Buyavette® in Atlanta, Georgia offers industry-leading service, repair, and parts for all Corvettes, as well as all GM cars and trucks. Our skilled technicians know how to treat your vehicle right, and fix it right the first time. From routine service and maintenance to completing restoration projects that you just don't have time for, we Buyavette® in Atlanta, Georgia offers industry-leading service, repair, and parts for all Corvettes, as well as all GM cars and trucks. Our skilled technicians know how to treat your vehicle right, and fix it right the first time. From routine service and maintenance to completing restoration projects that you just don't have time for, we can handle just about anything with our knowledgeable employees and vast parts resources. We are also a Chevrolet Performance Authorized Dealer and Service Center. ...more
"Mr. Rush,
My name is Carl Hughes, I live in North Central Pa and I bought the corvette referenced above in February; it was delivered on February 25th. This week, my wife played me the podcast you did with Vettes of Atlanta Magazine, I believe it was on March 28th. After listening to it I thought I would send you an email and tell you about my experience. When we received the car, I can’t explain my excitement; the following weekend the weather was nice so I decided to take my wife out to dinner to celebrate. It was a great day, the round trip was a little over 60 miles; on the trip my wife made a comment about smelling gas, I told her the tune in the car was probably just a little rich. The next nice day was March 19th, I was going to surprise our grandson, pick him up and go for a ride as he absolutely loves corvettes; that didn’t happen. When I went out and started the car, it ran for less than a minute and quit; when I tried to start it again, it would not start. There was a strong smell of gas and I noticed some dripping from under the car. When I opened the hood, I could see it was dripping from the air intake tube; when I loosened the clamp, gas mixed with oil went everywhere. When I checked the dry sump tank, it was also full of fuel.
That night, March 19th, I was pretty devastated and sent Chris Bennett an email letting him know what had happened and also asked about the paperwork. He responded that same night, at 12:41 a.m., letting me know he was sorry and wouldn’t be in on Monday; he told me to call and talk to Sammy. The next day, I called to speak to Sammy and he was not in; the gentleman I spoke with said the best way to get ahold of him was via email and provided me with the service email address. After the phone call, I sent Sammy an email (March 20th) copying Chris, asking him to give me a call; to this day I have never received a phone call or email from Sammy. I followed up with Chris letting him know I was unable to get in touch with Sammy, he told me he would be calling his GM that afternoon and would reach out afterwards.
On March 23rd, I emailed Chris and told him I was disappointed that I hadn’t heard back from anyone. To also find out the paperwork for the car was still sitting on someone’s desk only added to the disappointment. I don’t remember the name of the gentleman I spoke with about the paperwork; he told me he was going to get a company, I believe in SC, to take care of it because they were better at dealing with Pennsylvania. Chris responded to my email, stating he was sorry I hadn’t heard back from anyone and would be forwarding my email to his manager. When I hadn’t heard back from anyone, I contacted Edelbrock to see if they might have any idea what could have caused the gas issue. They were absolutely amazing and told me it was likely the hpfp, made sense as there is no way that much fuel could get past the pistons. When I was able to get the pump taken off, it was immediately obvious it was the fuel pump; I sent a picture of this to Chris on March 23rd.
Jack Stanford called me that day and we had a good conversation, he was going to look into getting a new lt4 hpfp. Later that day he called me back to let me know he wasn’t having any luck finding a fuel pump in stock and sent me an article on checking clearances for hpfp’s. I responded thanking him and asking him, if possible, I needed additional parts to get everything back together; I sent him the list of parts and a hpfp I had found that was compatible. We exchanged a few more emails and I believe a phone call the next day (March 24th); in the last email, he had a question on one of the fuel lines so I sent him my email correspondence with Edelbrock.
