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I would like opinions about a warranty issue with our 200" Krystal Hummer, We have rust and paint fading, This vehicle is a 2006 with 16K miles. We have been to every single bodyshop in our area and none of them want to deal with a vehicle of this size, The only place we have been able to find that will repair this is Executive Coach located in Orlando Fl 1 and 1/2 hours away. The estimate is around $2500.00 We faxed the estimate and emailed pics to Krystal and was told that the estimate was too high and denied. Now here is my question what the hell are we supposed to do keep waiting until a body shop agrees to what Krystal thinks is a fair price? This is Bullshit. I have attached pics.

Ouch. Pinnacle, Crap? We've done our research and seen them all. A Pinnacle Limousine is a proven work horse and honestly Ladies and Gentlemen...nothing compares to Pinnacle. We are one of their U.S. clients and we've never had a warranty issue. We've always been treated the same, whether it's one car or 20 cars, Pinnacle has always come through for us.

We have an entire parking lot full of Pinnacle masterpieces. Check them out at www.exoticcoach.com. We highly recommend their product!!!!

quote:

Originally posted by limo bill:
Thanks for the info on Pinnacle Pala. Thier cars do look nice on the surface, but it does not suprise me about the customer service. I've also heard about there heavy marketing in the UK. I'm sure it works great for them. Build a crapy car for tons of $$, send it thousands of miles away.... out of sight , out of mind.

My first time posting here, but I just had to register and respond to this 3 months later.

First off, I agree that every stretch limousine made out there is one form of hack job or another. Do you want to know why? Market demand, Capitalism, lowest common denominator.

Limousine services are everywhere, so to compete for the jobs out there they are forced to charge less. Because they charge less, they can only afford to pay less. Therefore builders need to charge less to get the work that's out there.

But quality costs money. Either in the cost of materials or in the salaries of your skilled employees. Add to this the fact that many companies, like mine, build custom one-off vehicles. I would love to build cookie cutter vehicles. Cheaper to build, repetition will eliminate many qc issues (or at least it should), and you can supply quickly. This is why you can not ask for a change in interior colors, or a repositioning of items in the vehicle, or even additions you are more than willing to pay for from big manufacturers. It ruins the economies of scale.

Long story short: this is why I deal with the UK a lot. They can afford quality, they can wait for the work to be done, and trust me they expect a vehicle with fewer problems (and someone who will try and resolve issues) if they are going to be paying good money. Winning european builder of the year and 2 time limousine of the year will back this up. Done by popular vote, not some committee.

As far as warranty work, you can call me on my CELL phone anytime (but preferably between 9-6pm PST) at 213-507-5466. If you think my work is crappy, compairing apples to apples, I will take the Pepsi challenge with any other builder out there.

Thanks for the update and to Krystal for stepping up. Ray at ECB Orlando has saved our butt several times with phone advice on our ECBs- I wish they still made the Chrysler, though....

Before you purchase any vehicle ask the coachbuilder who will handle the warranty issues-including paint and body-in your local market. If the builder doesn't have anyone see if you can hook your people up. If you don't get a satisfactory answer-then don't buy from that builder.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Dean Schuler,

quote:

Originally posted by Nite2RememberLimo:
UPDATE: The repairs were done by Ray at Executive Coach Florida, Overall he did a good job. I still have issues with our KK33 Limo Bus but have not had time to deal with that yet. After I posted this everyone at Krystal was very helpful at addressing my issues, My only complaint is that I had to do this to get the ball rolling. Dow Brooks did follow through with his promise to take care of me and I appreciate that. Thank you Dow Brooks. Krystal does build a solid vehicle and they do try to take care of their customers for the most part. However, Edson Financial (Krystal's Finance Dept.) is a different story all together, this will be explained in another post.

Good to know. Dow, I'm in San Diego and I will do my part to spread the good word that you take care of your customers at Krystal.

UPDATE: The repairs were done by Ray at Executive Coach Florida, Overall he did a good job. I still have issues with our KK33 Limo Bus but have not had time to deal with that yet. After I posted this everyone at Krystal was very helpful at addressing my issues, My only complaint is that I had to do this to get the ball rolling. Dow Brooks did follow through with his promise to take care of me and I appreciate that. Thank you Dow Brooks. Krystal does build a solid vehicle and they do try to take care of their customers for the most part. However, Edson Financial (Krystal's Finance Dept.) is a different story all together, this will be explained in another post.

Please give us an update- I agree that this type of rust is egregious on a top of the line vehicle. I have only seen rust like that on used vehicles we bought from New England.Our cars are parked 50 feet from saltwater and there is NO rust on our 2000 Tiffany 120 Lincoln or our 2005 Craftsmen 140 Chrysler. Your estimate also seems reasonable- we paid $1500 for rust repair and repainting of one panel on our last 120 ECB from the snowy north.

