READ: Went to arbitration yesterday, 10 days until the decision

[Tony01Gts]

I think it's a 50-50 because of the repair attempts and days down. Toyota's arguement is that the car is in perfect condition now, mine is that due to the days down and variety of problems I feel that the value has depreciated, the car has demonstrated poor quality, and I have no confidence in the vehicle's reliability whatsoever. The arbitrator did his job and remained pretty neutral, he did make quite a few points to the Toyota rep that seemed in my favor, but the Toyota rep did have a good arguement as well. Take a look at this:
http://www.tones321.com/celicaproblems.htm
It all came out to 46 days down and 6 total repair attempts on my seat covers, 2 on the misshift, and 2 on the belt tensioner, but they finally have the correct ones (seat covers) on the shelf at the dealer ready to install. I told the arbitrator that I felt my car had a significant loss of value due to the vehicle's service record.
I did ask for a 2003 GT-S as a replacement with the option to purchase additional options.
What do you think about the case? I think it's hit or miss, I can't figure out what I would say if I was the arbitrator.

I stayed and spoke to the Toyota regional rep (the same guy from the arbitration) afterwards. He apologized several times for all the problems I had with my vehicle, and that he was very disappointed in the problems I had had from my service dept. I asked what he could do for me if the arbitration was not in my favor. He said that he would talk to the owner of the dealership and they could do a "net-net=cost" (correct me if I said that wrong). In which they would give me near full retail value for my car on trade in and sell my an 03 at near cost and I pay the difference. He said that that may even cost me less than the difference I will have to pay for usage/mileage if they replace my car through arbitration.

Give me some opinions guys!

[oo_snoopy]

I wish my auto GTS would just blow up, I hate it so much I'd rather drive my 77 Buick revira again. I hope you can get an 03.

[pepsiman]

hey tony.. my arbitration was 4 days ago.
i think i won this case~ we should meet up somewhere and talk about stuff~ it seems like you'll get what u want even if you lose that case.

[Drag'nGT]

Good luck man.:thumbup:

[Tony01Gts]

Still waiting on the answer... what were you asking for pepsiman? My salesmen from Toyota called and is working on setting up a deal on the 03 if the arbitration falls through. What year and what kind of miles did you have on your car? I understand there's a formula for determing what we have to pay for miles put on the car... do you know it?

[Brett]

Hey got my letter in today Tony1. I won my case, and am awarded a replacement vehical. Im still trying to figure out all the fees and stuff, it does seem a little odd, almost that you have to pay more for it. But I'm not sure yet. I think you get all your payments refunded. Anyways. PM me Tony

[Willis5050]

You have to pay a usage fee on the number of miles on your car, as well as pay for any damage that your car has (scrapes, dents, missing parts/keys, etc.) Usually the formula is:

(Purchase price * mileage)/120,000

the 120,000 represents a predetermined "life expectancy" for the vehicle, so basically you are paying by the mile without taking into account depreciation.

Just be careful to calculate the usage fee before you sign anything, as it can be pretty substantial in some cases.

[Tony01Gts]

Willis you said you had to pay only like 1500 for miles on your 2000. How many miles did you have on it? I figured mine out to like $5000 bucks! Ouch...

[Willis5050]

That sucks man, I guess the miles really add up. I paid about 1500 but I bought my 2000 used for 16,000 out the door and it had a shade over 10,000 miles on it. So my total sunk cost for the new 2002 was about 17,500 out the door (Toyota pays to re-license the car and there is no sales tax).

[Tony01Gts]

How do you like the 02 Willis? I'm sticking it out for the 03, since they corrected the rev limiter. Hopefully, they will fix yours too. You should bitch since you bought a car with the higher fuel cutoff.

[Willis5050]

I really like the 02, the bugs are worked out and its a very tight well put together car (I never had one new so I didnt know what that was like). I dont mind the shift gates at all, they shift very smoothly and the added throw isnt noticable after a while. I do hit the earlier rev limiter after being used to my 00. I am in discussions with the regional (Western) manager for Customer Relations about how we can fix the problem for all owners, but if that doesnt pan out I will just fix it myself for about $350 in parts. Overall I am happy.

[gsxr60097]

How did you guys get your cases rolling so quickly? I have been with two seperate lemonlaw agencies and they don't even call me back even though they accepted the cases. WTF. Who do I call to get some results?

[Tony01Gts]

It's through Toyota's independent arbitrator... NCDS

[Brett]

NCDS is suppose to take no more than like 30 days I think. Mine went pretty smoothly. Toyota sent a rebuttle letter, I sent a letter contridicting them. Then they tried to offer me some lame 1 months pay or extended warrenty under "Good will" which I declined. Then they stated that my claim for a replacement vehical was unreasonable and that my car was repaired etc. Funny thing is like 2 days later my belt cmae off due to a snapped bolt in my newly installed belt tensioner. So that screwed Toyota when I sent a letter on that. Anyways Im rambling now. But if you go through arbitration it should take a little over a month.

[gsxr60097]

Anyone got an address or phone number? Its been almost a year going through lemonlaw attorneys, still no reply...

[RiCeY GtS]

damn luckyass.. 03 wow..

[Raw Iron 1]

I am glad I got a ****fire with auto trans. In 52,ooo miles I have broken down only one time and that was do to a bad fuel pump. Dealer fixed it under warrenty, no hassle.

My Parisienne has only broken down four times since 1983, the vehicle currently has 185,000 miles on it. It has broken down do to a bad evaporation emissions valve (was still driveable, barely), a blown heater control valve that was dumping antifreeze every where (not driveable), a sunken float (still driveable, barely), and blown power brake booster (still driveable, but scary!). I average one break down in this car evey 4.75 years or 46,250 miles.

Do ask about the Vette. It breaks down like every day.

Jason