NOT Cool, Titan Motorsports!

Just watched a special report on a Titan Motorsports' employee taking a customer's  Audi S4 out for a test-drive, made an illegal u-turn, and crashed into another vehicle! 

 Titan is saying that they will not pay for the damages, stating that Titan's released from any responsibility per their contract-a contract all customers are required to sign. 

 They point to a specific line, "Titan Motorsports is not responsible for any damages to persons and/or property while under the care of authorized employees". The defense lawyer pointed out that it cannot cover for negligence (illegal u-turn). I think Titan's screwed, and they should be! How do you not cover for an F-up like that?

I know they've got the money- they were one of the first into Dubai.  If they wanted to, they could ask someone over there to give up their completely kitted-out Audi S6 (upgrade!) that their sixteen y.o. kid got sick of (cause it ain't no Huracan) and is just sitting in the corner collecting dust-LOTS of dust!

Right, or wrong-what say you?

When your employee does something stupid - not to mention illegal - and destroys your customer's property, there should only be one response:  Stand up on your hind legs, take responsibilty, and make it right.

The stories I've heard of and read about like this over the years are just plain scary.  There are so many reputable companies that have done so many bad things with customer cars including GT series Porsches and Z06 Corvettes.  I don't want to name companies, but if you search a little you'd be surprised.

I have had a terrible experience getting my turbo sc300 tuned at titan motorsports. First they gave me one dyno tuning session and charged me for two with no explanation. When I picked up the car it was pouring rain. They disconnected the abs fuse and removed the battery tie down. I spun out in Orlando traffic but recovered the spin but the battery shot out into the radiator fan. On the ride home the fan blades cut into the battery and flicked battery acid all over my freshly painted engine Bay and valve cover. Destroyed the new paint and all exposed greddy belts. They replaced the belts with generic cheap ones. That's it. 

They're the worst.

Speed is easy to buy...Sadly, the same cannot be said of class.

“Have character, don’t be one”.

”Character Counts”.

They forgot the basic lessons from their Dad. 

I interviewed with them once. Thought it would be fun to work in a speed shop. Showed up on time. No one had any idea why I was there. Had filled out application and resume Cvv online. Nothing. Wanted me to fill out PAPER application WHILE being interviewed. Interview was like 30min long. Talked about cars I've owned, what I have now, etc. Went over job functions. They ask me if I know cars. Really dude? Come on now, I just told you about a TOYOTA engine swap I'm putting together. Did not get a call back. 

Shop was super neat and they had their drag car in the lobby,  but I'm not really upset I am not employed by them. 

Ya'll think YOU have stories about them?!!! 

 I wanna tell SOOO BAAAAD, but I can't ! Suffice it to say, I've, um, "dealt" with them since before they started showing up with their Supra drag car in those B.F. Goodrich ads! Yeah, kinda wonder how they got hooked up in those ads in the first place....hum...LOL! 

I had to look up who titan motorsports are. This is what shops have insurance for. I once flipped over a customer's Jeep due to a mechanical issue. Shop insurance paid for it. Sounds like the only hold up here is 'an actual bad person'. The existence of said people does not surprise me, especially at the 1%er end of the hobby where a single car build could have solved a food shortage in a small 3rd world country. 

I could tell by their website I had no desire to do business with them.

Very early-90s/street import/NOPI feel. And they aren't exactly beating anyone on price. 

Vigo said:

I had to look up who titan motorsports are. This is what shops have insurance for.

That insurance is why I have to have a perfectly clean driving record.  It's one thing for personal liability, it's another if it is someone else's car that is worth more than your house...

2GRX7 said:

Ya'll think YOU have stories about them?!!! 

 I wanna tell SOOO BAAAAD, but I can't ! Suffice it to say, I've, um, "dealt" with them since before they started showing up with their Supra drag car in those B.F. Goodrich ads! Yeah, kinda wonder how they got hooked up in those ads in the first place....hum...LOL! 

