Automotive Forums

I just bought a brand new 2008 Mazda Speed3 with all the bells and whistles including navigation/satellite radio package. I paid MSRP $26,690.  

The closest Speed3 certified dealer I could find did not have a Speed3 on the lot with navigation/satellite radio package and offered to look around to see what he could find at another lot.  He called me back and said he found one in black about 40 miles away and offered to personally drive it back himself, which I agreed to.  I probably should have asked to go with him.  The day I was scheduled to pick up the car the dealer said the car was in the shop getting detailed and looked over thoroughly once last time.  

I ended up driving the car home Monday night at 9pm, parked it overnight in my driveway and drove to work the following morning. At lunch time a co-worker opened the passenger side door and was surprised by a large amount of ants all up and down the door hinge area and under the weather strip that surrounds the door.  We swept out all we could see including eggs and all. It looks as if the ants lifted up the weather strip on the corner. I was pretty upset since I just bought the car and paid a premium.  I immediately called the dealer and he made an appointment for me to come in on Friday so they can rid the car of ants. I snapped the following photo below a day after I cleaned the ants that I initially found.  On Friday afternoon the dealer told me the ants are gone and I can come pick up the car. I drove home and immediately looked in the same spot and found more ants.  Of course this was right before Memorial Day weekend when the dealer will be closed.  I am thinking about asking for a different car, but I am not sure if they will try to give me a hard time or not.   I was told the ants will probably die in the winter anyway, but do I want to wait all summer with ants in my new car? I came here to see if there was any way to rid my car of ants without damaging it in any way.  I would like to know how the heck they missed the ants during the hour long detailing job.  Does anyone think I should demand a new car?

My New Car
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jesmith054/2512556280/sizes/l/in/photostream/

Ants!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jesmith054/2512560848/sizes/l/in/photostream/  

I'd demand that they get rid of the ants ASAP and hold them liable for any damage done to the car. Make sure you get plenty of before and after pictures! Probably should have snapped a few pictures before you cleaned out the eggs. That's pretty disgusting. Make sure you get the name of the other lot that your dealer got the car from and note any other problems with any premiums that you paid for. You paid good money for your car, you should be happy with it!

Also, to make sure that you aren't held liable, make sure that the ants didn't come from YOUR house (it's not likely that many ants and their eggs came from your place, but just make sure you document everything). If you do have ants around your place, take pictures to see if they can be identified as a different species.  

http://10minutecardeal.blogspot.com/  

This is when you wish you had someone in your corner....
We make car dealers compete for your business!!!
www.yourcarneg.com  

Maybe this is a dumb question, but...is there a reason why you just didn't close the car in the garage and set off a "bomb" or deal with the ants in some other way?

If the dealer can't get rid of the ants, call in Terminex and send the bill to the dealer!  
PurplePT
http://www.car-accident-advice.com
http://www.survival-homestead.com

Wow...this is the 1st time of hearing something odd like this. I hope you got rid of them...LOL on the Terminex idea!  

Get rid of the ants? Why in the world would you do that? In Tallahassee, FL, fire ants are a dealer installed option. I hate paying extra for pinstripes or undercoating, but the ant option is well worth the extra scratch. You got a great deal by only paying full retail and getting the ants thrown in at no charge.