This is kinda long. Sorry. Sunday night, I'm at an Esso and there's a
customer there who notices my truck and asks how long I've had it.
Since Feb. was my reply. He asks me if I know about the towing issue.
Yes, I replied. Somebody else around here that knows about it. Cool.
He says his buddy has an R/T and was the one who first raised the
issue in Canada. Now I'm really intrigued. He said that they offered
to buy it back, but he managed to get a tonneau instead, after many,
many phone calls to various "reps" etc. I give the guy my card, tell
him about the R/T list and ask him to pass the info. to his buddy.
Today, his buddy, Gerry, called me. We had a great talk all about the
issue and R/T stuff. The night he bought his IB CC in March, the
dealer just "slipped in" the dreaded yellow card saying R/Ts are
limited to 2000#, after he signed the purchasing papers. He says WTF,
and the dealer (Freeway in Surrey) tells him not to worry about it and
they'll get to the bottom of it. He's really pissed and gets a hold of
the Western Canadian Rep, and said he didn't really want to do
anything about it, other than buy it back. Apparantly, they would buy
it back FOR FULL PURCHASE PRICE INCLUDING TAX PAID WITHOUT MILEAGE
DEDUCTION. He said the rep said that if you don't like the buyback,
tough titty. Gerry loves his R/T and plans to tow, so he doesn't want
to return it. He inquired about air bags, and the dealer said as long
as he doesn't do anything stupid, like tow a 8000# trailer, they would
honor the warranty, even if he towed up to 6000#. The reps name is Ed
Winters, and Gerry said DC is VERY willing to buy it back, but not do
anything else. He speculates that DC can make some cash by selling the
R/Ts used down in the US at auction. Makes sense. My truck cost the
dealer about $25,700. The truck probably cost DC about $10,000 to
make (guessing, but I think that's in the ballpark. I read GM makes
about $20,000 on a Tahoe). So, that's about 15 grand profit. If they
give me 29,300 (sticker) plus 14% tax = 33,400. 15000-33400= -18400
that they are in the hole. 18400 is about 12900 US after exchange. If
they sell if for 18 or 19 grand at a US auction, they just made 5 or 6
grand. So, they are making money. These numbers are just pure
speculation and I am probably way off. But, selling the vehicle twice
will make them money either way. Gerry said that the Sales Manager,
Brad Tomphson from Abby Chrysler, who just bought a 99 IB RC R/T,
knows a guy at DC and he told Brad that they discussed the towing
issue at a big DC meeting a couple of months ago. Nothing will be done
about it, past present or future. Apparently, all dealers have been
notified of the problem. I'll be taking a little trip to the Sales
Manager at my dealership next Tuesday when I go in to have my crooked
bumper and idle stumble fixed, and see what he knows. All this
knowledge, and I don't even have my letter yet. Ain't the 'net great?
:O)
Chad Niwranski
99 R/T CC Black/agate
Abbotsford, BC
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