Ask Krystal to find you a shop.

quote:

Originally posted by Nite2RememberLimo:
I would like opinions about a warranty issue with our 200" Krystal Hummer, We have rust and paint fading, This vehicle is a 2006 with 16K miles. We have been to every single bodyshop in our area and none of them want to deal with a vehicle of this size, The only place we have been able to find that will repair this is Executive Coach located in Orlando Fl 1 and 1/2 hours away. The estimate is around $2500.00 We faxed the estimate and emailed pics to Krystal and was told that the estimate was too high and denied. Now here is my question what the hell are we supposed to do keep waiting until a body shop agrees to what Krystal thinks is a fair price? This is Bullshit. I have attached pics.

With Dow Jones coming on the board to try and solve the problem, I quickly jot down some good customer service points mentally for Krystal. But when you look at the picture of the shoddy work and think why the problem wasn't taken care of all ready, you have to take customer serice points away. I would think that all of the other coachbuilders would be fighting to try and be the ones to fix this Krystal mess up. They could take all kinds of pictures and show everyone why not to buy from Krystal.

Krystal has always been considered one of the best. Either they are embarrassed from this quality control issue or they aren't. I'm gonna guess they take care of it. Otherwise the words gonna spread fast. That picture looks REAL BAD!

Guys guys,

Just say to these builders - just take 20% off the price..and keep your warranty? I've tried this. Doesn't work.

Krystal,

Thanks for your response, I will call you next week. I will keep you folks on the forum updated as well.

HeavenOnWheels,

If your question is "why doesnt Krystal ship the vehicle back to our California facility?" Here is the answer: We believe that this vehicle can easily be fixed properly and quickly at a location near the client. We spent some time chatting on the phone yesterday and are actively working on a solution. I believe Nite2Remember has a good comfort level with our current communication and his concerns will be handled to his satisfaction.

My personal mission here is to make sure Nite2Remember is posting how well he was taken care of over the next few weeks. I am confident that will be what you read next.

limobill: Bring your Coastal to my facility and I will gladly look at the damage with my staff and help you with it. Even though it is from another builder, you are a local operator with a problem and also seem like a guy that I should have a shot to win business with. I will give you an honest assesment. As I am sure you know, cracking bondo is quite a different story from surface rust coming from a seam that needs to be sealed and reworked. That said, give me a call and lets look it over. Dow Brooks

Patiently waiting for Krystal's response!

quote:

Originally posted by Digger:
BTW, looking at the supplied picture my guess is that either the top body seem above the windows was not sealed properly or the window seals were not installed correctly. This causes any water to go to the inside of the window, run down the inside of the body and attempt to exit through the seal. If you are seeing this much on the outside I'd hate to see what the inside of the body panel looks like. You can fix the body but if you don't fix the cause it will find a new way to surface. This MUST be a manufacturing goof, there is no way that this could have happened otherwise.

I'd say that if Krystal has a quality control department they need to fly someone over there to see where they goofed and make sure it doesn't happen anymore.

Digger you are exactly right if you don't fix was is causing the problem fixing the result is only a band aid. I think under the visable rust on Nite2's hummer you will find alot more damage. It has basicly rusted form the inside out. Some of the people on this form seem so shocked that Krystal isn't the limo gods they thought they were. Honestly, this no suprise to me what so ever. I've said before " all limos are hack jobs ".

How can Krystal be cutting corners when they CHARGE MORE THAN ANY OTHER BUILDER!?!?!

Fiberglass floors... now THAT is a joke !!

This thread is scaring me, what kind of cars do I have to look forward to in my future?

As for Chrysler, just the name alone says "problem" already. A good engine, drive-train and suspension = Lincoln... for now.

Talking about cutting corners !!??

We had an LCW 120" lincoln. What you probably dont know about LCW is that they build FIBERGLASS FLOORS . In our car the floor sagged on top of the driveshaft. UNBELIEVABLE.

I heard that the first few Chryslers they made had the same exact problems.

Never again we will get LCW cheaply made limos.

All of you with LCW cars - watch out - one day that floor pan will sag.

BTW, looking at the supplied picture my guess is that either the top body seem above the windows was not sealed properly or the window seals were not installed correctly. This causes any water to go to the inside of the window, run down the inside of the body and attempt to exit through the seal. If you are seeing this much on the outside I'd hate to see what the inside of the body panel looks like. You can fix the body but if you don't fix the cause it will find a new way to surface. This MUST be a manufacturing goof, there is no way that this could have happened otherwise.

I'd say that if Krystal has a quality control department they need to fly someone over there to see where they goofed and make sure it doesn't happen anymore.

All the old school limos are made tough. All the limos made these days are made quick and careless. Its all about quantity vs. quality now with every coachbuilder.

I have a friend that had 2 Krystal Hummers in Florida. On one of the 2007 Krystal hummers he had to change the ALTERNATOR 12 TIMES.

That was a shocker for me.

ECB hummer alternator had to be changed 6 times by another friend of mine in FL.

Coachbuilders dont really care anymore about quality. I remember how the old 1995 lincolns used to run. I loved it. Things did not fall apart that easy.