BRZ :(

[BRZPDX]

That happened to our Citroen 2CV in Japan when I was a kid. We saw flames coming out of the air vents, next thing you know the whole car is on fire.

We had reps from Citroen the next day in our front door, CEO apologizing and tried to offer us a new car +$5000 to sign an agreement that this never happened. We said fuck that new car, so got a full refund +$5000. We probably could of got more but we weren't greedy fucks.

[wbradley]

And the funny thing is Toyobaru probably knew all about the chirp before releasing the model.

How do I know? If you look where the fuel pump is on the diver side of the engine, it has a cover over it with insulation. My guess is the just didn't use enough sound insulation around the noisy pump.

[Marcoscrdo]

This is so crazy i wanna know what happens next! Glad you got out fine!

[GNS]

Originally Posted by vubaru

Please contact a lawyer so you can try to get compensation, if you haven't already and if the dealer is not going to claim on its insurance to replace the car.

NO. The only ones that win in this case are the lawyers. Stop supporting these bloodsucking parasites. Resolve it with firm action and an ultimatum - don't ask for more than you've already lost or paid. What you want is a new car to replace the one that you lost, or all of your money back (including the payments that you had made on the loan).

OP... go back to the dealership. Tell them that a week of non-action is not acceptable and you want resolution immediately. Be polite but firm, and never lose your cool. If you're given the run-around, ask to speak to the owner. Don't take no for an answer. Being aggressive and belligerent is a sure-fire way to get shown the door. If you can show that you're calm, reasonable and lucid, your chances are very high that you will eventually get to the top level of management because they will know that they can negotiate with you. Except that you don't want negotiation, which implies a back-and-forth banter. Your argument is a very simple one:

"I brought my car in to replace the fuel pump as part of a TSB/whatever. I drove home afterwards, I started smelling gas inside my car, and then the BRZ caught fire. Please give me a new car to replace the one which I lost."

Do NOT bring up the forum or the internet. Do NOT attempt to try and complicate the situation by making yourself appear to be more knowledgeable than the technicians (ie. don't even try to speculate on what might have caused the fire). I wouldn't even bring up the gear sticking portion - they'll twist it to use it against you.

Ask for a new car that is exactly the same in every way as the car that burned down (options-trim), or ask for a full refund. If it were me, waiting an entire week with no word from Subaru or the dealership would send me ballistic. You're out of a car for a week, through no fault of your own, AND you or other people could have been seriously injured. What if you had parked the car in your garage for the night and it caught fire there? You need to stop being the timid consumer and start pressuring them to make it right.

I'm not saying 'lawyer up', which seems to be a term used mainly in the US, but you must be firm and make it clear to them that nothing less than a brand new car or a 100% full refund is acceptable. Whoever the owner is, I'm sure he's not hurting for money and I would hope that he's smart enough to realize that:

a) His guys fucked up and someone's gonna get shown the door

b) Buying a brand new BRZ to replace the one you lost is going to foster good will between you and his business, and is probably a hell of a lot cheaper than if you went and 'lawyer-ed up'

[SuperDave]

glad i didn't take my car back to bob baker for a service, in fact, i probably won't be heading back! one hell of a story!

[NOHOME]

Originally Posted by tech4pdx

If you have not yet contacted an attorney, secure one ASAP. Do not post anything more about this incident. Follow your attorney's instruction.

On another note, this is PRECISELY why I NEVER take my car to dealerships, even new.

Do not post anymore about this unless it is to say "Dealer agreed to replace the car".

My suspicion is that they are using the delay to feel out what you will put up with. The fact that a week has gone by with no legal recourse is telling.

Do not post negative things that the dealer can use against you; they will. At this point they are like a cornered rat with a big legal budget.

If you have not done so yet, you might want to go to a specialist MD to make sure you did not suffer any respiratory injuries from the toxic flames or undue mental stress from the near death experience that might affect your enjoyment of life. These things are not always immediatley appparent. Send the dealer the bill.

[sinigang_guy]

glad no one was hurt, but condolences..

this truly makes me sad. hoping all will be corrected.

[orthojoe]

Originally Posted by NOHOME

If you have not done so yet, you might want to go to a specialist MD to make sure you did not suffer any respiratory injuries from the toxic flames or undue mental stress from the near death experience that might affect your enjoyment of life. These things are not always immediatley appparent. Send the dealer the bill.

Originally Posted by brzninja

There are more blue colored BRZ owners than red on this board...not hatin' jus sayin'...hah.

You got that right...

