Should I let dealer swap bumpers on new Accord?

Discussion in 'Accord' started by Patrick Maloney, Feb 21, 2006.

  1. I'm looking at a 2006 Accord Sedan SE which is Royal Blue Pearl. I love
    the car. It drives great.

    But, the rear bumper is scratch on the right rear. They tried to buff it
    out and, of course it's no suprise that, they actually made it worse. The
    scratches are mostly gone, but paint is now 'foggy'.

    They have offered to swap rear bumpers with an EX V6 to deal with the
    issue. I said no, thinking that the entire car was painted as a whole and,
    while the colors might be named the same, there might be some slight
    difference causing it to stand out.

    This doesn't even address the damage they would probably cause just doing
    the swap.

    Anybody think I should let them do the swap? I really do like the car.

    PJ
     
    Patrick Maloney, Feb 21, 2006
    #1
  2. Patrick Maloney

    Brian Smith Guest

    Let them do the swap and then decide if you're happy with how the colours
    match up between the body panels.

    Brian
     
    Brian Smith, Feb 21, 2006
    #2
  3. Patrick Maloney

    Brian Smith Guest

    Let them do the swap and then decide if you're happy with how the colours
    match up between the body panels.

    Brian
     
    Brian Smith, Feb 21, 2006
    #3
  4. Yeah, I'm sort of leaning that way...
     
    Patrick Maloney, Feb 21, 2006
    #4
  5. Yeah, I'm sort of leaning that way...
     
    Patrick Maloney, Feb 21, 2006
    #5
  6. Patrick Maloney

    Jan Guest

    Had the same thing with my 01 Sunfire and after they swapped the bumper
    I couldn't see any difference. I would let them do it and then take a
    look to see if you can spot any difference in colour.
     
    Jan, Feb 21, 2006
    #6
  7. Patrick Maloney

    Jan Guest

    Had the same thing with my 01 Sunfire and after they swapped the bumper
    I couldn't see any difference. I would let them do it and then take a
    look to see if you can spot any difference in colour.
     
    Jan, Feb 21, 2006
    #7
  8. Patrick Maloney

    chip Guest




    let them swap it and then notice the VIN sticker on the bumper doesn't
    match the car!! Now does it smell funny????
    Honda puts vin stickers on the rear bumpers inside the trunk
    lip.

    Chip
     
    chip, Feb 21, 2006
    #8
  9. Patrick Maloney

    Nobody Guest

    That's a good point...forgot about that.
     
    Nobody, Feb 21, 2006
    #9
  10. If they do the swap, are you obligated to buy? I'd ask for the swap on
    the condition you can back out, if they are that confident in their
    work, they should agree.

    OTOH, you may go through the bumper swap only to have some moron bump
    you in the mall parking lot. ;)
     
    trestonklease, Feb 21, 2006
    #10
  11. If they do the swap, are you obligated to buy? I'd ask for the swap on
    the condition you can back out, if they are that confident in their
    work, they should agree.

    OTOH, you may go through the bumper swap only to have some moron bump
    you in the mall parking lot. ;)
     
    trestonklease, Feb 21, 2006
    #11
  12. There's no problem with doing this.

    As an alternative, you could have them refinish the bumper cover.
    That's very inexpensive, and you won't know the difference. I'm amazed
    at what they can do with bumper covers. I had one that was seriously
    screwed up in a minor accident, and it came back looking better than
    ever--as a repair, not a replacement.

    But, of course, my car was a few years old at the time. Why would you
    accept anything like this for a new car? You pay a premium for a new
    car over a used one; why would you buy anything less than EXACTLY what
    you're looking for?

    Accepting this kind of a deal is good only for the dealer, not for the
    buyer. He wants to move the car. Why should you take it?

    This is part of negotiating. What do you get out of taking this car
    with a swapped or repaired bumper cover?

    If the answer is "I get the car I want NOW", then you're exactly the
    sucker the dealer likes dealing with. You let emotion get in the way of
    a business deal--which means you lose, every time.

    There's no need to get emotional about a silly car. You know the same
    car with zero damage is available somewhere else, or will be available
    at this dealer. Why would you spend that kind of money to fulfill a
    very temporary emotional satisfaction?

    Delayed gratification is just fine. If the world doesn't offer what you
    want when you want it, go with the flow. It's not like they're not
    selling Accords left and right. It's not like this is some antique
    Ferrari you're buying off of Ebay and you won't ever be able to find one
    like it again. It's a new Accord, fer chrissakes.
     
