal gluteus maximus). The mileage charge is consistent
with NJ Lemon Law (for which I was 4 days ineligible).
Moral: Persistence will be rewarded. Take the time and stand up for what
you believe in (and all that good stuff). I invested time, energy, and
letters and went from almost nothing, to an extended warranty, to a new car.
Dilemma: Keep the new car, sell it, or trade it? See my follow-up
article titled "Option to Buy 1985 Chrysler New Yorker 5th Ave."