Kizashi warranty work... (keep your fingers crossed for me)

[sx4rocious]

To start off, most of you know that my wife drives our Vivid Red 2010 Kizashi. I noticed a pretty decent amout of what I thought were rock chips on the hood before the initial purchase just over a year ago, but considering I paid sub Chevy Spark money for it, I went ahead with the purchase.

Fast forward to about 3 weeks ago:

I'm both annoyingly anal retentive and OCD about the fit and finish of both the family Suzukis, so during the weekly wash, wax, and Clay bar treatment, I notice a significant increase in the "chips" in the paint. They were EVERYWHERE! The hood was covered as was the roof, A pillars, and fenders just behind the headlights. Thousands of needle-like little white-ish freckles poking out of otherwise beautiful (and very vivid) meticulously maintained red paint. There were even chips INSIDE the lip of the doorjams! There were chips in places impossible for rocks, salts, even insects to reach.

Oh no, this simply won't do...

After some research on the Suzuki warranty page as well as some investigation in this thread, I determined the nearest Suzuki warranty-ship (since there is no such thing as a Suzuki dealer-ship in the US anymore...) was University motorcars in Bloomington Indiana. I made a call and spoke to a very nice and rather helpful gentleman who invited us to bring the car in for photos and to start the warranty claim process. Jump to Wednesday and we pull into one of the nicer autoplexes I've been to, and the ONLY one I've seen in the last two years with a big, bold, stone and metal Suzuki sign in the entrance (even if it is a Kia dealership now). After being redirected to the body shop down a fantastically paved half-mile driveway, the shop manager himself met me and my family with a firm handshake and VERY pleasant attitude.

He took about 15 seconds to look at the car before he informed me that no rock chip could have caused the issue, and he believed it was most definately faulty paint. He didn't even start to pretend to try and argue. He walked in to his office, came back 30 seconds later, and led me back up the hill (and fantastic landscaped driveway) back to the main building where the General Manager was waiting.

He took less time that the Bodyshop manager and took about 10,000 pictures of the damage for the warranty claim, all the while talking to me about our shared love of quirky, lesser known import cars (he had an amazingly modified Audi 4000 and awaiting shipment on a Cosworth-powered Mk1 Ford Escort. Mmmm... Cosworth...). Both he and his shop manager have approved the claim so far, however, I have to wait until next week for the final approval from the Suzuki District Manager. Hopefully he is as easy to work with and customer oriented as these gentlemen. If he approves, University Motorcars have already stated they will provide us a loaner for approximately a week (I begged for the Focus ST parked next to our Kizashi, hopefully he will give in!) while the entire car gets repainted... Please keep your fingers crossed for me! Also, given the AMAZING customer service we recieved after the 56 mile drive, I highly recommend this dealership should any of you need anything in the future. It seems to be ran by understanding and helpful car lovers who actually LOVE the products they represent. Plus, they were proudly displaying the Suzuki signage even after they were told to take it down. They are fans too aparently...

[Woodie]

This place sounds like heaven! Might even get me to start taking cars to the dealer again. Hmmm, 640 miles, is that worth it for warranty work?

[~tc~]

Wait, you clay bar and wax weekly?

[sx4rocious]

actually clay bar every other week or every third.

Washed every week, waxed time permitting. (no less than every three weeks)

[~tc~]

Well, that makes a lot more sense!

[sx4rocious]

like I stated, I'm anal retentive and OCD about our cars... It's a sickness really...

[twoqttsdad]

Crossing my fingers!

I don't see how hey old deny you.

[twoqttsdad]

Sorry, I don't see how they could deny your claim.

My fingers don't work as well after picking up a few beers!

[sx4rocious]

HAHA! thanks!

I thought the same thing. My SX4 is 3 years older with 20k more miles and it doesn't have a single chip anywhere...

[bootymac]

Do you have any pictures of the paint? It sounds like the surfaces were contaminated prior to painting