Lets hope so. I don't want him getting back into that car...They should compensate and get him an RS1.0

 

yeah, this should be a no brainer. GIVE HIM A NEW tC!

 

So sorry about what happened to your car. It has me a little scared that mine might go up in flames one of these days.

Could we get an update if you know anything yet.

 

I know i keep getting in and sniffing things..

 

Dude, your house will probably go up before your car does. People get burned out of their homes due to electrical fires every day. The first apt. building I ever lived in burned down in the middle of the night from an electrical fire.

One guy thinks his car spontaneously combusted, and you're more scared of the car??

 

Ok maybe I used the wrong word(scared). I should of said some times I thing my car might be all burt up when I get in it. I like my car. But I have insurance. So if it happens it will be taken care of. Still want to know what Scion says about it.

 

Well, Scion/Toyota has looked at the car and still haven't been able to pinpoint the cause but they are speculating a faulty install of the underdash lighting. Sounds like they want to buy back the car from me so I need to figure out the logistics of that now. I'll keep you posted as I hear more but sounds like everyone should be ok as long as the lights are installed correctly. If anything funky happens with your lights go see your dealer. Not sure if I want to try and get another tC or something else. Just glad they are resolving this so quickly. Points for Toyota on the quick response of the legal department I guess. Its only been a week and half.

 

this is really interesting stuff...

if it was flaky dealer work. they SHOULD give you a new tC. it was their fault having unqualified mechanics. in a DEALERSHIP. that blows. a lot.

 

They're buying back his car, which financially is the same as giving him a new tC. So what blows about that?

 

Well, it could suck for a few reasons... first off, how old was the car before it melted? And are they going to give him what he paid for it, or what it's value is now? Did he put a big down payment on the gooey one? If they simply buy it back, will he be able to afford a new one if they're simply paying off what he owes and no extra?

 

Personally, I would use the money to buy another car because there will always be that doubt in my mind, what if it wasnt the lighting install? Let us know what you decide.

 

So you're saying you personally wouldn't buy the tC again because of this?

 

iono. if this sort of thing happened to me...i would be doubtful in buying another tC.

 

but you're not doubtful because it happened to someone else? I'm just say regardless of it happening to me or someone else, I would buy the tc again

 

I would to...only this time i would opt not to have the glo lighting I think they are more then likley just going to give him a new tC and keep his current loan. Just change his VIN# on his paperwork to match his new tC.

 

Oh no, I meant if my tC burned, I wouldnt buy one again. Its always a little more traumatizing when you experience something firsthand. I was trying to look at things from the posters perspective.

 

Jim, I would definitely buy the tC again. It was the dealer's blunder. And it's tragic that it cost you your car, but you did say you loved that car. I understand because I adore my tC. I can say, without doubt, that I would jump at the chance to have another one if something happened to mine. Anyway, best of luck.

 

Oh, damn. I just realized my signature is totally inappropriate for this thread. I swear, it was there before I ever read this, and I didn't mean any disrespect.

 

In an insurance sort of situation, they would "buy" car with an assumed value of whatever it was just before the fire broke out. So if its market value at that point was less than he owes on it (not likely, due to the high resale they have had so far) he could still be in the hole. On the other hand, if he didn't owe much on it then he'll have enough to pay off the loan, and make a sizeable down payment on the next car.

I think for a warranty claim it would work the same way.

And would I buy another? I dunno... I've been seeing some awfully good looking Infiniti G35's lately... pretty much out of my price range, but I'd sure be interested in trying hard to make it work. tC would probably still be my second choice. This time I'd get a manual tranny and the side airbags. And if they ever make it a factory option, the supercharger. Wouldn't want it as a dealer-install. As this thread proves, not all dealer installers are competent. Plus I have some personal experience that leads me to that same conclusion (not the same dealer.)

 

Hello everyone, Hopefully this is one of my last updates on this situation. Toyota has stepped in an offered to buy the car back from me. I am sad to see the tC go but happy it is all getting resolved. They are speculating that the fire came from an improperly installed under dash lighting kit but it is probably an isolated incident so no need for alarm.
Thanks for all your advice and support on this. I am car shopping again and may end up in another tC. I'll just have to see who has a car ASAP for me.