Are there no garages left who give a damn?
Discussion
Or do I just have rediculously bad luck.
The main ongoing saga is with my recently purchased 55 plate S-Type. The day after I bought it from a little 2nd hand car place, the heater packed in and would only offer "Off" or "35'". Some monor embuggerment ensued and I was eventually given a Shogun Pinin as a coutresy car as I work 130 miles away Mon-Fri while they fixed the Jag.
I'd had the Shogun a week and half and was thinking it was a bit s
t & wallowy, but figured it was a 10 year old jeep thing and that's it. It was swaying quite alarmingly at points on the motorway, but as part of the journey was over Shap, figured high vehicle plus winds = a bit scary.
Was told my Jag was ready to pick up on Friday, so went stright from work to garage. Got in, tuned ignition on, heater blowing cold air, all good. Then I noticed the warning lights and all the LCD displays lit up: Electronic Park Brake Fault, Cruise Control not available and ABS fault. Straight back to salesman, get apology and keys to Shogun.
Saturday, I notice that from above 50mph, if I lift off the throttle it twitches left (more noticeable with more speed). Look under the
back and can't see anything untoward, but not comfortable.
Sunday, on way to bike club meeting I start hearing a knocking from O/S rear. Get to pub and discover the O/S chassis rail has corroded and the front end of the reas tie arm is now hanging in free space!
Abandon POS in car park and manage to borrow my dad's car and leave the keys with him for the garage to collect.
Rang first thing Monday morning told them the deal and they weren't the least bit concerned! Just said "Oh, you'll be needing another car, then; we'll ring you back". Didn't take the postcode of the pub or my dad's number to arrange picking up keys. Rang everyday this week to remind them that they still haven't done anything and I'm in no way responsible for the Shogun. "We haven't decided what we're doing with it yet" WTF? What is there to decide? Get a trailer, go to Chorley, pick up hateful POS.
Feck it, not my problem. I've been speaking to the Jag garage myself and fingers crossed, it should be fixed tomorrow/Saturday.
Meanwhile, my bike went into the local Aprilia garage this morning as the service light had come on. I only bought it about 6 months ago from a main dealer supposedly serviced, etc. The mechanic struggled to get the diagnostic machine to connect so tried a different one. Turns out the bike has had a replacement wiring loom a couple of years ago (no mention of this in service book) and also had had the sump plug overtightened, stripping the threads so that has had to be tapped and a new plug fitted. It also has no record of any services being carried out in the last 18 months!
I'm starting to see why people buy brand new vehicles as it seems impossible to trust anything anymore.
Sorry for the essay, but a vent was required.
The main ongoing saga is with my recently purchased 55 plate S-Type. The day after I bought it from a little 2nd hand car place, the heater packed in and would only offer "Off" or "35'". Some monor embuggerment ensued and I was eventually given a Shogun Pinin as a coutresy car as I work 130 miles away Mon-Fri while they fixed the Jag.
I'd had the Shogun a week and half and was thinking it was a bit s
t & wallowy, but figured it was a 10 year old jeep thing and that's it. It was swaying quite alarmingly at points on the motorway, but as part of the journey was over Shap, figured high vehicle plus winds = a bit scary.Was told my Jag was ready to pick up on Friday, so went stright from work to garage. Got in, tuned ignition on, heater blowing cold air, all good. Then I noticed the warning lights and all the LCD displays lit up: Electronic Park Brake Fault, Cruise Control not available and ABS fault. Straight back to salesman, get apology and keys to Shogun.
Saturday, I notice that from above 50mph, if I lift off the throttle it twitches left (more noticeable with more speed). Look under the
back and can't see anything untoward, but not comfortable.
Sunday, on way to bike club meeting I start hearing a knocking from O/S rear. Get to pub and discover the O/S chassis rail has corroded and the front end of the reas tie arm is now hanging in free space!
Abandon POS in car park and manage to borrow my dad's car and leave the keys with him for the garage to collect.
Rang first thing Monday morning told them the deal and they weren't the least bit concerned! Just said "Oh, you'll be needing another car, then; we'll ring you back". Didn't take the postcode of the pub or my dad's number to arrange picking up keys. Rang everyday this week to remind them that they still haven't done anything and I'm in no way responsible for the Shogun. "We haven't decided what we're doing with it yet" WTF? What is there to decide? Get a trailer, go to Chorley, pick up hateful POS.
