so...as i have said in another post, i purchased my 5 pretty much off the trade in truck...at a mazda dealership. that being said, i drove it home on thursday last week with a "due bill." took it back on wednesday evening. they fixed the front bumper from where someone drove up on a curb, and fixed all the wheels due to scratches. they also said they would install the roof rack at no charge. since i snowboard and bike i was jazzed about this. however, when i got it back today, it has an MPV roof rack on it. it looks really cool, but... a) it sits inside the factory roof rails, so i don't know about it's structural integrity. b) also now have holes in the roof, under the roof rack feet, that hopefully will never pose a problem. c) i don't know if i can adapt any of the accessories to this rack that i could get from mazda, such as the bike attachment and the ski/snowboard attachment. any help or insight would be much appreciated.
mazda5 with MPV roof rack...
- Thread starter 2003proes
- Start date
have been on the phone for a while with mazda. they assure me that it has the same structural integrity as the mazda 5 rack, and that it won't damage the top of the 5. the MPV has accessories for the bike and ski/snowboard racks as well. said they are unsure why the outsourced company put on a mazda MPV rack, but are willing to change it out if i want them to. only issue i have now is that if i do have it removed, then they have to patch the holes in the roof and repaint it, which means that again i don't have my car for a couple more days, and it's got yet another panel that is repainted (which hurts value). the flip side to that is that if it is left, the value is hurt because it has a non-oem part permanently affixed to it. i'm so frustrated! first, there is only one key...second key is gonna cost me $143. now i have an issue with the roof rack.
i would take it back to the dealer and tell them that they ruined the car, and should give you another one. who ever would install an accessory designed for a totally different vehicle is a complete moron. i would rip 'em a new one, if that happened to me.
the actual rack is probably fine, but since its installed on a vehicle completely different from one for which it was designed, i wouldnt put ANYTHING on it.
the actual rack is probably fine, but since its installed on a vehicle completely different from one for which it was designed, i wouldnt put ANYTHING on it.
starlightmica
Member
- :
- 2007 Mazda5 Sport
Just curious - got pics?
not yet. all i have is my phone, and it's raining here. i'll get some up if it stops for a bit. have to out to it in a second anyway. like say...it doesn't look bad, and when the moonroof is opened, it looks cool too cause i don't have the bar over top of the opening...
got a couple pics off real quick. remember...it's raining here and it's my camera phone, so the pics probably aren't that good...View attachment 5-1.bmp
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This is the correct answer. Punching holes in the roof of the car in order to fit a roof rack that doesn't even belong on it, and expecting you to go "yay cool a roof rack" is the most stupid thing I have ever seen or heard of on this forum.
To think, A DEALER did this... lol.
Just to put some emphasis on it :
remarquian
Member
- :
- 2007 Mazda5 Sport AT
Well, they kindda look like the Eurorails 
- :
- 2008 Mazda5 5MT Sport w/ Popular Package
I understand your frustration, they made holes in the roof's metal sheet and they dare to tell you the integrity is not affected (scratch). Problem is not now but, with those racks as they are, weight and wind can rip the metal sheet at cruise speed...
Anyway, my 2 cents:
I doubt they will change you the car, so request them to take the MPV rack off (it is very risky when loaded), cover, paint the holes and replace the rack with the Mazda5 OEM one (it seems that there is no damage in the OEM roof rack attach points).
As per making up for the lost value, demand some freebies like the cargo box or any Thule goodies like bike rack, ski rack or similar (at least). Also something like an OEM cargo cover and free services for the next 20K miles, something like that...
I think this is reasonable and something that the dealership owner should be able to do for you to make it up. Do not talk to the managers, request to talk to the owner. If I were the owner and I see this, I'll kick some serious a$$
Again, changing the car might be an option, but the laws can be tricky and dealers play hard on you, kind of the lemon law, it works but will make you lose a lot of time, energy and patience...
Anyway, my 2 cents:
I doubt they will change you the car, so request them to take the MPV rack off (it is very risky when loaded), cover, paint the holes and replace the rack with the Mazda5 OEM one (it seems that there is no damage in the OEM roof rack attach points).
As per making up for the lost value, demand some freebies like the cargo box or any Thule goodies like bike rack, ski rack or similar (at least). Also something like an OEM cargo cover and free services for the next 20K miles, something like that...
I think this is reasonable and something that the dealership owner should be able to do for you to make it up. Do not talk to the managers, request to talk to the owner. If I were the owner and I see this, I'll kick some serious a$$
Again, changing the car might be an option, but the laws can be tricky and dealers play hard on you, kind of the lemon law, it works but will make you lose a lot of time, energy and patience...
- :
- 2008 Mazda5 5MT Sport w/ Popular Package
Oh, and ask for the 2nd key to be at no cost too!
well...majority rules. i think what i'm going to do on monday when i get to sit down with the dealership is tell them that i want this rack removed from the top of my car, i want the stock mazda5 rack put on, and the holes filled and painted. i don't want to see any evidence that the old roof rack was there. AND i want two bike racks, the ski/snowboard rack, the all-weather floor mats and the other key...all free of charge. (i don't really think i'll get a new mazda5 out of the deal because this one was purchased used.) can anyone think of anything else i should throw out on the table for mazda...
