Nuff said!
CLK GTR Roadster No. 5 of 5 = LEMON :(
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From: So Cal
W213 '17 E43 ///AMG - W211, W208 no more
CLK GTR Roadster No. 5 of 5 = LEMON :(
Saw on the news that the buyer of the extremely limited edition CLK GTR Roadster, production # 5 of 5 is filing a lawsuit to sue MB for his money back since his car couldn't even drive down past 10 blocks when he went to show the car to a customer...
He, Mark Johnston (owner of Grand-Pre Motors - http://www.grandprixsales.com/), paid $1.75 million for the CLK
No repsonse from MB just yet...
He, Mark Johnston (owner of Grand-Pre Motors - http://www.grandprixsales.com/), paid $1.75 million for the CLK
No repsonse from MB just yet...
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 5,289
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From: So Cal
W213 '17 E43 ///AMG - W211, W208 no more
"MidniteBluBenz" found the article from....
-----------------------------
http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2...14/011252.html
-----------------------------
Mercedes Benz Sued for Failing to Fix World's Most Expensive 'Broken' Production Car
Grand Prix Motors of Los Angeles Seeks Refund for $1.7 million Mercedes AMG CLK-GTR Roadster; Luxury Car Died After First 'Test Drive' of 10 blocks; Auto Dealership Represented by Fulbright & Jaworski.
LOS ANGELES, June 14 -- When Los Angeles car dealer Mark Johnston forked over $1.7 million to buy one of only five special Mercedes Benz roadsters produced in the world, he could not have predicted the ongoing struggle just to get the car to work. Indeed, he and his brother couldn't get it to travel more than ten blocks. Frustrated with his failed efforts to obtain customer satisfaction, Mr. Johnston has filed suit in Los Angeles Superior Court seeking a full refund from the manufacturer and its affiliates.
The defendants named in the suit are DaimlerChrysler AG, along with Mercedes-Benz USA, Mercedes-AMG GmbH and H.W.A. GmbH. Mercedes-Benz USA and Mercedes-AMG are subsidiaries of DaimlerChrysler; H.W.A. has been affiliated with DaimlerChrysler in the design and production of rare automobiles for many years.
Mr. Johnston's suit, brought by law firm Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P., accuses the defendants of breaching their contractual and warranty obligations to provide a defect-free car, in this case a Mercedes AMG CLK-GTR Limited Edition Roadster, which Mr. Johnston intended to sell through his dealership. The complaint also alleges negligent misrepresentation and breach of the implied warranty of good faith and fair dealing. Mr. Johnston seeks full reimbursement of the vehicle's purchase price, along with the other costs incurred as a result of attempts to repair it.
The silver AMG Roadster is a product of DaimlerChrysler's long collaboration with H.W.A. and Mercedes-AMG, two German manufacturers of racing and high-end performance vehicles. Only five of the AMG roadsters were reportedly made; Mr. Johnston owns the only one in North America. The AMG CLK-GTR is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the most expensive production car ever made. The two-door sports car is made of carbon fiber monocoque with an integrated steel roll cage and front energy absorbing crash box. The 6.9-liter engine has a 12-cylinder, 60 degree V-motor, enabling the car to go from zero to 124 mph in 9.9 seconds and reach a top speed of 198.4 mph.
Mr. Johnston and his brother Ernest own Grand Prix Motors, a car dealership in the Mar Vista section of Los Angeles. The two former auto mechanics have extensive experience working on Ferraris and other top performing vehicles and are very knowledgeable about collectible cars. Grand Prix contracted to purchase the Mercedes AMG in 2002 for the hefty price tag of $1.7 million. Their intention was to sell the vehicle through their dealership, as they had done with other rare and vintage automobiles.
"The car was absolutely gorgeous and we were excited about offering what we thought was a true gem to our customer base," Mark Johnston explained. "Unfortunately, the car turned out to be 'exotic' in the worst possible way. When we took it off the lot in 2004 for its first customer test drive, Ernie drove the car all of ten blocks with a prospective buyer when the oil light came on. We've been trying to get it fixed ever since, but the Mercedes folks have refused to stand behind the car as promised in our contract."
According to the complaint, the roadster's transmission failed to shift properly. Additionally, the hydraulic jack system failed and the windows became unglued. In 2005, the defendants dispatched a technician from Germany to examine the car in 2005; after dismantling it, the mechanic returned to Germany with a number of parts that were never reinstalled. Mr. Johnston asserts that the defendants later instructed Grand Prix to transport the non-working car to a Mercedes facility in Lake Park, Florida, which Grand Prix did at an additional cost of $10,000.
Although the Mercedes technicians determined that the car suffered an oil-pressure related engine failure and needed a new engine, the defendants were unwilling to make any repairs. The complaint asserts that the defendants were aware that several of the other Mercedes AMG roadsters in circulation had oil pressure-related problems.
"Mr. Johnston has exhausted himself trying to get Mercedes and the other defendants to recognize their warranty obligations," said John O'Malley, the Fulbright & Jaworski partner in Los Angeles who is representing Grand Prix Motors. "You'd think you'd be able to drive a $1.7 million car more than 10 blocks."
"We continue to be dumbfounded by the unwillingness DaimlerChrysler, Mercedes and the other defendants have shown in owning up to the problems of their vehicle -- the other manufacturers we deal with would never operate this way," explained Mr. Johnston. "It's unfortunate the defendants have forced us to bring a lawsuit in order to have our contract honored. We obviously cannot sell the car in its current condition, which right now represents nearly $2 million of scrap metal."
Grand Prix Motors
Grand Prix Motors is an established car dealership and full service repair center in Los Angeles. Originally a business serving the vintage, restored collectible, and one-of-a-kind high-performance vehicle market niche, Grand Prix now sells and services new cars as well. Owners Mark and Ernie Johnston purchased the dealership in 1983; they previously worked in the repair shop as certified Ferrari mechanics. The brothers also own Ojai Ford, a new car dealership in Ventura County, California.
-----------------------------
http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2...14/011252.html
-----------------------------
Mercedes Benz Sued for Failing to Fix World's Most Expensive 'Broken' Production Car
Grand Prix Motors of Los Angeles Seeks Refund for $1.7 million Mercedes AMG CLK-GTR Roadster; Luxury Car Died After First 'Test Drive' of 10 blocks; Auto Dealership Represented by Fulbright & Jaworski.
LOS ANGELES, June 14 -- When Los Angeles car dealer Mark Johnston forked over $1.7 million to buy one of only five special Mercedes Benz roadsters produced in the world, he could not have predicted the ongoing struggle just to get the car to work. Indeed, he and his brother couldn't get it to travel more than ten blocks. Frustrated with his failed efforts to obtain customer satisfaction, Mr. Johnston has filed suit in Los Angeles Superior Court seeking a full refund from the manufacturer and its affiliates.
The defendants named in the suit are DaimlerChrysler AG, along with Mercedes-Benz USA, Mercedes-AMG GmbH and H.W.A. GmbH. Mercedes-Benz USA and Mercedes-AMG are subsidiaries of DaimlerChrysler; H.W.A. has been affiliated with DaimlerChrysler in the design and production of rare automobiles for many years.
Mr. Johnston's suit, brought by law firm Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P., accuses the defendants of breaching their contractual and warranty obligations to provide a defect-free car, in this case a Mercedes AMG CLK-GTR Limited Edition Roadster, which Mr. Johnston intended to sell through his dealership. The complaint also alleges negligent misrepresentation and breach of the implied warranty of good faith and fair dealing. Mr. Johnston seeks full reimbursement of the vehicle's purchase price, along with the other costs incurred as a result of attempts to repair it.
The silver AMG Roadster is a product of DaimlerChrysler's long collaboration with H.W.A. and Mercedes-AMG, two German manufacturers of racing and high-end performance vehicles. Only five of the AMG roadsters were reportedly made; Mr. Johnston owns the only one in North America. The AMG CLK-GTR is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the most expensive production car ever made. The two-door sports car is made of carbon fiber monocoque with an integrated steel roll cage and front energy absorbing crash box. The 6.9-liter engine has a 12-cylinder, 60 degree V-motor, enabling the car to go from zero to 124 mph in 9.9 seconds and reach a top speed of 198.4 mph.
Mr. Johnston and his brother Ernest own Grand Prix Motors, a car dealership in the Mar Vista section of Los Angeles. The two former auto mechanics have extensive experience working on Ferraris and other top performing vehicles and are very knowledgeable about collectible cars. Grand Prix contracted to purchase the Mercedes AMG in 2002 for the hefty price tag of $1.7 million. Their intention was to sell the vehicle through their dealership, as they had done with other rare and vintage automobiles.
"The car was absolutely gorgeous and we were excited about offering what we thought was a true gem to our customer base," Mark Johnston explained. "Unfortunately, the car turned out to be 'exotic' in the worst possible way. When we took it off the lot in 2004 for its first customer test drive, Ernie drove the car all of ten blocks with a prospective buyer when the oil light came on. We've been trying to get it fixed ever since, but the Mercedes folks have refused to stand behind the car as promised in our contract."
According to the complaint, the roadster's transmission failed to shift properly. Additionally, the hydraulic jack system failed and the windows became unglued. In 2005, the defendants dispatched a technician from Germany to examine the car in 2005; after dismantling it, the mechanic returned to Germany with a number of parts that were never reinstalled. Mr. Johnston asserts that the defendants later instructed Grand Prix to transport the non-working car to a Mercedes facility in Lake Park, Florida, which Grand Prix did at an additional cost of $10,000.
Although the Mercedes technicians determined that the car suffered an oil-pressure related engine failure and needed a new engine, the defendants were unwilling to make any repairs. The complaint asserts that the defendants were aware that several of the other Mercedes AMG roadsters in circulation had oil pressure-related problems.
"Mr. Johnston has exhausted himself trying to get Mercedes and the other defendants to recognize their warranty obligations," said John O'Malley, the Fulbright & Jaworski partner in Los Angeles who is representing Grand Prix Motors. "You'd think you'd be able to drive a $1.7 million car more than 10 blocks."
"We continue to be dumbfounded by the unwillingness DaimlerChrysler, Mercedes and the other defendants have shown in owning up to the problems of their vehicle -- the other manufacturers we deal with would never operate this way," explained Mr. Johnston. "It's unfortunate the defendants have forced us to bring a lawsuit in order to have our contract honored. We obviously cannot sell the car in its current condition, which right now represents nearly $2 million of scrap metal."
Grand Prix Motors
Grand Prix Motors is an established car dealership and full service repair center in Los Angeles. Originally a business serving the vintage, restored collectible, and one-of-a-kind high-performance vehicle market niche, Grand Prix now sells and services new cars as well. Owners Mark and Ernie Johnston purchased the dealership in 1983; they previously worked in the repair shop as certified Ferrari mechanics. The brothers also own Ojai Ford, a new car dealership in Ventura County, California.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: So Cal
W213 '17 E43 ///AMG - W211, W208 no more
check this last link out... the guy coulda sold it on ebay for $1.76M and not have to deal with this nightmare... but, i guess the customer would be even more PO about it... not sure if the page is legit tho...
http://www.spitcircle.com/content/ot...6f45b659a5dfba
http://www.spitcircle.com/content/ot...6f45b659a5dfba
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Joined: Feb 2006
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From: Maryland
2000 CLK 430
According to the article on http://www.cnn.com/2006/AUTOS/06/14/...mon/index.html Mr. Johnston believes that there are actually 6 instead of 5, which lowers the value of the car that he is in possession of......ummmm, he's going to spend a lot of $$$ proving this case and obtaining a resolution from MB-Germany...(MB-US said because they didn't sell it to him, he has to deal w/ the Headquarters in Germany)....LOooong road ahead for the guy 
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2005
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From: Sydney, Australia
W203 slightly modified
Originally Posted by CLK430girl
According to the article on http://www.cnn.com/2006/AUTOS/06/14/...mon/index.html Mr. Johnston believes that there are actually 6 instead of 5, which lowers the value of the car that he is in possession of......ummmm, he's going to spend a lot of $$$ proving this case and obtaining a resolution from MB-Germany...(MB-US said because they didn't sell it to him, he has to deal w/ the Headquarters in Germany)....LOooong road ahead for the guy
Looking at in on face value there is no reason given in public why this has been allowed to carry on.
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Joined: Jul 2002
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From: Hotlanta
AMG
Originally Posted by benzmodz
You can resolve all that in one afternoon .... the question at hand is why doesnt the car work .... why wasn't it fixed in Florida (MB-USA facilty).
Looking at in on face value there is no reason given in public why this has been allowed to carry on.
Looking at in on face value there is no reason given in public why this has been allowed to carry on.
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Joined: Jun 2005
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Everyone who knows these cars know that they are likley to develop hydraulics problems if they sit -- especially the jacking system.
My guess is that these guys bought this car from a private party and did not have knowledgeable mechanics go through the car and all of its systems prior to taking delivery -- which I would assume only an idiot would not do on a $1.7M purchase!!!
Maybe because they are or were mechanics they figured they would check out the car and do the work themselves?
In any event, it is obvious to me from what I have been able to gather so far that the car was not mechanically sound when it took off on that test drive - and blammo.
What else could have been expected from a car that has sat for so long and did not get the required mechanical care?
The story as told so far contains at least three glaring inaccuracies that I can spot from having knowlege about these cars....
I will still await more details before forming judgement -- but the facts (or claimed facts, anyway) related so far, and the fact that these guys filed a lawsuit against the parties that they filed against, and the fact that they have gone on some kind of media campaign -- all of this at this point tells me that these guys are what I have found to be your typical a$$hole, idiot Southern California car salesmen...
Sorry - but that's how I see it already....
My guess is that these guys bought this car from a private party and did not have knowledgeable mechanics go through the car and all of its systems prior to taking delivery -- which I would assume only an idiot would not do on a $1.7M purchase!!!
Maybe because they are or were mechanics they figured they would check out the car and do the work themselves?
In any event, it is obvious to me from what I have been able to gather so far that the car was not mechanically sound when it took off on that test drive - and blammo.
What else could have been expected from a car that has sat for so long and did not get the required mechanical care?
The story as told so far contains at least three glaring inaccuracies that I can spot from having knowlege about these cars....
I will still await more details before forming judgement -- but the facts (or claimed facts, anyway) related so far, and the fact that these guys filed a lawsuit against the parties that they filed against, and the fact that they have gone on some kind of media campaign -- all of this at this point tells me that these guys are what I have found to be your typical a$$hole, idiot Southern California car salesmen...
Sorry - but that's how I see it already....
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From: Hotlanta
AMG
Originally Posted by mmgrad
maybe they referring to the west palm beach one....
Trust me....a dealership WILL NOT!
My speculation will end at this point.