Feck it, not my problem. I've been speaking to the Jag garage myself and fingers crossed, it should be fixed tomorrow/Saturday.
Meanwhile, my bike went into the local Aprilia garage this morning as the service light had come on. I only bought it about 6 months ago from a main dealer supposedly serviced, etc. The mechanic struggled to get the diagnostic machine to connect so tried a different one. Turns out the bike has had a replacement wiring loom a couple of years ago (no mention of this in service book) and also had had the sump plug overtightened, stripping the threads so that has had to be tapped and a new plug fitted. It also has no record of any services being carried out in the last 18 months!
I'm starting to see why people buy brand new vehicles as it seems impossible to trust anything anymore.
Sorry for the essay, but a vent was required.
AnimalMkIV said:
that has had to be tapped and a new plug fitted. It also has no record of any services being carried out in the last 18 months!
Perhaps check the service history before buying? 
I've never bought a new car and compared to friends who do, i've probably had less problem and spent less £s! On the two occasions that i bought a rotter, both had a shifty former owner & didn't like answering questions. Learnt my lesson i hope. Best car i bought was an ex-demo - couldn't tell it from new and no problems with the car. AnimalMkIV said:
The sump plug overtightened, stripping the threads so that has had to be tapped and a new plug fitted.
This is the thing I really hate about garages and why I try to avoid them where possible.When you think they only need to be 20 to 30nm its inexcusable for them to be that tight.
AnimalMkIV said:
I'm starting to see why people buy brand new vehicles as it seems impossible to trust anything anymore.
It's definitely a factor for me these days. I've had my fill of driving 100 miles to see immacualte cars that are, in reality, POS.I find it very difficult to judge what's acceptable too. You buy a 7 year old car for what, 25%? of its price new. It's going to have things wrong with it, but what's OK and what isn't?
AnimalMkIV said:
Or do I just have rediculously bad luck.
The main ongoing saga is with my recently purchased 55 plate S-Type. The day after I bought it from a little 2nd hand car place, the heater packed in and would only offer "Off" or "35'". Some monor embuggerment ensued and I was eventually given a Shogun Pinin as a coutresy car as I work 130 miles away Mon-Fri while they fixed the Jag.
I'd had the Shogun a week and half and was thinking it was a bit st & wallowy, but figured it was a 10 year old jeep thing and that's it. It was swaying quite alarmingly at points on the motorway, but as part of the journey was over Shap, figured high vehicle plus winds = a bit scary.
Was told my Jag was ready to pick up on Friday, so went stright from work to garage. Got in, tuned ignition on, heater blowing cold air, all good. Then I noticed the warning lights and all the LCD displays lit up: Electronic Park Brake Fault, Cruise Control not available and ABS fault. Straight back to salesman, get apology and keys to Shogun.
Saturday, I notice that from above 50mph, if I lift off the throttle it twitches left (more noticeable with more speed). Look under the
back and can't see anything untoward, but not comfortable.
Sunday, on way to bike club meeting I start hearing a knocking from O/S rear. Get to pub and discover the O/S chassis rail has corroded and the front end of the reas tie arm is now hanging in free space!
Abandon POS in car park and manage to borrow my dad's car and leave the keys with him for the garage to collect.
Rang first thing Monday morning told them the deal and they weren't the least bit concerned! Just said "Oh, you'll be needing another car, then; we'll ring you back". Didn't take the postcode of the pub or my dad's number to arrange picking up keys. Rang everyday this week to remind them that they still haven't done anything and I'm in no way responsible for the Shogun. "We haven't decided what we're doing with it yet" WTF? What is there to decide? Get a trailer, go to Chorley, pick up hateful POS.
Feck it, not my problem. I've been speaking to the Jag garage myself and fingers crossed, it should be fixed tomorrow/Saturday.
