Garage test driving my car after an oil change?

[*Al*]

I had a minor service today on my Chrysler Crossfire, just an oil and filter change and brake fluid change at my local garage.I made a point of recording the mileage as i dropped it off yesterday evening.I had a call today to collect it so went over to the garage paid and left.
The car was out the back so before i left i checked the mileage and left to return home, i wondered why they would have to test drive it? After hearing recent horror stories on PH about cars being abused and myself being very fussy about my cars, i'm just wondering if it is indeed common practice to test drive? Mileage was 3 miles but why? I'm worried it was a 'hard' 3 miles!! Am i being unreasonable, what's other PHers take on this?

[P I Staker]

I imagine it was to make sure the brakes where spot on before you took it away.


Er, I mean, he probably went out street racing. Redlining it through every gear...

[eltax91]

3 miles is nothing, especially when it potentially saved you getting to the first set of lights and rear-ending someone because they hadn't fully checked the brakes.

They changed the fluid for you, if they had not tested it for you, but simply gave it you back and they had inadvertantly got air in the system, you'd be posting on here screaming for their heads for allowing you out with unsafe brakes, non?

Car garages win ever on here?

[mrmr96]

*Al* said:

I had a minor service today on my Chrysler Crossfire, just an oil and filter change and brake fluid change at my local garage.I made a point of recording the mileage as i dropped it off yesterday evening.I had a call today to collect it so went over to the garage paid and left.
The car was out the back so before i left i checked the mileage and left to return home, i wondered why they would have to test drive it? After hearing recent horror stories on PH about cars being abused and myself being very fussy about my cars, i'm just wondering if it is indeed common practice to test drive? Mileage was 3 miles but why? I'm worried it was a 'hard' 3 miles!! Am i being unreasonable, what's other PHers take on this?

I imagine they would test drive it to see if there's any other work that might need doing - not just to sell you more stuff, but in case there's a potential safety issue that you may not be aware of. 3 miles isn't incredibly far, so I'd not worry they've taken it on a long tour or further than necessary. Not sure if a Crossfire would be my personal choice for a hoon either, so don't fret too much. Besides, it's not the point, but did you buy the car new? If not then you've no idea how it was treated in the past, so try not to worry about it.

ETA, just noticed the bit about the brake fluid - in that case the reason for the test drive is entirely obvious and totally standard procedure.

[Ekona]

Perfectly reasonable, I wouldn't want a car back after the brakes had been worked on that hadn't been road tested.

[RichB]

*Al* said:

I Am i being unreasonable...

No, you're paranoid.

[Graham]

if anything 3 miles isnt much..

[Vipers]

Its not so mutch the few miles, its the tt who moves my seat forward. To do it

[DanDC5]

3 miles, 1.5 miles each way to the shop and back at dinner time, and testing the brakes at the same time probably with a couple of fairly hard stops on a quiet part of the journey to make sure all is ok.

I'd be more worried about them eating a chocolate bar in the car....

[kambites]

I'd be quite worried if I got a car back from work on the brakes and the mileage hadn't increased.

[StottyZr]

kambites said:

I'd be quite worried if I got a car back from work on the brakes and the mileage hadn't increased.

they have to test the brakes. It would be stupid not to. If the car came back with 50miles on the clock you may have a point.

[*Al*]

mrmr96 said:

*Al* said:

I had a minor service today on my Chrysler Crossfire, just an oil and filter change and brake fluid change at my local garage.I made a point of recording the mileage as i dropped it off yesterday evening.I had a call today to collect it so went over to the garage paid and left.
The car was out the back so before i left i checked the mileage and left to return home, i wondered why they would have to test drive it? After hearing recent horror stories on PH about cars being abused and myself being very fussy about my cars, i'm just wondering if it is indeed common practice to test drive? Mileage was 3 miles but why? I'm worried it was a 'hard' 3 miles!! Am i being unreasonable, what's other PHers take on this?

I imagine they would test drive it to see if there's any other work that might need doing - not just to sell you more stuff, but in case there's a potential safety issue that you may not be aware of. 3 miles isn't incredibly far, so I'd not worry they've taken it on a long tour or further than necessary. Not sure if a Crossfire would be my personal choice for a hoon either, so don't fret too much. Besides, it's not the point, but did you buy the car new? If not then you've no idea how it was treated in the past, so try not to worry about it.

Now now, there's no freting about the supercar Crossfire, i've certainly had quicker things! People tend to be curious about them as you don't see too many about
I know the garage guy that i spoke to, and i have phoned politely on a personal level asking why they needed to test drive. I do have good knowledge with cars so had already considered that it was to check the brakes but the reply was 'To check for oil leaks'. If he had said to check the brakes then that would have been it, i just thought 3 miles was a bit excessive that's all. I'm not going to loose sleep, i just wanted confirmation from PHers that it's standard to test drive. I also made it very clear when i booked the service that i would not be having any other work, just oil/filter and brake fluid.

[Tango13]

Graham said:

if anything 3 miles isnt much..

The garage where I get the bike serviced take it for about a 5mile ride round the block as a post service check. It's a mix of 30 limit, A road and dual carrigeway and I have no problem with that.

[Guvernator]

Lol it's had work done on the brakes so I'd expect them to give it a go and I suspect the numpty you spoke to doesn't know anything about cars or just made something up.

Besides not being funny but it's a Chrysler Crossfire, not a Ferrari. I doubt anyone was fighting over the keys to take the little hot rod out for a spin!

[*Al*]

Guvernator said:

Lol it's had work done on the brakes so I'd expect them to give it a go and I suspect the numpty you spoke to doesn't know anything about cars or just made something up.

Besides not being funny but it's a Chrysler Crossfire, not a Ferrari. I doubt anyone was fighting over the keys to take the little hot rod out for a spin!

Wake up and read my 2nd post!!

[rallycross]

kambites said:

I'd be quite worried if I got a car back from work on the brakes and the mileage hadn't increased.

+1

[RichB]

*Al* said:

I know the garage guy that i spoke to, and i have phoned politely on a personal level asking why they needed to test drive..

Did you? Really? Hilarious

[philmots]

Complete over reaction IMO.

But saying that I'd let most people have a go in my cars (although, they're hardly valuble) if someone wants a drive they can.. Condition of break it, pay for it.

[Muzzer79]

*Al* said:

I had a minor service today on my Chrysler Crossfire, just an oil and filter change and brake fluid change at my local garage.I made a point of recording the mileage as i dropped it off yesterday evening.I had a call today to collect it so went over to the garage paid and left.
The car was out the back so before i left i checked the mileage and left to return home, i wondered why they would have to test drive it? After hearing recent horror stories on PH about cars being abused and myself being very fussy about my cars, i'm just wondering if it is indeed common practice to test drive? Mileage was 3 miles but why? I'm worried it was a 'hard' 3 miles!! Am i being unreasonable, what's other PHers take on this?

Seriously?

Your car has had mechanical work done it, including work on the braking system.

If I got it back with zero extra miles on it I'd be phoning them up asking why the hell they released a car back to me without checking it was safe.

If you're that worried they'll cane it on the test drive, change garages.

If you're worried about all garages, seek help for paranoia.

[S. Gonzales Esq.]

How come the thread title isn't 'Garage test driving my car after working on the brakes?