harrower

Just saw the sadest thing. I went to dealership to drop the GL off for service today and saw the aftermath of a huge hail storm we had here in Prague two days ago. 350..that is right 350 cars were damaged. Ranged from older c-class all the way up to a brand new SLS that was to be delivered to client today. Mix of dealer cars and customer cars. 15 S-class, 30 new E-class, GLs, CLS....you name it, it was totalled. I have never seen such damage...almost every roof, side panel and hood looked as it had been the target of a Tiger Wood driving range experiment. Windows blown out, mirrors sheered off, headlights punched out! Estimated damage cost....$2M+. Here is the funny thing...a SLR was parked outside when the storm hit and not a single ding...leave it to CF to save the day. Will try and get pics to post when I pick up the car tomorrow.

SebringSilver

What's the position of Czech insurance companies on "acts of God"-type damage?

harrower

The dealership had its own policy to cover these acts of god, but only for $750K or so. Alot of owners will need to claim against their own policy as well. For the most part, the insurance companies have dealt fairly with most people so far, but I would expect that to change as the claims mount. This storm produced hail large enough to penetrate roofs here, and that is amazing considering that houses here are roofed with stone tiles. I am sure that alot of claimants will get screwed in the long run.

Sheep

Good grief, that sucks.

Sheep

harrower

see here...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XroZURol67A

Sheep

That sucks. Off topic: that's one of the best TV logo I have seen in a long time (it's ancient Chinese.)

patboyy

we had several really bad hail storms few months ago across the country.

and lots of dealerships offer hail storm special on minor damaged vehicles.

i_am_amused

I lived in Nebraska (Midwest USA for you out-of-towners ) back in the 1970s, and even way back then the dealers would hold annual "Dimpled Darlings" sales to unload the hail-damaged inventory at good discounts. We had damaging hail multiple times a year, every one of the 5 years I was there.

I even put eyeballs on *two* tornadoes.
They were side-by-side.
They were also probably 2 miles away.

ZephyrAMG

High end dealers should NEVER store cars outside. That is just SOOO STUPID. Forget hail, what about something as simple as the sun beating down on the leather and plastic? People walking by, rubbing against the body? Bird crap? Tree sap?

All high end cars should be stored inside a showroom or build a friggin wharehouse...

JM

in for the pictures!

jvanbrecht

Easy to say store them inside, when you have the space to do so.

I bought my car from MB of Annapolis in MD, while they had most of the high end models inside the show room, their location has them in a tiny lot/tiny building (which they share with Smart cars........ crazy I know). My car was outside, but under an over hang of teh building, so mostly safe.. However, many other cars, including a crap ton of new E class models and a few S class models were outside with no cover.

It comes down to location, sure you can rent a warehouse somewhere, but people want to look at the cars in person, not get shuttled miles away to look at cars... It's a risk I guess, thats what insurance is for.

harrower

Hey, just had a idea here. Since they will most likely have to part out or completely redo alot of these cars from an exterior and interior perspective (some cars had sunroofs/windshields smashed in and rain damaged interiors) there might be opportunity to buy certain parts for real cheap. Things such as new style mirrors (they would be folding type as that is standard in Europe) lights etc. I am sure they will get the body shop to fix some of the cars, but other for sure will need complete new body work.

arctichaze

Dunno over there in SD but here in OC we have SL Black Series, SLS, 911 Turbos, Vantages, F430s all parked outside dealerships overnight.

Sheep

Good idea, and nothing beats a real driver sit for racing games .

Sheep

ZephyrAMG

Ouch...poor babies...

Where I live in SD, they just built a multimillion dollar indoor dealership for LEXUS. LEXUS.

You figure you are buying an expensive item, you would hope its protected from the elements until YOU buy it. Then it's on your own hands...

_AMG_

They should have at least parked the SLS indoors. Sad to see that many mercs get damaged.

Sheep

Very true, but still not as bad as having 3000+ RX-8 sunk to the bottom of the ocean a while back...

Sheep

Militia

+1

Tatorr

This thread is worthless without pictures!

_AMG_

OUCH, You ever see the Bugatti Veyron that drove into a lake??

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NJmB1F2mdE

The guy in the video thinks its a Lamborghini. HAHA

14cue

I agree. Selling a new car anything short of flawless shouldn't be categorized as new. When I get my old 05 C55 serviced, my SA, knowing how **** I can get, always keeps it inside.

JM

deal with samson?

he is the best!

JM

Source?

Sheep

Well I guess not quite sunk, but all of them still totaled...

Car and Driver Oct 2008
http://www.caranddriver.com/features...at_sea-feature



Sheep

jafores

I know of a Paintless Dent Repair guy over here in the Philippines who was sent to Oman in the Middle east for a month and a half and all he did was fix hailstorm damaged cars he said he was doing hundreds of dents per car!