posted
Okay…I know I’ve been gone a whole day, but here’s what I’ve found out…
First of all, let me thank y’all for all the input and opinions. This all began on the Friday before Thanksgiving and a week later we had signed the papers. We had a lot of time to think it over, and I thought I had researched it enough, but then Tuesday our eyes were opened…
Also, I know that we were naïve in our assumptions that it was an SS. We were looking at this vehicle and a 2000 Z28 in Oklahoma City. We decided to go south to Houston MAINLY because the ad said “SS”.
Third, this is our plan…I have been attempting to contact the General Sales Manager (the big dog) at the dealership to give them a chance to explain the ad and why it says what it does, and why the salesman said, (and I quote) “This is a very difficult vehicle to find!” I am going to request one of three things (yes, I‘m going to be nice)…
1. Take this car back and find a GENUINE SS for me (which won‘t happen); 2. Give me the difference in what I paid for my “SS” and a Z28 (which PROBABLY won‘t happen); 3. We keep the car and I call the Better Business Bureau, Texas Automobile Dealers Association, Attorney General, my lawyer, etc. Just to see if I have any more recourse.
I’ll let y’all know what happens if I ever get to speak with a warm body on the phone…
I want you all to understand that we LOVE the car. It has an LS1 (that’s on the door RPO sticker, so it DID come stock, LOL), it sounds great, and it’s fun to drive! The only reason I’m upset is because we were under the impression that it was an SS (kinda our fault, but a lot of the dealer‘s). I know there are people out there like y’all that make up the 00.1% of the population that know the difference in Z28 and SS. I don’t want to be a “cloner”. I want the genuine thing! So, that being said, if we do wind up with the car, I figure I have a great looking Z28. I’m going to take the “SS” emblem (which is what started this thread isn’t it?) off and put “Z28” emblems on it. I look at it this way: you can make minor adjustments to regular Camaros and Z28s, and get away with it. But WHY would you want to mess with a stock SS? I know the pride you all have in your SS's. I don’t want to blemish the SS logo with a clone, that’s why I was so concerned about all of this.
SOMEDAY I WILL OWN AN 4th GENERATION SS! They are GREAT looking vehicles…straight off the floor! But, for now, if we wind up keeping this one, I’ll return it to a Z28 and be extremely happy. Would it upset y’all if I kept the hood? I love the look it gives it!
Again, thanks for the advice/input/opinions. Without y’all, I’d be driving around in a fog about my “SS”. You all are great for not knowing me and still helping. (Although I’m jealous every time I see a true SS!…lol)
Fbodfather
They don't make songs about Volvos.
Member # 1119
posted
well, the other thing to keep in mind...are you going to drive this car every day for any distance? The Z28 suspension is more compliant than the SS....will still outhandle just about anything on the road...but it is somewhat more comfortable in terms of ride...and as you said, it has the LS1.....
(and you didn't hear it from me....but ask around about 'real' horsepower.....)
-------------------- Posts: 749 | From: Detroit | Registered: Aug 2001
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posted
If you end up keeping the car, and you want to keep the hood on, by all means leave it on. It's YOUR car. As long as you don't try to pass it off as an SS, then no problems from here!
I've seen several Yenko clones, that cleary state they are clones and I bet are still fun to drive!
Please keep us posted.
-------------------- Hawkeye: SSOA F98-C98
1998 SS - Black All Options - Mods Whisper Lid, K & N, Lou's Short Stick, Shift Light, Skip Shift, SLP Y, Borla, 4:10's, BMR STB, SLP SFCs, Granatelli MAF, Hypertech III, 160 Stat, Mallory Billet Pedals, Metco Aluminum LCAs,Fast Toys Ram Air Mod, Spohn Panhard Bar, BMR Torque Arm, free EGR mod,power antenna, BMR LCA brackets, Gentex Temp/Compass Auto Dim Mirror, AllMaxx Strobe and Wig Wag, BAER Eradispeed rotors,PPC Headers with Random Technology Hi Flow Cats, BMR Drive shaft Loop,FAST 78MM Throttle Body, FAST 78MM Composite Intake, Mobil 1 & lots of Zaino.