    Elmo P. Shagnasty, Feb 21, 2006
    #12
  13. There's no problem with doing this.

    As an alternative, you could have them refinish the bumper cover.
    That's very inexpensive, and you won't know the difference. I'm amazed
    at what they can do with bumper covers. I had one that was seriously
    screwed up in a minor accident, and it came back looking better than
    ever--as a repair, not a replacement.

    But, of course, my car was a few years old at the time. Why would you
    accept anything like this for a new car? You pay a premium for a new
    car over a used one; why would you buy anything less than EXACTLY what
    you're looking for?

    Accepting this kind of a deal is good only for the dealer, not for the
    buyer. He wants to move the car. Why should you take it?

    This is part of negotiating. What do you get out of taking this car
    with a swapped or repaired bumper cover?

    If the answer is "I get the car I want NOW", then you're exactly the
    sucker the dealer likes dealing with. You let emotion get in the way of
    a business deal--which means you lose, every time.

    There's no need to get emotional about a silly car. You know the same
    car with zero damage is available somewhere else, or will be available
    at this dealer. Why would you spend that kind of money to fulfill a
    very temporary emotional satisfaction?

    Delayed gratification is just fine. If the world doesn't offer what you
    want when you want it, go with the flow. It's not like they're not
    selling Accords left and right. It's not like this is some antique
    Ferrari you're buying off of Ebay and you won't ever be able to find one
    like it again. It's a new Accord, fer chrissakes.
     
    Elmo P. Shagnasty, Feb 21, 2006
    #13
  14. Patrick Maloney

    murray Guest

    If you are paying for a new car it seems unfair to offer one that had any
    type of body damage.
    I had the same experience with a new Saturn SL2 where they damaged the front
    bumper in transit (so they said) and offered me a brand new bumper.
    I took their offer but found later that they had poorly mounted the new
    bumper and, when I parked with the bumper barely rubbing the parking island,
    the new bumper just came apart when I backed out.
    When I brought the car back and demanded that they refund my money as they
    promised within 30 days, they said:
    Since I had incurred body damage the car was no longer new and the 30 day
    return policy was voided. So ask for another car fresh from the production
    line or go somewhere else.
     
    murray, Feb 21, 2006
    #14
  15. Patrick Maloney

    murray Guest

    If you are paying for a new car it seems unfair to offer one that had any
    type of body damage.
    I had the same experience with a new Saturn SL2 where they damaged the front
    bumper in transit (so they said) and offered me a brand new bumper.
    I took their offer but found later that they had poorly mounted the new
    bumper and, when I parked with the bumper barely rubbing the parking island,
    the new bumper just came apart when I backed out.
    When I brought the car back and demanded that they refund my money as they
    promised within 30 days, they said:
    Since I had incurred body damage the car was no longer new and the 30 day
    return policy was voided. So ask for another car fresh from the production
    line or go somewhere else.
     
    murray, Feb 21, 2006
    #15
  16. Patrick Maloney

    Brian Smith Guest

    Let me get this straight. YOU did damage to the car and YOU expected the
    dealership to repair YOUR damage for free. Am I correct in the way I read
    what you are saying?
     
    Brian Smith, Feb 21, 2006
    #16
  17. Patrick Maloney

    Brian Smith Guest

    Let me get this straight. YOU did damage to the car and YOU expected the
    dealership to repair YOUR damage for free. Am I correct in the way I read
    what you are saying?
     
    Brian Smith, Feb 21, 2006
    #17
  18. Patrick Maloney

    G-Man Guest

    I would rather have the swap than a repainted bumper. The question is how
    good are they swapping it without damaging the good one.

    I'd get a little off the price if I was taking a car like this. Maybe throw
    in a few accessories or service?

    G-Man
     
    G-Man, Feb 21, 2006
    #18
  19. Patrick Maloney

    G-Man Guest

    I would rather have the swap than a repainted bumper. The question is how
    good are they swapping it without damaging the good one.

    I'd get a little off the price if I was taking a car like this. Maybe throw
    in a few accessories or service?

    G-Man
     
    G-Man, Feb 21, 2006
    #19
  20. Patrick Maloney

    Larry J. Guest

    Waiving the right to remain silent, Patrick Maloney
    If they are plastic bumpers, then they are probably not painted at
    the same time as the body. Different paint formulations, IIRC.
     
    Larry J., Feb 21, 2006
    #20
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