re: Oil pan defect? (Was Audi)

[Dwight Varnes <mxbreed@lancnews.infi.net>]

This has to be the stupidest thread I've ever read...
Save the flames. I know you don't all agree. It really pi**es me off
when people blame an inanimate object (and the wrong one at that) for
either a) something stupid they did or b) stuff that just happens. A few
quotes:

> These excerpts must be from the absolute dumbest person who is licensed to
> drive:
> "I was informed that I had hit something to fracture the oil pan... I see
> this as a design flaw and/or I am not a very good driver."
 
This pretty much says it all for me, but some of the other replies were
anywhere from silly to laughable...

> I have no experience dealing with AoA, but if she is unaware of what she
> hit (ie not a big enough event to remember specifics) then I would say
> it is time to force the dealer into action.  
 
Re-read that. "WHAT SHE HIT". She hit something, not the car failed to
perform properly. What's the dealer supposed to do, drive the car for
her??

> Unless there are visible marks of misuse then I would say it is a defect
> and should be replaced by the manufacturer. 

Re-read again. "Visible marks". See above commentary. Still not the
car's fault.
I deleted the brake failure comparison as it was just too ridiculous...

> Did she or did she not hit something?  If her oil pan is cast aluminum it
> wouldn't take
> much to crack it, since they don't bend.  If this crack was present when she
> bought the car then I agree
> Audi should pay, but if marks of impact can be seen, it has nothing to do
> with Audi.

Finally, a lucid statement. This person is dead-nuts right. If the oil
pan were to crack from stress, or have a leak from improper casting (and
it is possible, I've seen it) then by all means Audi should be involved,
cheerfully replacing the defective part. But that's not what the
original post described. It took issue with 'design flaw' because the
oil pan is lower than the Geo Tracker she probably drove prior.

> Typical.  Someone who does not want to take responsibility for their own
> actions.
> 
> I would hope that Audi does not do anything for this person.  
> Cindy should pay attention to what she is doing and not expect someone
> else to pay for her mistake.
 
A strong reply, but I agree. If she hit something in the road, her
collision policy will cover it. Generally, it is not chargeable to raise
the rates, so the only loss is the deductible.

This lack of personal responsibility really gets me. I guess it comes
from too many days reading claims from people that, instead of just
paying $75.00 for a new mirror to replace the one they whacked on the
garage door, they submit a claim to my company to help everyone's rates
skyrocket. When I break something myself, I pay for it. To me, it's part
of the punishment for my stupidity, and I've done some truly dumb things
with cars.

"Design flaw"...get a grip.
-- 
"Life is too short to drive boring cars."

Dwight Varnes, insurance appraiser and car nut
1970 124 Spider (restored, mostly)
1986 Audi Coupe GT (bigger engine at machine shop)
1989 VW Jetta GLI 16v (the wife's ride, needs restored)
1984 Nissan 4x4 Pickup (rust never sleeps)
1965 Buick Skylark conv. (more fun than you'd think)