Wife & Best Friend Mary - copilot. Posts: 5558 | From: Windsor, Ontario. Canada | Registered: Feb 2000
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1. Take this car back and find a GENUINE SS for me (which won‘t happen); 2. Give me the difference in what I paid for my “SS” and a Z28 (which PROBABLY won‘t happen); 3. We keep the car and I call the Better Business Bureau, Texas Automobile Dealers Association, Attorney General, my lawyer, etc. Just to see if I have any more recourse.
SOMEDAY I WILL OWN AN 4th GENERATION SS! They are GREAT looking vehicles…straight off the floor! But, for now, if we wind up keeping this one, I’ll return it to a Z28 and be extremely happy. Would it upset y’all if I kept the hood? I love the look it gives it!
No better time than now to push replacing the Z28 with a SS if you truly want a SS. You can push the dealership hard, while still being civil.....reputable businesses do not want bad publicity, and from what I have read, they misled you and falsely advertised, albeit, they alledgedly did not know the true situation either.
I personally would put number 1 on the table and have the dealership turn the current situation into a win-win for them and for you. Don't let them think for a second that you will accept anything else.
My $.02.....and best of luck!
-------------------- '95 Silver M6 Formula '03 MY Z06 never enough Zaino! Posts: 37 | From: NC | Registered: Aug 2003
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posted
Sounds like you will wind up keeping the car. If you put Z/28 emblems back on the car, you will be cool with 99% of all the SS owners too who won't mind one bit that you have a special hood.
Enjoy your car!
-------------------- Dave S Black 2000 Camaro SS Posts: 502 | From: Fort Mill, South Carolina....Charlotte | Registered: Aug 2003
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It should only be advertised as a modified Z28 and not an SS. I'd be concerned about the body work and what's underneath. [/QB][/QUOTE]
I think this is the key point to focus on here. No matter which way you choose to approach the dealer, the advertising of this car "misrepresented" what it was (that could be an important word to remember). I have a licence to sell cars in Ontario and I can tell you that dealers have a responsibility under the law to ensure that their advertising accurately reflects the vehicles they are offering for sale. It is irrelevant whether there was intent on the part of the dealer to misrepresent or mislead. However, it would be up to you to make the case proving that the vehicle was misrepresented. There certainly are enough ways to accurately indentify a bona fide SS, and I'm guessing that there is enough of a $ value difference between a Z and an SS that you might be willing to pursue this, should the dealer choose to not work with you on this. Even more glaring, is the fact that this is a Chevy dealer! Heck - for them not to be able to recognize a real SS is tantamount to negligence! In Ontario, there is a government agency that oversees the dealers, both new and used - I'm sure there is a similar agency in your jurisdiction. Get in touch with them and get a copy of the regulations that dealers must adhere to. Then read them yourself. This will tell you whether you could have a case against them. Good luck!
posted
One way to also look at this is you have an LS1 car that you can modify the heck out of and make one heck of a fun car (on a budget)! If you had a genuine SS, you might be hesitant to modify it beyond bolt-on stuff.
This could be a wonderful opportunity to make this one your play car and save some $$ to get an SS as your "special" car. That way, you'll have the best of both!
Please continue to visit with us on the board, say hello in the Good Morning thread, ask questions and hang out on the Porch with us. We'd love to meet you and your car in September at the Camaro/Firebird Gathering in Bowling Green, KY (see the Out & About part of the forum for more info.)
(I'll wait until you decide on whether or not you get an SS before refunding your SSOA $$. I know there are plenty of nice SS's out there to buy and we even have a few members with cars for sale. We'd be happy to help you find one.)
