Car trashed by dealer while getting warranty work

Ahh, the old "extended unauthorised test drive"...sorry to say, but it's been going on for many years...

About 20 years back, I used to own an immaculate '71 GT Cortina, and took it to "a local large dealership" for some work...purely because I had an account there, and the expensive work could go on the account to be paid off later.
They had the car for a couple of days, and while they had it, I was at the local beach with a mate of mine. As we were walking towards the beach with the fishing rods, to my surprise here comes my Cortina, roaring down the road with two young guys and girls in it. The driver looked to be wearing overalls or a work shirt, and I suspected because of the time of day that it was lunch hour, and he had picked up a couple of his mates. Unfortunately by the time we got back to my mates car and packed up and got going, they were long gone.
I went straight to the delaership to pick up the car, and with great calmness asked if anyone took my car for a test drive. They said that they thought one of the mechanics or an apprentice would have taken it for "a short spin", and when I confronted them with what I had seen, they said "are you sure it was your car?" I said first yes, I saw the licence plate, and perhaps before they did it again, they should ensure they don't do it with a car which is the only one of it's kind in the area...:whistling:yeah:

I make sure to take note of the odometer reading of any car we take to a large dealership now. My own mechanic I trust...others are treated like untrustworthy vermin until proved otherwise.:bang:

 

Not a truer word spoken.

I have this same approach now, you could call it a guilty until proven innocent sort of thing. But with trust.



I however found the exception with my story above. Said Profix had worked on all 3 of my VLs for years without a problem. I guess he was dirty on me for not being stupid enough to hand him my motor on a platter for him.

 

HSVi should have a job card that says the person who completed the job, that person would more than likely be the one who trashed your car.

 

Oh good lord SimonW...my frickin eyes are watering as well just thinking about that...I seem to remember my late father saying something similar (he was born in 1915)...might be one of those good old creative Aussie curses which have been lost to time and not used anymore...like "I hope your chooks turn into emus and kick your dunny down!":yeah:

 

Mate I agree with you and will always fight for my rights

Unfortunately, companies know that the majority of people will put it in the too hard basket and live with it.

 

He'd get done like a dinner and left with a crappy looking car. Happens all to often I say.

 

Simon, I'm flabbergasted by your experience. I too keep my cars always immaculate and what you have described is my absolute worst nightmare!

I've made a scene at a couple of Holden dealers for much less than that. E.g. why the f*** do the have to touch every control in your car (seats, mirrors, stereo, aircon etc) with their grubby hands when they're just moving the car 50m? And then not return them to their original position? :bang: Also, I specifically ask them to NOT wash my car, since it always comes back in a worse state than when I left it with them. Those car wash monkeys don't know what they're doing and usually do more harm than good.

Luckily I've now found a mechanic who treats my car with respect - damn good mechanic too!

I feel for ya mate. I'd lose it if that happened to me! Good luck getting it sorted.

 

are you concerned of what they might of done to the mechanical parts of the car in they way they have driven it?

 

Since they are reading, said individual had better be getting a severe kick up the arse, and 'first and final warning' about his conduct, which could ultimately have an adverse effect on Australia's biggest brand of car.

 

Although not a new car, a mate of mine a few years back had an immaculate VN. He had it in his trustworthy mechanic's for a few days to have some work done to it.

One of the nights the vehicle passed me dangerously running a red light and the driver was giving it a bootful. I thought it was mate, however a few days later he said his car had been in getting work done for a week.

Needless to say he wasn't very impressed... and the mechanic became well aware of this. Funnily enough, the mechanics closed down soon after.

 

glad to hear it all got soeted i would have went crazy

 

One Of The Best Threads I Have Read In A Long Time, Cant Wait To Come Back And See If The Little **** Can Walk Staright After The "block And Axe Trick". By The Sound Of It Though He Obiously Does Not Have Any (ball's That Is) To Put His Hand Up And Say "yes I Did It"