- :
- 2008 Mazda5 5MT Sport w/ Popular Package
A loaner, and best of luck
so...as i stew on this issue until monday, i realized that the MPV roof rack won't work with the mazda5 anyway. if you look at the picture with the moonroof opened, it is higher than the roof rack is. this would not be good if i ever had anything on the roof rack because i wouldn't be able to open the moonroof. and what would be the point of having a moonroof if you were unable to use it. i'm so frustrated. and i get a free rental car anyways, but i have to pay for the insurance and gas in it. which is another barganing point because i already had to have a rental this past time. and i'm not really excited about having purchased a car and for the first week and half, the dealership will have had it for half of that time...
Good luck with this. Hopefully they'll do the right thing, but if they did something as stupid as this, I doubt it.
Make sure you contact the service manager, sales manager AND the General Manager of the dealership to tell them what's going on . I doubt if either one or both of them know what shenanigans are going on in the service department.
Make sure you contact the service manager, sales manager AND the General Manager of the dealership to tell them what's going on . I doubt if either one or both of them know what shenanigans are going on in the service department.
so wray mazda knows they have the mazda market cornered here in the columbia area, and they came to bat with a ridiculous offer. they assumed that i only wanted the 5 "crossbars" because they looked better. they assumed that it was a preference. they were wrong. when i showed them that the moonroof sat higher than the bars, they began to understand. their original offer on the table was that they would replace the aftermarket, not even stock MPV, roof rack with the more expensive mazda5 "crossbars", but i was to pay the difference in price between the two. i shook my head and said that was not going to happen. i had entrusted my vehicle to a certified mazda dealership and that dealership misrepresented what they were going to do. they finally said that they could see where i was upset and they said that they would remove the roof rack and replace with the stock mazda5 crossbars, and repair the top. i said that was all well and good, but that's what they should have done in the first place. their response was that they were spending more money on the stock mazda roof rack and they were fixing the top, so it was how it was supposed to be. i argued that now i was supposed to be fine with having a car that had holes in the top, and whether they were patched or not, they were there. they said that they would guarantee the top against defect or damage where they fixed it, and put it in writing. i then asked them how that was fair to me being that now my vehicle had a diminished value due to the repaint. i was told that it wouldn't be diminished and that they weren't going to do anything else as far as add-ons for me, but if i kept the aftermarket roof rack, they would give me the ski/snowboard accessory and the bike accessory. i shook my head some more, and they finally said that they would give me any accessories for the mazda5 at cost plus shipping. i shook my head and told them i would have to chew this over for a day or two. i'm not happy with the current roof rack, but i'm not happy to have holes in my roof, fixed or not, because i will always know they are there...but at the same time, i want the new roof rack, and if they are willing to stand behind the work they do, they i guess that's fair...what do ya'll think?
remarquian
Member
- :
- 2007 Mazda5 Sport AT
I agree, I don't think it's fair, either.
My advice is to figure out what it take would make it "right" for you. It's better to figure out a dollar figure than some kind of barter deal. Be reasonable. Take it to a body shop, and ask them for an estimate for fixing it.
Then write up your experience in a non emotional, matter of fact letter, using a time line, outlining what you expected, and what resulted from their incompetence (the holes) and how this has inconvenienced you (time, frustration), and how you bought a new car, not one with holes in it (even covered up). Finish up with what would make it right you your mind, plus how much it would cost at the body shop. Say that you are very leery of them touching your car again, after what they did. Include your contact information. Mail it to the service manager and, via certified, registered mail (~$5) , to the registered agent for Wray Automotive, who happens to be:
W HAROLD WRAY
655 BROAD RIVER RD
COLUMBIA SC 29210
If you are angry/motivated enough to take it to small claims court, look up what it takes in your state, and add that if they haven't met your demands in thirty days, you are going to file in small claims court. This part will get you a call from a decision maker, who will make you a much better deal.
A copy of the letter to the Better Business Bureau helps too.
My experience is that car dealers try to do the bear minimum to get you to go away; it's kind of like negotiating, you've got to let them know that you are not going away and that they have to do the right thing.
That's my 2 cents.
My advice is to figure out what it take would make it "right" for you. It's better to figure out a dollar figure than some kind of barter deal. Be reasonable. Take it to a body shop, and ask them for an estimate for fixing it.
Then write up your experience in a non emotional, matter of fact letter, using a time line, outlining what you expected, and what resulted from their incompetence (the holes) and how this has inconvenienced you (time, frustration), and how you bought a new car, not one with holes in it (even covered up). Finish up with what would make it right you your mind, plus how much it would cost at the body shop. Say that you are very leery of them touching your car again, after what they did. Include your contact information. Mail it to the service manager and, via certified, registered mail (~$5) , to the registered agent for Wray Automotive, who happens to be:
W HAROLD WRAY
655 BROAD RIVER RD
COLUMBIA SC 29210
If you are angry/motivated enough to take it to small claims court, look up what it takes in your state, and add that if they haven't met your demands in thirty days, you are going to file in small claims court. This part will get you a call from a decision maker, who will make you a much better deal.
A copy of the letter to the Better Business Bureau helps too.
My experience is that car dealers try to do the bear minimum to get you to go away; it's kind of like negotiating, you've got to let them know that you are not going away and that they have to do the right thing.
That's my 2 cents.
