STolen ST... conclusion

[STnAV8R]

To refresh your memories... my '04 ST1300ABS was at the dealer for a coolant leak (water pump they said). While it was there someone broke into the place and rode off on my bike. The cops found it in a ditch about 25 miles away.

The dealer (Engelharts in Madison, WI) at first told me they would fix it up. I told them I wanted to trade it for a new one. So they got me a check from their insurance company for $5415.61, and told me they would buy my bike "as is" for $7000, then get me a new '06 at "dealer invoice" and I could apply the $7000 as a trade on it.

This means I got $12,415 for my '04, which had 6800 miles on it. I paid $12,713 for it brand new including $369 frt & setup and $59 doc fee.

This week they finally got the '06 pricing from Honda ($15,099 MSRP, same as '05 pricing). Dealer invoice is $12,984 he said. I'm getting the new '06 ABS for that price, including frt & set up. License, title, sales tax are extra. Adding up everything, my net out of pocket cost on the whole deal will be $1,035.

The bike is due in the 2nd week of Feb.

I think they treated me very fairly in this situation and I would not hesitate to recommend this dealership.

[STeve1300]

Great!!! Now join us on some of the Midwest RTEs!

[BeBeep]

I am so happy that it has worked out so well for you. For a change the dealer did the right thing and you will walk away a happy customer. Wouldn't it be great if it always worked that way?

In the meanwhile start collecting the cleaning supplies as the black will need ALOT of TLC to keep it looking great. I owned a black truck for 3 years and for the 20 minutes after it was clean it looked awesome but it took hours to get it that way. As soon as I drove it down the street it needed cleaned again.

It was the price I decided to pay and also a lesson learned. Enjoy the new ride.

[John Anthony]

Thanks for the update. Nice to see a righteous dealership. Can't think of a better way to build customer loyalty and these guys just got advertising they can't buy at any price.

John

[kingprawnokay]

You must be very excited!

Not to take away from your triumph over evil (thieves and insurance companies), but I have a couple of questions about the cost. What does license and title cost in Wisconsin? It appears that you are receiving a tax credit based on the awarded value of the trade-in (only paying tax on about $550). I sold Honda and Toyota cars in Washington for a few years and your out of pocket cost seems a little high to me. Title and license must be expensive in Wisconsin.

[nm6r]

Glad to hear things worked out well for you and you'll be ready to rack up some miles before spring hits.

Ray
http://www.frontiernet.net/~st1300rider/smile04Bikerwheelie.gif

[STnAV8R]

Great!!! Now join us on some of the Midwest RTEs!

Sounds good. I assume that's a "ride" but to someone who don't know all the lingo yet, what's RTE stand for?

[STnAV8R]

In the meanwhile start collecting the cleaning supplies as the black will need ALOT of TLC to keep it looking great. I owned a black truck for 3 years and for the 20 minutes after it was clean it looked awesome but it took hours to get it that way. As soon as I drove it down the street it needed cleaned again.

It was the price I decided to pay and also a lesson learned. Enjoy the new ride.

I agree, black would not be my first choice but as you know there IS no choice. If I had a choice it would be a light color like the '03 ST which is very similar to my platinum colored GMC pickup. Hides a lot of dirt.

[STnAV8R]

You must be very excited!

Not to take away from your triumph over evil (thieves and insurance companies), but I have a couple of questions about the cost. What does license and title cost in Wisconsin? It appears that you are receiving a tax credit based on the awarded value of the trade-in (only paying tax on about $550). I sold Honda and Toyota cars in Washington for a few years and your out of pocket cost seems a little high to me. Title and license must be expensive in Wisconsin.

12984 Sell price
-7000 trade
+ 69 doc fee
___________
6953
+ 332.92 5.5% sales tax
+ 64.50 license transfer from old bike
____________
6450.42 Due on closing
-5415.61 Insurance pmt (already received)
_____________
1034.81 Net due out of pocket

[BeBeep]

I agree, black would not be my first choice but as you know there IS no choice. If I had a choice it would be a light color like the '03 ST which is very similar to my platinum colored GMC pickup. Hides a lot of dirt.

Like Henry Ford said, "You can have any color as long as it is black". :)

[nm6r]

12984 Sell price
-7000 trade
+ 69 doc fee
___________
6953
+ 332.92 5.5% sales tax
+ 64.50 license transfer from old bike
____________
6450.42 Due on closing
-5415.61 Insurance pmt (already received)
_____________
1034.81 Net due out of pocket


12984 Sell price
-7000 trade
+ 69 doc fee
___________
6053
+ 332.92 5.5% sales tax
+ 64.50 license transfer from old bike
____________
6450.42 Due on closing
-5415.61 Insurance pmt (already received)
_____________
1034.81 Net due out of pocket


Ray
http://www.frontiernet.net/~st1300rider/smile04Bikerwheelie.gif

[STnAV8R]

12984 Sell price
-7000 trade
+ 69 doc fee
___________
6053
+ 332.92 5.5% sales tax
+ 64.50 license transfer from old bike
____________
6450.42 Due on closing
-5415.61 Insurance pmt (already received)
_____________
1034.81 Net due out of pocket


Ray
http://www.frontiernet.net/~st1300rider/smile04Bikerwheelie.gif

Yeah, I caught that after I posted it but didn't think anyone would notice. As an engineer I can add ok most of the time, but it don't mean I can type!!