Meanwhile, my bike went into the local Aprilia garage this morning as the service light had come on. I only bought it about 6 months ago from a main dealer supposedly serviced, etc. The mechanic struggled to get the diagnostic machine to connect so tried a different one. Turns out the bike has had a replacement wiring loom a couple of years ago (no mention of this in service book) and also had had the sump plug overtightened, stripping the threads so that has had to be tapped and a new plug fitted. It also has no record of any services being carried out in the last 18 months!
I'm starting to see why people buy brand new vehicles as it seems impossible to trust anything anymore.
Sorry for the essay, but a vent was required.
Chorley. Lancs? I know the perfect garage if so. Ran by decent guys who know their stuff. The main ongoing saga is with my recently purchased 55 plate S-Type. The day after I bought it from a little 2nd hand car place, the heater packed in and would only offer "Off" or "35'". Some monor embuggerment ensued and I was eventually given a Shogun Pinin as a coutresy car as I work 130 miles away Mon-Fri while they fixed the Jag.
I'd had the Shogun a week and half and was thinking it was a bit s
t & wallowy, but figured it was a 10 year old jeep thing and that's it. It was swaying quite alarmingly at points on the motorway, but as part of the journey was over Shap, figured high vehicle plus winds = a bit scary.Was told my Jag was ready to pick up on Friday, so went stright from work to garage. Got in, tuned ignition on, heater blowing cold air, all good. Then I noticed the warning lights and all the LCD displays lit up: Electronic Park Brake Fault, Cruise Control not available and ABS fault. Straight back to salesman, get apology and keys to Shogun.
Saturday, I notice that from above 50mph, if I lift off the throttle it twitches left (more noticeable with more speed). Look under the
back and can't see anything untoward, but not comfortable.
Sunday, on way to bike club meeting I start hearing a knocking from O/S rear. Get to pub and discover the O/S chassis rail has corroded and the front end of the reas tie arm is now hanging in free space!
Abandon POS in car park and manage to borrow my dad's car and leave the keys with him for the garage to collect.
Rang first thing Monday morning told them the deal and they weren't the least bit concerned! Just said "Oh, you'll be needing another car, then; we'll ring you back". Didn't take the postcode of the pub or my dad's number to arrange picking up keys. Rang everyday this week to remind them that they still haven't done anything and I'm in no way responsible for the Shogun. "We haven't decided what we're doing with it yet" WTF? What is there to decide? Get a trailer, go to Chorley, pick up hateful POS.
Feck it, not my problem. I've been speaking to the Jag garage myself and fingers crossed, it should be fixed tomorrow/Saturday.
Meanwhile, my bike went into the local Aprilia garage this morning as the service light had come on. I only bought it about 6 months ago from a main dealer supposedly serviced, etc. The mechanic struggled to get the diagnostic machine to connect so tried a different one. Turns out the bike has had a replacement wiring loom a couple of years ago (no mention of this in service book) and also had had the sump plug overtightened, stripping the threads so that has had to be tapped and a new plug fitted. It also has no record of any services being carried out in the last 18 months!
I'm starting to see why people buy brand new vehicles as it seems impossible to trust anything anymore.
Sorry for the essay, but a vent was required.
Perd Hapley said:
The worry with brand-new vehicles is that you get a lemon, then you've got all the problems of a bad used car AND you're out tens of thousands of pounds.
That's where the warranty kicks in. We've just rejected a new polo gti 180 1.4 supercharged. Never ran right, new engine still not right. VW gave in and admitted defeat.New one coming in December.
fido said:
Perhaps check the service history before buying?
Jag was ex-fleet with full history, Aprilia has stamps in the book, a decent set of receipts & MOT's. Nothing mentioning a new wiring loom and without access to the history stored on their system, how can you know?trickywoo said:
This is the thing I really hate about garages and why I try to avoid them where possible.
When you think they only need to be 20 to 30nm its inexcusable for them to be that tight.
Yeah, windy guns are nice, but overkill on most things. Apparently they had to use a 4ft long bar to get enough leverage to get the rear wheel nut off as well.When you think they only need to be 20 to 30nm its inexcusable for them to be that tight.
ChunkyloverSV said:
Chorley. Lancs? I know the perfect garage if so. Ran by decent guys who know their stuff.
Aye, although I'm living in Preston (when I'm actually home) now, my bike club is in Chorley.Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff