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I leased my 99 Saab 9-3 SE convertible in July of 99. I was contacted by Saab Financial to schedule the "inspection" prior to lease end. The inspector noted every minor flaw in the car he could find. He stated the the report would be sent to Saab Financial and that they would decide what charges if any would be assesed. I was not concerned about the inspection because I take excellent car of my car and did not feel that any of the wear was excessive.
The inspector noted fine pitting on front cowl, pitting on front bumper, 5 shallow door dings in the passenger door, tread depth 4/32" on the drivers side and 3/32" on passenger side, a 1/2 diameter hole worn on the driver side floor mat. His report showed "repair" for the 5 shallow door dings on the passenger side door and the floor mat.
Yesterday, I receive a letter with a $541.80 assesment for excess wear and tear. Despite the inspector saying they just submit the report to Saab Financial, the prices and recommendations are from the inspection company. The assesment was 82.80 to refinish the front bumper, $95.20 x 2 for two tires, $119.60 to refinish the hood / cowl, $119 to refinish the 5 door dingd in the passenger side door.
The hood and bumper were not even listed as repair items on the original inspection. The 5 supposed dings in the passenger door are so small they won't show in a photograph and are difficult to see with the naked eye (the paint is not even chipped on theese minor dings). I went to a local tire store and measured with a tread depth gauge all 4 of my tires. I got 4/32 on all 4 tires. Saab wants the tires replaced if less than 4 /32. I received a letter last month from Saab defining excess wear, they define in different terms in this letter than they do in the lease contract. "Any individual panel that has a combination of 5 or more dents dings, scratches or chips of any size", is considered excess wear according to there letter. I think that Saab Financial is just trying to extort more money out of it's customers.
How does one excessivly wear a floor mat? If it is sitting in position and a whole wears through it after 3 years of driving is that not normal wear? Is pitting from road debris on the front bumper and hood not normal wear? Is it not normal wear to get a few door dings after 3 years of driving? Let me know and let Saab know what you think.
Here is a paragraph from the original lease agreement on excess wear.
35. Excess Wear. Excess wear is wear that is beyond normal wear and tear. Excess wear includes:(a) glass that is damaged or that you tinted; (b) a damaged or corroded body trim, frame, crossmember, suspension, engine, powertrain, or other mechanical part; (c)damaged paint; (d) a torn, damaged or stained interior or trunkliner; (e) missing equipment that was in or on the vehicle when delivered and not replaced with equipment of equal quality and design (including a missing wheel, wheel cover, jack, or wheel wrench) (f) a tire (including spare) that is unsafe, is not the size and type the manufacturer recommends, is recapped or snow tire, or has less than 1/8 inch of tread left at the shallowest point; (g) a damaged or worn brake that does not meet government safety standards; (h) oil leaks or low oil pressure; (i) a malfunctioning electrical system, battery, or lights; (j) any other condition that make the vehicle run in a noisy, rough, improper, unsafe or unlawful way; and (k) any other damage whether or not insurance covers it.
posted by 216.175.88...
, Thu, 6 Jun 2002 20:33:50, Thu, 6 Jun 2002 20:36:20
, Thu, 6 Jun 2002 23:40:07
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