[Mike]

Very Nice! Sure went through a lot of trouble to get that Black ST:D

[joeca43]

Personally I think this is what being a dealership is all about , being fair and reasonable to the consumer. This cost the dealer very little to live by what our fathers would have come to expect. In this day and age it has become few and far between to find honesty and integrity in dealing with dealerships, motorcycle , auto or any other ,especially those who deal in volume.
I ask only one thing of you, let the dealer know how much we all appreciate his handling of this situation which you have found yourself part of.
This is a great story to wind the weekend down with.
Thank you,:)
Joe

[bobcj0]

Happy,happy,happy for you! Do you think they might have more brake In's if so I would love to take my bike to them! Again I am glad all worked out:D :03biker:


Bob

[kingprawnokay]

Thanks. It makes sense to me now. Just wanted to make sure there weren't hidden added costs.

[Mark]

Excellent news!
Congratulations,
Mark

[CrashTestDanny]

Yeah, I caught that after I posted it but didn't think anyone would notice. As an engineer I can add ok most of the time, but it don't mean I can type!!

My engineering degree came with a calculator for difficult things like "MATH"... :D

[Putt]

I bet its a lot of fun to drive that train..... :)

Putt...

My engineering degree came with a calculator for difficult things like "MATH"... :D

[STnAV8R]

Personally I think this is what being a dealership is all about , being fair and reasonable to the consumer. This cost the dealer very little to live by what our fathers would have come to expect. In this day and age it has become few and far between to find honesty and integrity in dealing with dealerships, motorcycle , auto or any other ,especially those who deal in volume.
I ask only one thing of you, let the dealer know how much we all appreciate his handling of this situation which you have found yourself part of.
This is a great story to wind the weekend down with.
Thank you,:)
Joe

Yes, I did tell him I appreciate him doing the right thing, that I feared problems and with some dealers perhaps I may have had some.

[STnAV8R]

Dealer called and said they got the crate in. They will put it together and I'll go do the paperwork tomorrow, but may leave it there til the salt is washed off the roads.

[Medicine Bear]

Sometimes it's not whether you're skeptical or not. It's whether you're skeptical enough!

Fred :03biker:

[STnAV8R]

Yeah but... since demand for the black is so hot I don't want them to be tempted to sell it to someone else!

[Jefro]

Just bring it home and park it in the family room.
Then you can add accessories to it over the winter in a nice warm home.
And if the SO objects, just say "why not, it don't leak oil!"

[Medicine Bear]

Only if you dry it in the bedroom...

Fred :03biker:

[videolester]

I like Happy Endings!

[STnAV8R]

Well the dealer got the new '06 in a couple months ago but due to winter (for you southern boys and girls, winter up here = cold and snow) I told them to leave it in the crate til I was ready for it. After a couple days of rain to wash the salt off the roads it was near 60F yesterday so I went and got it. My new Russell seats came 2 days before that so I took them along. Today I changed the oil (54 mi on odometer), filter, and rear case lube, installed the handlebar riser, and went for a 100 mile ride in balmy 64 degrees. The seat is much more comfortable than the OEM seat. It's a bit firm but will break in and become even more comfortable I'm sure.

Differences between the 06 and 04...

[INDENT]The filter came off easy on the 06. It was real tight on the 04.

[INDENT]No tool kit with the 06. I checked for it when I picked it up and saw a pouch in the side case. At home I noticed all it had inside was one allen wrench. Looked under the seat, no tools. Went back to the dealer today and told them the tool kit was missing. He checked the other 06 in the showroom and that one had no tools either. He asked the assembly guy and he said Honda no longer includes tool kits with any bikes as of 06. So the sales guy offered to give me the kit out of my 04 (now theirs).

The dealer (Engelhart in Madison, WI) also did another unexpected good deed. They offered to have my blue topcase painted to match the 06, but when the painter told them there was too much stuff to mask and it would not turn out well, the dealer offered to take the 04 box and just buy me a new 06 box, which arrived yesterday. I ordered it with my charge card and they gave me a check when I picked the bike up. Can't say enough about how they have treated me in this whole unfortunate affair.

[John Anthony]

I love businesses that do right by their customers. You hear too many stories that go the other way. Glad your situation turned out well.

John

[805gregg]

Now find someone to paint it blue again.

[nm6r]

Now find someone to paint it blue again.


:crackup

Ray
http://www.frontiernet.net/~st1300rider/smile04Bikerwheelie.gif

[ajaugust]

Hope you take your new ride to Moonshine... You are going to Moonshine, right??

[Fireball18]

Sounds like a great dealer, to me. You are indeed fortunate. Ride on!!:capwin: :amflag:

[ligito]

Is it bad when you wash your ST in the bathtub? :D

You got a bathtub?:crackup


Glad to hear the bike situation was handled fairly.