Need Help - Any Contacts with a Dealership?

[choodock]

Last May I went with my wife to look at trading in our crew cab Silverado for a new Camaro. We had just recently traded her Altima for a Tahoe that I now drive, so we were going to trade the truck for what she wanted. When the salesman came to discuss the trade-in value of the truck it was way low compared to the blue book value trade-in value. When I told them they would have to increase the trade-in at least $5k, he told me they couldn't go any higher on a "fake" truck. I told him I didn't understand what he was talking about. He had the sales manager come over at that point and point out that my truck that I thought was an LTZ was actually only an LT. I bought the truck with 17k miles on it 3 years ago from a local Chevy dealership. The sales manager printed out the build sheet for the truck that clearly showed it is an LT. I contacted Chevy customer service and that emailed me the build sheet for the truck that also showed it as an LT. I took all this back to the general manager of the dealership that I purchased the truck from and he told me three different times that the truck is an LTZ, that he's been doing this for 20 years, and that my information and the other dealership are wrong and just trying to give a lower trade-in price for the truck. I went to an attorney at that point. Someone higher up in the corporation that owns the dealership contacted me and my attorney and said the general manager was wrong and apologized for how I was treated. Now my problem is that I need a written estimate from a dealership on the cost to convert the truck from an LT to an LTZ. The dealership that I originally tried to trade the truck in at that alerted me to the problem doesn't really want to get involved; the service department is really lazy. Do any of you have a contact in a service department of a Chevy dealership that could help me? Whatever dealership gives me a written estimate, we are going to trade the truck in with and use the settlement to buy a new Camaro. Any help or advice is appreciated.

[MS3DALE]

I'm a parts manager at a Chevy dealership,being you have an attorney involved it might be hard to get any dealership to want to get in the middle of the issue.

The difference between the LT and LTZ trim level is quite a bit.....the complete I/P panel is different,door trim panels are different,seating is different also,as the LTZ seating is heated leather with driver-side memory.

Also the front bumper is body-color instead of chrome,and the door handles & mirror caps are also body-color instead of a Black textured finish.

I'm just guessing it would be a good $3-4k to switch everything over,if not more.

I'm trying to figure out how they (the place you bought the truck from) could list the truck as an "LTZ" when the differences are so great between the two trim levels,sure its easy to change the emblem on the tailgate from "LT" to "LTZ",but everything else is so different.

Did you know the differences between the two trim levels at the time you bought the truck?

[choodock]

I did not know the differences between an LT and an LTZ until the sales manager at the dealership showed me a true LTZ. The dealership I purchased it from advertised it as an LTZ and when I went and drove it, he pointed out all the fully loaded features it has. None of my family or friends have a truck like this, so I didn't know they were lying to me. The truck has the LTZ emblems and aftermarket woodgrain (the salesman told me it was a factory). The truck has leather seats, but not the 8-way power and they are not heated and don't have memory. The dealership I tried to trade it in at did give me an unofficial quote of 12-15k and that is the amount that was used in our demand letter to the dealership for our Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act claim. They have since blown us off and the appropriate time has passed so now we can actually file suit, but I need a written estimate to file suit.

 

I tried using GM Parts direct, but they don't list all the parts I need, such as the seats, and then I still need labor costs on painting and installation.

[SILVERADOSC540]

Does the original bill of sale show LTZ? I would tell the dealership that you bought the truck from that you want the difference in trade in values, period. The upgrade could be more or it could be less, but shouldn't matter as your not going to do the conversion. If the current trade offer is $1000.00 over blue book trade on an LT, then you want LTZ book plus a grand from the dealership that you purchased from. If it is just under, you want the same based on an LTZ. Explain to them that it will cost them much less financially than the attorney fees that your willing to rack up and sue for on top of the original grievance, not to mention the ad that you'll put in the paper and the reviews you'll post online. REmember when publicizing your feelings to make it known that "you feel like" they are...and "in my opinion" they are, etc. personal opinions aren't slander or defamation, things stated as fact can be construed that way. Go after them, they screwed you.

[choodock]

The bill of sale only shows Silverado but not all of Silverado fits in the blank either. MSRP difference is $6,500 and trade-in difference today is $4,000. I think they should have to pay for the full cost of conversion, because I cannot trade the truck in or put it for sale as an LTZ.

[RyanbabZ71]

Good luck with all this. Let me just share a small story. My dad bought a base WT canyon in 09. When he brought it over I was like WTF when I looked at the tailgate. It had/has SLT badges. This thing is cloth with steel wheels. They installed the wrong badage at the factory (he did buy a base truck). It sounds like maybe the original owner may have tried to dupe the dealership when trading? They should have known better when running the vin though.

[music]

An estimate for "converting" a truck doesn't make sense. The difference in value between how it sits and a higher trim model is all that matters. If an SLT version is worth $4k more (all else equal), then that's the difference. Aftermarket conversion would be a lot more than factory-optioned pricing.

[choodock]

Difference in value is subjective. It doesn't seem fair to limit my "damages" to the difference in blue book value when a dealership wouldn't even give that amount for trade-in. In my opinion, the cost to add the options is the more correct amount to make the situation right. Even with installing all the options, I still cannot trade-in the truck or sell as an LTZ. I'm not at attorney, but mine told me to get an estimate and that is the amount we are filing suit for. Texas also allows for three times the amount of damages if the act was intentional.

[choodock]

I'm willing to pay someone that works in the parts or service department of a dealership to prepare the written estimate. Anyone interested?

[SILVERADOSC540]

I appreciate what you're trying to accomplish, but no judge will give you the price of the modification or upgrade when he knows you're trying to trade the truck away anyway. He will most likely award you the difference in value between the two if he finds in your favor, which sounds likely. Your attorney is just trying to maximize his money by making you do the leg work. Going after the difference in value is less work and more logical. The clearer the water, the easier it is for the judge to make a ruling.

[kstruckcountry]

You're going to have a hard time getting any more than the difference in value, especially if you're getting rid of it. Not to be harsh, but you have to be educated about a vehicle some before you buy it, or you'll get screwed over. Honestly, if it was me, I'd take the what they'd give me for the trade and move on. It's not worth the trouble of haggling, and just because they had you doesnt mean you get to have them. It's tough luck, but on the plus side I bet you'll pay close attention to the price and options on that Camaro.

[rotti]

Honestly, if it was me, I'd take the what they'd give me for the trade and move on. It's not worth the trouble of haggling, and just because they had you doesnt mean you get to have them. It's tough luck, but on the plus side I bet you'll pay close attention to the price and options on that Camaro.

 

 

Amen.

Once lawyers are involved your probably in a no win situation.

[choodock]

Amen.

Once lawyers are involved your probably in a no win situation.

 

 

It's an open and shut case in the courtroom. Even if I only get the $4k trade-in difference, I am still better off than I was and the dealership has to pay attorney fees and court costs. If the judge finds that they knowingly sold me the truck without it being an LTZ (or rather should have known it was not an LTZ), then I can get 3 times the damages under Texas law.

 

I can't believe someone would willingly trade-in the truck knowing they should be getting about $4k more for it.

[f0st3r]

So you have documented proof(receipt), showing they sold you a LTZ truck?

['01LS1]

I would try to work a deal with the owner to give you somewhere between $2500-$4000 more than your current offer, or where a LTZ is priced. Attorneys win at this game all the time. At least with it between dealer owner & yourself, you have 50% control.