Gm Might Do Me Wrong

[ATMINF]

Well I have the unfortunate issue that my 2010 Chevy Traverse has been to the dealership 10 times and has not been able to be fixed. The first two visits were for the steering column and the other 8 were for a mysterious bump/bang noise. The dealership has been great, and they have tried their best to fix it and even had GM service rep "help".

We finally started to talk about a GM buy-back about two weeks ago. Well we asked about a similarly priced and equipped 2011 (Both of the prices of the Traverses were about the same MSRP, both 40K and only off by a $100 or $200). Our current payoff is about $32K and it has about 11.5K miles on it. Well GM's only offer has been for them to take back the 2010 and then sell us the similarly priced and equipped 2011 for $37.5K . I asked GM about the $7700+ spent/paid so far and I understand that there maybe about $2000 "used up/deducted" due to the mileage we put on the 2010, but so far no deal.

I have purchased GM since I put on my 2LT bars(joined up as a US Army Officer), with a 1995 CamaroZ28, 2001 3/4ton Suburban, 2006 3/4ton Silverado and then this 2010 Chevy Traverse. I look at it this way, I did not intend to "lease" my 2010 but rather purchase it whole and did so with a $600 a month payment, but GM is only willing to look at it as a "trade-in" and have me "eat" the devaluation" of the 2010. After all this crap about how GM is working hard to make things right with the customer, they may have just lost this GM customer. I was not looking to get a $70K Cadillac for $40K, rather just step outta my 2010 to a similar 2011 and pay the $2K "mileage rate" and go on our way. Needless to say very unhappy about GM and my wife most likely will never want to by GM again. (also GA Lemon Law is on our side 100% and we are only one step away from getting a lawyer).

[Stevens03]

There not giving you a buy back option... they're treating it like a trade. You need a lawyer and file under the lemon law. That will protect your value better.

[old-chevy-dude]

I personally have never gone thru a buy-back,

 

For me my 2005 Chrysler 300c was a lemon, it had some major issues out the door and in 6 years of ownership had over $25K in warranty work done to it.. Instead of doing a buy back / Lemon Law thing with Chrysler, I paid $1500 for a lawyer that negotiated a deal with Chrysler that gave me a 7 year 125,000 miles bumper to bumper zero deductible service contract/warranty with rental car clause.

 

 

Chrysler agreed and covered that car up to the 125K, as I stated over $25K in warranty parts, labor, and rental cars..

 

when I hit 125K it was about the same time I was ready for a new vehicle so it worked out well, and I went back to Chevy..

 

 

 

so maybe you can force their hand to cover the vehicle until such a time that you can get out from under it and trade it when it doesn't have any negative equity.. That was my goal as I was too upside down on the Chrysler and the Lemon Law would have added another $5000 - $7000 to the new vehicle and frankly I wasn't having any more Chryslers.

[ATMINF]

Well got off the phone with the dealer and he said they are working on a deal. We will see. Its funny when my wife said that she is ready to just go to the lawyers and let them work it out things are starting to move again. And again the Dealership has been great; GM Corp has been the "pain". Feels great to be treated like crap from a company that I once held in high esteem. After everything is done I will post about it. I hope Gm does me right.

[old-chevy-dude]

like Stevens11 said, they aren't going under the Lemon-Law Buy Back, they are working it like a trade in.. Lemon Law requires a court ordered decision, which needs a Lawyer, or you to file "in pro per" at the court.

[ATMINF]

Yep understand the legal part so far. The great thing also about being in the military is that we get free SJA service to help out with the legal mombo-jumbo. I am just trying to get GM to do the "right" thing before I go to the lawyers. I have told GM Corp that I don't care about the resale like a "trade-in" as that was not my concern. A fair useage rate of 10 to 18cents per mile used is cool, but the whole current "trade-in" value was BS. I am hoping for the best, if not, laywers he we come. And even with the lawyers, I am NOT looking for a windfall, just a even trade for a new properly working Traverse. Lets see what happens.

[stefman722]

Keep us updated! I'm curious what happens.

[ATMINF]

Well good news! GM Corp has been good and made us even. Bottom line they basically made me whole. I got almost the exact 2011 Traverse as my 2010 and have not lost any payments. Overall they will pay off the 2010 and them reset the payments on the 2011 as the same as my 2010. I have made the first year of payments on a 60 month term on the 2010 and they then "credited" that first year of payments and applied that to my 2011 so now I have the same payment but for only the remaining 48 months.

Overall I remain a loyal GM customer for years to come. The only problem that I had was the lack of comunication from GM Corp and me. The regional rep was working on a deal for me but never explained this to me or my wife and this caused me and my wife to get fustrated. Overall I am sure it helped that my 2010 was low miles, and highly equiped,and in great condition. It was easy to "sell" to the higher ups that I was just asking to be set even, and finally that is what they did. Good job GM!

[old-chevy-dude]

I bet the lack of communication was because until they got a "yes, go ahead" on the deal they didn't want to get your hopes up.. A lot of corporations will do that, no say anything until the answer is final, otherwise you think you are getting something and it falls thru which leads to other issues..

 

glad it got worked out for you..

[stefman722]

Awesome! Good for you

[Shaners]

The only bad news that I see is that a vehicle that quite possibly would have been a "lemon" is going to be resold as a nice used car to some unsuspecting buyer.

[HawkScot]

Glad it worked out!

[Fobroader]

Its surprising that a manufacturer stepped up and helped you out, thats awesome for you guys. Like you said, poor bastard who gets your old car though....

[SparkySparks]

Congrats on getting it all worked out. Hope they don't try and resell it, with all the issues it has/had.

[old-chevy-dude]

The only bad news that I see is that a vehicle that quite possibly would have been a "lemon" is going to be resold as a nice used car to some unsuspecting buyer.

 

 

well unfortunately all lemon/buy back cars are resold.. the drawback here is that it is not being flagged as a lemon, where under the lemon laws the VIN has to be flagged.