Car ragged round dealer forecourt by mechanic
Discussion
Hey guys,
Looking for a little advice - put my car into the main dealer this morning, have had a knocking coming from the front left for a little while and decided to get it checked out as it had become a little worse which turned out to be the lower ball joint and arm £200+ of work
Im a regular customer at the garage so dropped the car off worry free with the usual chit chat then left.
My girlfriend wanted to have a look at the new Ka's so we went next door to the showroom, had a test drive and sat down to discuss figures at which point my car appeared with a young chap at the wheel leaving the forecourt rather quickly without a seatbelt on, didn't think too much of it. 15 minutes or so later when leaving the showroom my car appears drives back into the forecourt. I heard it before I seen it, from the sound of it the guy was knocking it into neutral and revving it, he turned back around and joined the main road once again, loading up the revs and engaging the clutch sharply - jumping out in front of a car. He once again entered the forecourt but not before a 400-500 metre blast in first gear.
This pissed me off as the car is there in the first place as a *damaged* car to be repaired with a worsening fault. I've always trusted this garage with cars I've had - being a student paying full on main dealer prices is not easy but has always been worth it for me (or so I thought) as I've found the car can sometimes encourage this sort of behaviour, being an ST with full milltek exhaust, coil overs etc.. but I did not expect it from a main dealer. Also if I witnessed this behaviour just outside the garage Im presuming the test drive wasn't exactly easy going.
How should I deal with this?
Send an email explaining?
Raise the concern when I go to collect the car later today?
Do nothing?
Im not one to go looking to complain for nothing, very rarely will I complain about anything but todays experiences really were disappointing from an otherwise very very good and friendly garage.
Looking for a little advice - put my car into the main dealer this morning, have had a knocking coming from the front left for a little while and decided to get it checked out as it had become a little worse which turned out to be the lower ball joint and arm £200+ of work
Im a regular customer at the garage so dropped the car off worry free with the usual chit chat then left.
My girlfriend wanted to have a look at the new Ka's so we went next door to the showroom, had a test drive and sat down to discuss figures at which point my car appeared with a young chap at the wheel leaving the forecourt rather quickly without a seatbelt on, didn't think too much of it. 15 minutes or so later when leaving the showroom my car appears drives back into the forecourt. I heard it before I seen it, from the sound of it the guy was knocking it into neutral and revving it, he turned back around and joined the main road once again, loading up the revs and engaging the clutch sharply - jumping out in front of a car. He once again entered the forecourt but not before a 400-500 metre blast in first gear.
This pissed me off as the car is there in the first place as a *damaged* car to be repaired with a worsening fault. I've always trusted this garage with cars I've had - being a student paying full on main dealer prices is not easy but has always been worth it for me (or so I thought) as I've found the car can sometimes encourage this sort of behaviour, being an ST with full milltek exhaust, coil overs etc.. but I did not expect it from a main dealer. Also if I witnessed this behaviour just outside the garage Im presuming the test drive wasn't exactly easy going.
How should I deal with this?
Send an email explaining?
Raise the concern when I go to collect the car later today?
Do nothing?
Im not one to go looking to complain for nothing, very rarely will I complain about anything but todays experiences really were disappointing from an otherwise very very good and friendly garage.
Bungleaio said:
Why didn't you say something there and then rather than leaving and asking here?
MTFU next time.
Felt it would be best to come away and think about it - rather than rush in with a hot head on meMTFU next time.
Can the folks behind the desk really do anything though? other than apologise...
Still to collect the car so still have the opportunity to voice over if its worth doing
Chris71 said:
Are you sure it's not some sort of diagnostic procedure? I know it doesn't sound very scientific, but often giving the car a bit of a thrash and listening for any clunks or rattles is a pretty good way of finding faults.
I fear even if it wasn't this, this is a great cover up used by garages.doogz said:
Bungleaio said:
Why didn't you say something there and then rather than leaving and asking here?
MTFU next time.
He hasn't been to collect the car yet.MTFU next time.
RTFP next time.
doogz said:
If someone revving your car upsets you that much, I suggest never watching an MOT.
I'd have words with the service manager when I went to collect the car, but I wouldn't jump up from what I was doing, and run in to kick up hell.
Theres a difference between testing a car and abusing it. This sounds like abuse, kicking up hell is surely the only way to stop it happening to yours and other peoples cars in the future. The mechanic was having fun with the 5 cylinder sound and miltek. You don't check for a wheel knock by revving the living fI'd have words with the service manager when I went to collect the car, but I wouldn't jump up from what I was doing, and run in to kick up hell.
k out of it whilst in neutral, its a tad unnecessary.Before you return to collect the car, phone up and ask to speak to the manager and arrange to speak with him when you collect the car. Relay to him what you witnessed and inform him that your confidence with the leval of service you had in the Garage has now in question. Ask him to explain the actions of his employee and how does he intend to restore your confidence and future custom.
doogz said:
If someone revving your car upsets you that much, I suggest never watching an MOT.
This is more like abuse, though, not procedure. As for sitting in front of a salesman, he could simply have said 'excuse me for a few moments' on his way out the door to give the manager of the dealership next door a rocket.happychap said:
Before you return to collect the car, phone up and ask to speak to the manager and arrange to speak with him when you collect the car. Relay to him what you witnessed and inform him that your confidence with the leval of service you had in the Garage has now in question. Ask him to explain the actions of his employee and how does he intend to restore your confidence and future custom.
Something along these lines I think. Thanks 
Personally I would have had a word at the time but I would still suggest that you take it up with them, with the suggestion that they need to think of something that will appease you, such as a reduction in your bill.
I dropped my Clio off early one morning years ago for the sump gasket to be replaced under warranty. That evening I had a call from a mate who said words to the effect of "I know you push on a bit but this afternoon you were a right c**k when passing that line of traffic which I was in and forcing on coming cars to take to the ditch." I was slightly surprised as I'd spent the afternoon propping a bar up and wasn't due to collect my car until the following afternoon.
I was offered a free service when I discussed the issue with them the following day. That said I didn't take them up on it as I didn't fancy giving the driver the chance to get near my car again after the bking he had.
I dropped my Clio off early one morning years ago for the sump gasket to be replaced under warranty. That evening I had a call from a mate who said words to the effect of "I know you push on a bit but this afternoon you were a right c**k when passing that line of traffic which I was in and forcing on coming cars to take to the ditch." I was slightly surprised as I'd spent the afternoon propping a bar up and wasn't due to collect my car until the following afternoon.
I was offered a free service when I discussed the issue with them the following day. That said I didn't take them up on it as I didn't fancy giving the driver the chance to get near my car again after the b
king he had.doogz said:
One of those 5pot Fiestas? 
Fair enough, I just posted my opinion, although I'm kinda struggling to believe this guy drove it over quarter of a mile in first gear, sounds a bit exaggerated.
A 5 pot fiesta would be something to behold...Fair enough, I just posted my opinion, although I'm kinda struggling to believe this guy drove it over quarter of a mile in first gear, sounds a bit exaggerated.
Sorry, was rather vague - its a busy garage with several entrances/exits - he was power on/power off but I don't believe he left first
I could hear the f
king thing popping and banging on the overrun...doogz said:
StottyZr said:
Theres a difference between testing a car and abusing it. This sounds like abuse, kicking up hell is surely the only way to stop it happening to yours and other peoples cars in the future. The mechanic was having fun with the 5 cylinder sound and miltek. You don't check for a wheel knock by revving the living fk out of it whilst in neutral, its a tad unnecessary.
One of those 5pot Fiestas? k out of it whilst in neutral, its a tad unnecessary.Fair enough, I just posted my opinion, although I'm kinda struggling to believe this guy drove it over quarter of a mile in first gear, sounds a bit exaggerated.
Dammit I really need to start reading these posts carefully. I read ST and presumed Focus 
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