Posts: 7198 | From: Near Portland, Oregon, USA | Registered: Feb 2000
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quote:Originally posted by Fbodfather: well, the other thing to keep in mind...are you going to drive this car every day for any distance? The Z28 suspension is more compliant than the SS....will still outhandle just about anything on the road...but it is somewhat more comfortable in terms of ride...
If you're talking about standard SS and standard Z28 suspension, I totally agree. And either car handles superbly. But if you have the SLP Bilstein optional suspension, I'll take the SS ride over the standard Z28 any day. Same set of tracks in the Z is bumpier than the Bilstein SS at the same speed, angle, etc. I know, I've done it, and my butt can tell the difference. I really love the Bilstein setup (just as others said I would) for street driving. A softer ride, better stance (the rear IS lowered a bit) and still ramps up for moderate cornering. If I were a serious auto-x'er, though, I'd have done the 1LE. The beauty of it is that you could do the same to your Z and have a upscale-handling, yet still powerful machine.
And the HP is extremely close between an SS and Z to start (same engine). You put a free-flow exhaust and lid on the Z and you're in SS territory in that area instantly.
But I agree with others, if you're bent on an SS, don't settle if it's not exactly what you want. It's hard to part with any Camaro, but if you really wanted the WU8 on the door sticker, then go back and talk with the dealer. It's your car, your money, your peace of mind.
Posts: 577 | From: Aiken, SC | Registered: May 2002
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posted
I've still not talked to anyone on the pohone. I guess the General Sales Manager was out today. Chris DID get me a name that I could try faxing on Monday. So, we'll see where that goes. I'm going to push for a GENUINE SS, but we'll see where it goes. Thanks y'all!
posted
Stay the course. If there's one thing I've learned it is this: I'd rather not have the car of my dreams than to "almost" have the car of my dreams. The fact that I was mislead and fell for the mis-stated facts and the fact that everytime I turn the key I'm starting my Z/28 and not my SS would haunt me until I finally sold the car. Which would be probably be at a financial loss.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not bashing Z/28s, I love them, but I wanted an SS and that's what I ordered. (with the more suptle Bilstein suspension too )
posted
It's already haunting me. Monday we drove it and were SO EXCITED. Tuesday we did not drive it cause we didn't want the "cool" wearing off. Wednesday, we were like, "what car do you want to take?" Didn't matter. Z/28 just didn't feel as good as SS. So I do understand where you're coming from.
I'm working on a fax...Nicely worded, not rude. We'll see what happens Monday.
quote:Originally posted by twobrats: It's already haunting me. Monday we drove it and were SO EXCITED. Tuesday we did not drive it cause we didn't want the "cool" wearing off. Wednesday, we were like, "what car do you want to take?" Didn't matter. Z/28 just didn't feel as good as SS. So I do understand where you're coming from.
I'm working on a fax...Nicely worded, not rude. We'll see what happens Monday.
Good luck.
I had a 69 vette that was everything I wanted except for the Turbo400 instead of the 4 speed. I loved the car, but it wasn't quite what I wanted. If it had the 4 speed I'd still have the car today.
Same goes for the 9 Z/28 we had... A4 car. not sure if I'd still have it, but the A4 always bothered me. It was a great car, but just that one thing that nagged at me. Then I saw the SS come back in 96. It took me awhile, but now I have my 02 SS with the 6 speed. I never 2nd guess myself when I'm behind the wheel now.
quote:Originally posted by SSHEETS: Stay the course. If there's one thing I've learned it is this: I'd rather not have the car of my dreams than to "almost" have the car of my dreams. The fact that I was mislead and fell for the mis-stated facts and the fact that everytime I turn the key I'm starting my Z/28 and not my SS would haunt me until I finally sold the car. Which would be probably be at a financial loss.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not bashing Z/28s, I love them, but I wanted an SS and that's what I ordered. (with the more suptle Bilstein suspension too )
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