 

Can't wait to hear the story of Nitrous Fogger the Third

1. If the car is properly parked and locked in their parking lot and some random idiot backs into it or someone tosses a brick into the windshield at night you’re stuck claiming it on your insurance- I kinda get that.  

2. If an employee makes a mistake and damages the car the company is stuck claiming it.  Recently a yellow Honda S2000 fell off a lift - is the shop not going to cover damages?   

Is it worth all the negative publicity this company is getting?   The owner needs to read the definition of “man up”.   

S2000

Supposedly it’s pretty common with them and most can’t afford to carry through with a lawsuit. At some point they’ll screw the wrong person. 

In reply to GameboyRMH :

I’m still waiting to hear any story pertaining to the mythical even legendary nitrous fogger.....  I feel as though I’ve missed something funny.

AnthonyGS said:

In reply to GameboyRMH :

I’m still waiting to hear any story pertaining to the mythical even legendary nitrous fogger.....  I feel as though I’ve missed something funny.

Looks like my reply to your PM somehow got lost then...PM me again perhaps?

Or email me directly at my username at gmail.

Any decent lawyer will feed them their "release of liability" with a side of legal fees and punitive damages.  If an employer could get out of liability by writing "I'm not liable" on a cocktail napkin and swinging a dead chicken over their head three times, no one would ever be liable for anything.  Sadly, the customer/victim will probably have to spend money up front to make this happen. 

z31maniac said:

...and they aren't exactly beating anyone on price. 

Of course not... That's where the money to buy their speed comes from. The more they can overcharge to be associated with their name, the faster their personal/'shop' cars will be.

The fact that their insurance should​ cover this makes me wonder if they might have even done something like cheap out by using that 'wavier' rather than being sufficiently/properly covered.

I hate this but it is why I carry insurance for my things.  If my car falls off a lift in a shop I want my insurance to cover it and then go after the shop.  Really just so I can get on with my life.  Do people really own extremely high dollar cars with out insurance?  That just does not seem very smart.    

Shops have insurance, right up until the insurance company says all techs must have clean driving records. I bet lots of 'tuner' companies can't pay the insurance for the driving records of their employees (or, ahem, owners). 

GameboyRMH said:

AnthonyGS said:

In reply to GameboyRMH :

I’m still waiting to hear any story pertaining to the mythical even legendary nitrous fogger.....  I feel as though I’ve missed something funny.

Looks like my reply to your PM somehow got lost then...PM me again perhaps?

Or email me directly at my username at gmail.

Yes! More please? In a "fog" on that one, too! PM'ed

The employer has vicarious liability for employees actions while they are in the course and scope of their duties.  Then the employee was grossly negligent in making an illegal turn.   So the employer AND the employee both have responsibility for this.     Unfortunately if your insurance has to pick up the damages they probably won't go and try to collect from the employer and employee, just raise your rates.  If death or injuries of 3rd parties were involved this would be different because its worth it for every injured party to fight it.     And think about the further implicates.  If the errant employee killed himself while making an illegal turn with your car is it Titan's position that its your problem?    I don't think his survivors lawyer would hunt that dog for long.

For a high dollar car they absolutely would go after the other company’s insurance. Also if it is not your fault how can they rais your insurance?  MA has the point system. No fault of yours then no points and no rate change. In states that don’t have the regulation that we have I can see it being different. Some company’s offer discounts for no claims looking back over some set number of years but those discounts are minuscule compared to the rate increases they can charge to people with points on there record. 

Looks like the lawsuit is in motion.  The other driver hit by titans mechanic has injuries as well.  

Robbie said:

Shops have insurance, right up until the insurance company says all techs must have clean driving records. I bet lots of 'tuner' companies can't pay the insurance for the driving records of their employees (or, ahem, owners). 

From what I have been brought to understand, a lot of "tuner" shops pay barely over minimum wage.

If they paid better and made it explicit that if you get any points on your license, you're not allowed to even move customer cars in the parking lot... well, they'd either get higher turnover, or employees that gave a damn.  Maybe both.  But just imagine if a tuner shop advertised that all of their employees had clean driving records... wouldn't that make spending a little more money with them look attractive?