joec@u1100a.UUCP (Joe Carfagno) (03/27/84)
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For those of you not following my fight with Chrysler, let me
summarize (forgiveness from those already familiar): my 1983 New Yorker
5th Ave had, from delivery, a skip in the engine. This problem, by the
way, was recently mentioned by someone else in net.auto. The dealer, after 9
repair attempts, decided he didn't know how to fix it. The factory
rep. replaced the carburetor, but the problem came back. The factory rep.
wouldn't return my calls, so I applied for Chrysler's Arbitration Board
to rule on the case. Here are the results, quoting from the Boards report:
"the problem with your vehicle is known to Chrysler" - no one ever denied
there was a problem, even Chrysler.
"it is presently under engineering review" - for 4 months now !!!
"upon completion of engineering evaluation of this problem, Chrysler will in
all probability release a field repair" - note the words in all probability
"since we cannot determine the exact length of time this will require" -
4 months is not enough, they need more, I guess
"Chrysler should repair the vehicle at no expense to you" - in other words,
they should honor their warranty.
In other words, I have to live with a defective car, for an indefinite
amount of time, until (if ever) Chrysler figures out how to fix it.
COME ON NOW!!!! Do they think I'm stupid enough to think that someone in
Detroit comes to work every day working on this problem! Do they think
I'll stand for this? NOOOOO!
I've already contacted the Better Business Bureau, NJ Consumer Bureau,
and the Center for Auto Safety, as well as a lawyer. This is what Chrysler
calls customer service. They may have won the battle, but not the war.
End of Round 1.
Joe Carfagno
ihnp4!u1100a!joec or other nodes to u1100a
(201) 981-7471
always willing to discuss such a problem...ward@hao.UUCP (Mike Ward) (04/03/84)
[]
The obvious solution to this problem is to increase the limits
in import automobiles. (Your *real* problem is that the Japanese
have misled you into believing that you should expect quality in the
merchandise you buy - very unAmerican!)
--
Michael Ward, NCAR/SCD
UUCP: {hplabs,nbires,brl-bmd,seismo,menlo70}!hao!ward
BELL: 303-497-1252
USPS: POB 3000, Boulder, CO 80307mark@cbosgd.UUCP (Mark Horton) (04/04/84)
As I understand it, American Volkswagens aren't any prize, either. Or did the German ones go downhill too? I can echo strong enthusiasm for the Ohio built Accords. From what I've been able to determine, they are identical to the Japanese ones, with one trivial exception (I think it was the brand of tires or something like that.) But the reason for this is that the Honda plant in Marysville uses Japanese management techniques (and American non-union workers). If the UAW ever get a foot in the Honda door, it would probably be all over, since the management techniques wouldn't work anymore. One word of caution, however. Honda dealers have now apparently joined the ranks of Toyota dealers in price gouging. I was one this morning, and looked at the stickers of the new cars. A typical sticker showed a base price of, say, 7300, and there was a dealer added sticker that showed the price "delivered in Columbus" at 7800. They then proceeded to add about $2000 worth of packs: rustproofing, air conditioning, and so on. The import quotas keep the supply down so far that they can ask any price they want. You would think there would be plenty of 4 door Accords (that's all they build in Marysville) but that plant is scaling up production very slowly and today (over a year since it opened) is still only producing at about 2/3 the claimed capacity. So Accords are just as scarce as Civics.