[Gixxersixxerman]

Originally Posted by vubaru

Anyone who is telling this guy not to get a lawyer is either a fool or has an irrational hatred of the legal profession. In any case, telling OP to avoid a lawyer is doing him a great disservice.

There is little incentive for the dealer to settle this if OP does not get a lawyer involved. All lawyers are not "bloodsucking parasites," many are problem solvers who are willing to work with you on rates.

What blows my mind is that someone above said don't get laywers involved, and then went on to say that OP should put more "pressure" on the dealer.

Oh yeah? What is a lawyer going to do if not apply "pressure?" OP can do it on his own but it always helps to gave a legal eagle watching your back.

I am just concerned for OPs wellbeing and hope he gets everything replaced without too much of a hassle. No one wants to see a BRZ burned to a crisp because of some shop's apparent goof.

For the simple fact that in 99% of the time, it's all about getting rich.. There shouldn't even need the reason to speak to a lawyer unless the dealership refuses to reimburse.. Then by all means grab a lawyer, but I can almost bet if you get a lawyer it becomes all about money.. The lawyer isn't going to do it for free.. And the lawyer isn't going to be happy with you getting just a car, because what the lawyer get.. Use of your car from time to time, so then it becomes a new car plus a set amount of money, which means the more money the more the lawyer gets.. Why would he settle for 1k when in his mind he might get 10k... No one was hurt, the op needs to stay on top of this and make sure he gets his car paid off or a new one, which ever he prefers

And just for reference, I have a good friend that works at a small law firm in savannah ga.. I'll ask them exactly what they would do.. I'd bet they both get dollar signs in their eyes when they hear SoA and dealer "negligence" caused fire.. They had no problems winning millions from the DuPont co for insulation that wasn't performing like it should..

[rhoyle]

Punitive damages exist in the legal system for a reason. That reason is not to make people rich but instead to dissuade entities from cutting corners in the interest of making a buck. Unfortunately, much of the corporate culture these days is more about the almighty dollar than anything else, and only punitive damages will make companies take notice.

You need a lawyer here. At a MINIMUM, you need to consult one. This isn't about getting rich or being made whole, it's about the safety of everyone driving one of these cars, it's about the dealership/manufacturer taking notice of an issue and correcting it via whatever means necessary, not via whatever is cheap.

[orthojoe]

Originally Posted by vubaru

Anyone who is telling this guy not to get a lawyer is either a fool or has an irrational hatred of the legal profession. In any case, telling OP to avoid a lawyer is doing him a great disservice.

You DO realize that lawyers cost MONEY, right? I guess as long as it's not YOUR money, it's OK....

IF the dealer owns up and gives him a full refund on the car or a brand new one, and pays for costs associated with missing the car, why would he need to get a lawyer? Sure, if the dealer is not owning up, then a lawyer is in order.

I am just concerned for OPs wellbeing and hope he gets everything replaced without too much of a hassle. No one wants to see a BRZ burned to a crisp because of some shop's apparent goof.

Someone screwed up. I believe we are all human and make mistakes. Mistakes need to be owned up to and fixed. The guy that screwed up should probably be fired. Penalizing the dealership for extra money only pads the wallet of the lawyer and the plaintiff. People love to turn mistakes into a big opportunity for a payday. EVERYONE says they do it to "stop something like this from happening again." Guess what? Mistakes are always going to happen. But hey, you padded your pockets and raised costs of doing business and consumer costs for everyone.

[jmaryt]

"to thine own self be true" circa: 1510 (william s.)
corporate is already aware of this issue.

[Turbowned]

Lawyers aside, am I the only one to think maybe they just didn't tighten down a fuel line properly? I'm sure that technician is going to be under serious scrutiny after this...

Damn man, I hope you can get a new car soon, and get this behind you.

[orthojoe]

Originally Posted by vubaru

Orthojoe you should probably know that attorneys frequently take cases like this on contingency basis or hourly flat rate. There may also be a way to get attorneys fees from the dealership, we don't know and it doesn't help anyone to speculate, let's let the OP seek professional legal help.

I realize this, but what do you think that lawyer is going to push for? 2 hours of work fees, or go for a big payday? ..."Well, I can charge you $1000 to get you what you probably would have gotten on our own, OR I can get you lots more money and you don't have to pay me anything...."

Originally Posted by Turbowned

Lawyers aside, am I the only one to think maybe they just didn't tighten down a fuel line properly? I'm sure that technician is going to be under serious scrutiny after this...

Definitely. These high pressure fuel pumps located in the engine bay are not to be mickey moused around with...