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According to a customer, Crandall Yopp Jr., his 2022 Subaru WRX was mishandled by technicians at Dan Perkins Subaru in Milford, Connecticut, after he took it in for an oil change. Not only did he find new damage on the vehicle’s paintwork, but he now believes the car was used by the dealership employees to practice driving a manual transmission. Yopp is taking legal action against the dealership for the incident as reported by Automotive News.
Yopp expressly requested the service center to refrain from washing his WRX to protect its ceramic coating. However, upon return, he noticed swirls and other paint imperfections, and a misshapen front license plate, leading him to suspect improper treatment of his vehicle. Allegations are that the technical staff at the dealership engaged in stalling the WRX multiple times, grinding its gears, and causing damage to the clutch during their unauthorized use.
The younger technician was overheard asking the senior one, “How long are we gonna practice for—five stalls?” while mishandling the car.
Upon taking the WRX through an external car wash, the service manager realized they were in trouble for disregarding the customer’s instructions. Panic set in when he commented that the owner “is going to f***ing kill us; it was clean. He said not to wash it.” Following this, it was reported that the two technicians confessed to their actions, and multiple dealership staff members attempted to conceal the damage by cleaning the vehicle’s interior and trying to rectify the bent license plate.
Yopp has filed a lawsuit seeking compensation for damages and legal fees from Dan Perkins Subaru, accusing the dealership of contravening Connecticut’s consumer laws.
As manual transmissions become less common, finding opportunities to learn how to drive them is increasingly difficult. This scarcity means that fewer individuals have manual vehicles to teach driving to their children or friends. However, certain driving schools still offer lessons in manual transmission vehicles. For any dishonest dealer employees considering similar actions, it would be better to invest in professional driving lessons, purchase an old car for practice, or rely on friends, rather than compromising a customer’s car.
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FAQ Section
1. What happened to Crandall Yopp Jr.’s Subaru WRX?
Yopp Jr.’s WRX was allegedly used by dealership technicians at Dan Perkins Subaru to practice driving a manual transmission, resulting in damage to the vehicle.
2. What kind of damages did the WRX suffer?
The vehicle reportedly had swirl marks and other paint blemishes, a bent front license plate, a stalled engine multiple times, grinded gears, and a burned clutch.
3. What has Crandall Yopp Jr. done in response to the incident?
Yopp Jr. is suing Dan Perkins Subaru for damages and legal fees, citing violations of Connecticut’s consumer protection law.
4. What is the dealership’s response to the allegations?
According to the lawsuit, the dealership staff attempted to cover up the incident by cleaning the vehicle and attempting to repair the bent license plate. The article does not include an official statement from the dealership regarding the lawsuit.
5. Is it still possible to learn driving manual transmission vehicles?
Yes, while manual transmissions are becoming rarer, there are still driving schools that offer vehicles with manual transmissions for teaching purposes.
Conclusion
The accusations against Dan Perkins Subaru’s technicians regarding the misuse of a customer’s Subaru WRX highlight issues related to the proper treatment of customers’ vehicles by service providers. As manual transmissions become scarcer, the storyline also sheds light on the challenges and ethical considerations of learning to drive a stick-shift. Customers rely on the professionalism and integrity of dealership service departments, making alleged incidents like this one particularly troubling for both car owners and the automotive service industry.
