Well known car accessories shop stuffed my ST into a sign

[BlackLabel]

sebhaque said:

If he can't even start a car properly, what makes you think he can perform skilled paintwork repairs?

+1

[TimewarpUK]

Thanks for the advice. I was initially shocked rather than angry, and I could see he was visibly shaken by the experience, otherwise I wouldn't have even considered his offer.

Thinking about it with a clear head today - taking him up makes no sense whatsoever, so I've called and they're putting it through their insurance to ensure it is sorted professionally. I did give him a call as a courtesy too rather than dropping him in it with his bosses first.

[RicksAlfas]

For all the people who park in neutral, be careful with cars with rear disks especially if they have electric parking brakes. As the rear disks cool down, the handbrake loosens and away the car rolls. We've "lost" a couple of cars at work because of this, and in the Passat handbook (I think it's the Passat) it does advise leaving the car in gear when parked.

[WCZ]

BlackLabel said:

+1

+2

[R8Steve]

I despair at the amount of posters in here implying that this is somehow the OP's fault

[boz1]

4737 Carlin said:

I'm shocked at how many PHers believe it's bad practice to leave a car in gear.

In a community of rational people with a reasonable knowledge of operating vehicles who did not go out of their way to start arguments, I would be shocked. I'm not shocked.

[rb5er]

V8covin said:

rb5er said:

Leaving cars in gear is a bit silly unless you are on a hill.

No it's not.
Were you not taught to check it's in neutral before you try to start ? That's how I was taught.Maybe they teach differently these days.

They "teach" a lot of ridiculous things whilst training for a driving test. Still do the dvla steering wheel shuffle do you? Didn't think so. Still wave you head around to accentuate checking mirrors etc do you? Oh you don't do that either?

They also don't "teach" many things that should be taught like motorway driving.

Edited by rb5er on Monday 30th November 18:07

[TooMany2cvs]

R8Steve said:

I despair at the amount of posters in here implying that this is somehow the OP's fault

<re-reads thread>
Nope, didn't think I'd seen any. Checking back, I still can't see even one.

[ferrariF50lover]

TooMany2cvs said:

<re-reads thread>
Nope, didn't think I'd seen any. Checking back, I still can't see even one.

Playing fast and loose with the concept of 'reading'.

Cooper s said:

All I can think is poor halfords chap. Don't be a prat and let someone else drive your car especially if you've left it in gear?

[TooMany2cvs]

ferrariF50lover said:

TooMany2cvs said:

<re-reads thread>
Nope, didn't think I'd seen any. Checking back, I still can't see even one.

Playing fast and loose with the concept of 'reading'.

Cooper s said:

All I can think is poor halfords chap. Don't be a prat and let someone else drive your car especially if you've left it in gear?

It's certainly fast and loose with the concept of "blaming the OP".

[RedAlfa]

A few years back, I left my car parked (legally) on a street, with the car in 1st gear. The following day, I returned to my car, only to find that SOME fkING TOSSPIECES had attempted to drag my car into the middle of the road! There were greasy hand prints under the rear wheel-arches, and they had moved the rear of the car towards the centre of the road .... the front end stayed put, thanks to the car being in gear .

[BrabusMog]

If I am getting in a manual car to drive it, I always, ALWAYS, wiggle the gear nob to feel if it's in gear, regardless of if it looks like it is or not. And I always start the engine with clutch depressed and don't release it until I am driving. I feel bad for the lad as he's probably made an honest mistake that he'll never make again, but he really should be checking the car is in neutral if he's leaving the engine running...

Edit - the reason I do this is because I lunched my dads old E36 M3 into the back of another car in a car park many years ago. He was not impressed, to say the least!

Edited by BrabusMog on Monday 30th November 18:42

[TooMany2cvs]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

I bet she wasn't really. She probably has a strong memory of it, but that'll have been reinforced over years of swearing blind that's what she was told (but actually misunderstood at the time).

[GroundEffect]

Start your car with the clutch depressed and check it's in gear. Simple as that.

[Hungrymc]

I suspect the chap wasn't meant to drive customers cars. Anyone driving different cars regularly would never do this.

[ruggedscotty]

Get this reported to the company and get it sorted out - its not your issue and the company has to take responsibility. He was acting in their capacity....

Its not about getting him in trouble its about getting it sorted and properly. His repair would not be to the same standards.

I had issues myself many years go with Halfords - they changed a cambelt that broke and they tried to do everything they could to avoid paying for the damages....

So no back steps proper repair please

[TimewarpUK]

Hungrymc said:

I suspect the chap wasn't meant to drive customers cars. Anyone driving different cars regularly would never do this.

His manager was at a loss to even why he got in the car in the first place rather than getting me to start it.

[Leptons]

TimewarpUK said:

His manager was at a loss to even why he got in the car in the first place rather than getting me to start it.

Most probably 'Because ST'.