No problem, thats what I-Club is all about!

 

Okay, I got the car back today, and the service advisor lady tells me that I need a number of repairs, including a new transmission (!!!). She added that this isn't related to the car being towed with two wheels on the ground.

This is freaking me out because the car only has 53000~ miles on it, and I had no problems with the transmission before the car was towed. Does what she's saying make sense to anyone?

What are my options now? I figure I'll still just take the towing company to court, but how can I prove that the broken transmission is their fault?

I feel like everyone thinks I have Munchauser's syndrome or something, but I _know_ there's something wrong. I can feel it, but the car's making me look like a liar.

 

All you can claim the towing company damaged was the transmission, but it's pretty simple to get that in court. The rest is warranty stuff.

 

I know, everything except for the transmission is likely related to me hitting the curb/neglect. Since those were my fault, I'm paying for those myself, but the tranny was fine before the car was towed. I don't think I should have to pay for it if I didn't break it.

At any rate, it looks like I'll be taking this to court. Again, thanks for the info.

 

I worried that you probably won't be able to prove that the transmission was damaged by the tow truck company. Court fees are expensive and I don't want you spending a lot of money on court fees (that would equal the cost of a new trans) and then end up losing the case. I would get an estimate on a new transmission. Then I would talk with a lawyer to see if you even have a case.

 

When I spoke with the service advisor, she said it was around $4,000 for a new transmission. As for the lawyer thing, that might be tough, but I'll see if I can't finesse myself a favor off my aunt.

That's a better plan of action than the one I came up with... I was just going to go to the towing company and show them the owner's manual and tell them the guy towed it wrong and take them to small claims if they wouldn't pay.

 

Definitely go straight to the towing company management. Even if they are entirely unreceptive to your claim, it's the right thing to do before just going to court.

 

Try and threaten the tow truck company with a lawsuit. You never know what might happen. $4000, seems a little high. I would go to a couple other places to get quotes. I think that its about $2500 for manual, maybe its different for an automatic. Good luck and keep us posted!

 

No, don't "threaten" them. Go in, get to a manager or other decision maker, and explain the situation. Tell them the damage to your transmission (not your car; mention that you know that the body and axle damage is your fault) is the direct fault of the operators negligence and you'd like them to repair the damage. I absolutely guarantee that you will be no less successful with this approach than by marching in with guns blazing and making demands.

 

But, by the way the tow truck driver acted when he towed the truck, I don't know if they would understand a peaceful approach. Maybe what I should have said was, go in there and ask politely to fix the transmission and if they refuse, be ready to threaten them. Thats probably better. Disregard my above post and listen to this one. Thanks for the suggestion Ban Suv!

 

Tow truck drivers in general aren't the brightest bulbs in the box, but running a business is running a business, so I'd give the owners/management the benefit of the doubt initially.

 

True. Good idea!

 

Okay, went to the towing company today with my dad and the manager heard our story and told us that they'd send a flatbed tomorrow to pick up the car and take it to their tranny shop.

 

Excellent!

 

I was just talking to someone at the dealership about this....I noticed the outback has a huge AWD sticker on it. The wrx's have a small one.

I was just like...I understand how tow truck drivers still don't know how to tow subaru's...they are ALL awd. It shouldn't be a surprise. If I ever need a tow I will specify flat bed when I call. I have never had my car towed by a regular tow truck..not even my civic. I would always ask for a flatbed..they'd say why..I'd just say...it's too low for a regular one...

All I know is nobody is towing my car with any wheels down if I am aware it is being towed.