After the 24th, I hadn’t heard from anyone for a week so I sent an email to Jack on April 2nd asking for an update. When I didn’t hear back by April 5th, I sent Chris and Jack an email asking for an update on the fuel pump and paperwork; I never got a response. Unbeknownst to me my son called Buyavette on April 6th and spoke with Chris, Chris informed him Jack was out of town and he would try to get ahold of him; unfortunately, he also overheard other conversations regarding my corvette. On April 11th I received an email from Jack informing me he had been unable to locate an LT1 or LT4 pump in stock, but had ordered an LT1 pump and didn't have an eta. He did say if I found one in stock to let him know and he would order it; he also asked if I had received the other items from RockAuto. I didn't see Jack's email until the following day, April 12th; after which I responded letting him know I hadn't heard back from anyone since March 24th, so I ordered the parts from RockAuto along with a bypass valve from Edelbrock, that was also bad, and had received everything. I also let him know I had ordered an LT4 pump from Jegs (this remains on backorder). I asked again about the paperwork, as I had not heard anything. I didn't hear anything until this Tuesday, April 18th when Jack called and told me he had received an LT1 pump and had an LT4 on order. During our discussion, I told him, after talking with Edelbrock and the original LT1 pump failing, I was somewhat apprehensive to put another LT1 pump on and would like to wait on an LT4. We agreed to let each other know if either of us received the pump, I also asked him about the paperwork; he told me he would have to talk to a different department about that and would get back to me. I didn't hear back from Jack; however, I did get a call the next day from Todd Willard. To my surprise the paperwork was still at Buyavette, 7 plus weeks since the purchase. He told me several reasons why it had not been sent...I did voice my frustration to him.
When I was speaking with Jack on March 23rd, he asked me if he got me a new fuel pump would I be happy; I believe my exact words where, I would be the happiest guy in Pennsylvania. As much as I appreciate the willingness to get me a new fuel pump, and I do appreciate it, and I also understand there is nothing any of us can do about parts being on national backorder. However, I feel a new fuel pump is a pretty easy out, I am also not ignorant to what is in the paperwork I signed. After all the research I did into Buyavette and buying a corvette from you, I never thought this to be an issue. To put it plainly, I had no reservations purchasing a vehicle from Buyavette; quite the opposite, I was confident I would be getting the best possible, quality corvette, not so sure I hold that same opinion as of today.
In my life I have always tried to do what is right and I was certain Buyavette operated on this same principle. What I heard in the podcast made me believe this to be the case; yet as I listened to it, I struggle understanding how the car I paid over $68k for, only ran a little over 60 miles and how the assistance I received from Buyavette to date has been; we will get you a new fuel pump. How does a car that is selected so carefully, “the best” and gone through a 300-point inspection only run a little over 60 miles and how is the bypass valve on a supercharged motor not part of the 300-point inspection (makes me think of the cigarette lighter). I like to think I am pretty understanding and I also try to avoid conflict, mostly to my own detriment (like being happy with just a new fuel pump). It has taken me a while to write you this email.
All I want is to have the car I worked so hard my entire life to buy; to be the car I fell in love with and bought. I am the guy you talk about in the podcast, owning a corvette has been a dream and honestly a dream I believed unachievable; now it feels like that dream I worked so hard for, and achieved, has turned into a nightmare. What makes all of this worse is my fear regarding the bearings and other motor internals, as the motor was completely flooded with fuel from the top down. What happens when everything is put back together, only to find out the bearings have been washed out or something even worse.
As an ex-marine and more so, as the man I am, I have always prided myself on my fortitude; however, the mental toll this has taken on me has been immense, to the point of affecting my mental and physical wellness.
Again, after hearing the podcast, I felt it important to let you know what my experience, to date, has been with Buyavette and I am in hopes you will help me get the car of my dreams back to the car I fell in love with. I believe at a minimum the motor should be gone through by someone who is a lot better versed in corvettes motors than me to make sure there are no unseen issues resulting from the fuel pump failing.
I appreciate you taking the time to read this and for any help you are able to provide.
Sincerely,
Carl Hughes