michael Posted February 8, 2005 Share Posted February 8, 2005 My car has a knocking from the front end at the moment (same area as recent accident repairs by coincidence) but I haven't had a chance to get it in the air for inspection. Whilst at Toyota collecting windscreen wipers last week I noticed they offer a free inspection service so after discussing the issue with them I booked the car in for today. I had planned to get them to ramp it up, have a look, give me an estimate then then I would look into upgraded parts if available or standard replacements for fitting at a later date. So I arrived there at 9am as promised, reset the ODO and presented my keys: Them: "how will you be paying for the work Mr Canny" Me: "I was under the impression this was a free service to provide me with an estimate?" Them: "Unfortunately the nature of the problem means a visual inspection won't be enough, therefore it will be £35 plus VAT initially and then we'll contact you with further costs afterwards" Me: "So your offer of a *free* inspection to look at the problem I discussed with you at length costs £35?" Them: "That's correct, we can check your bulbs and tyre pressure for free though" Me: "#@!*** @#~+!!!!!" - followed by a theatrical strop of a walk out of the dealership. I've never had any faith in this dealership to be honest but the lure of a free estimate got me there - I'm just amazed that despite me telling them the type of problem the car had they signed me up for a visual check that offered nothing more than a brief look over the car - it's not as if they haven't taken plenty of cash off me over the past 5 years either! I just wish I could find a local mechanic I could trust, it's nice to have the specialists like CW who I have complete faith in but it's a day off work then the loss of the car while parts are ordered / fitted etc - all I wanted was for an idea of the parts needed so I could collect other stuff and have it all fitted at once. I guess my new trolley jack is going to get some use this weekend, my 45 degree drive isn't much help though No idea what I posted this, just needed therapy to curb my rage, thanks for the time on the couch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
terribleturner Posted February 8, 2005 Share Posted February 8, 2005 Me: "#@!*** @#~+!!!!!" - followed by a theatrical strop of a walk out of the dealership. LOL!! They do say nothing comes for free don't they. The local mechanic thing i can syimpathise with. How many times have you been screwed over my a garage for things that cost half the price or didn't need doing to start with? Luckily i found one who is a top bloke, does great work, and tells it as it is. I wouldn't go back to Toyota after they ipressed with my there distinct lack of part knowledge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael Posted February 8, 2005 Author Share Posted February 8, 2005 I used to have a good mechanic, he was a bit of a trek but a mate and he always loaned me his car if it wasn't a while you wait fix - good prices, good service and honest. However my Dad also used him and decided to set a debt collector on him when he failed to give him some cash back for a part he couldn't get hold of - this resulted in a big falling out and now I can't use him because my old man will get in a stress... family!!! So I just want a local guy who knows how to use a spanner, someone I can take the car to with a bag of parts and leave him to it in the knowledge that the job will be done and the car won't come back with 30 extra miles on the clock as happened to me last year! The annoying thing is that I'm (fairly) happy to do the work myself but I don't really have anywhere to work on the car Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red Posted February 8, 2005 Share Posted February 8, 2005 What a PITA! They really are a bunch of knobs arn't they. I thought the 'free' inspections were a lure to get you in the door so they can find 101 things wrong with the car and kindly offer to fix them for you. they have obviously gone a step further now and are charging for 'free' inspections. I guess most people would be like "oh go on then" but not you my man!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael Posted February 8, 2005 Author Share Posted February 8, 2005 If they had come back with a sensible price for parts and labour I might have been tempted to throw them a couple of hundred quid for the work to be done - I have a habit of researching stuff far too much and never getting around to it As a result of today I'll be buying my parts at the other dealership now and taking the company pool car elsewhere in future. There is a Lexus dealership next to the Toyota garage, I'm always tempted to go there instead but despite having seperate workshops I suspect they share mechanics and service staff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supragal Posted February 8, 2005 Share Posted February 8, 2005 Classic. Sounds like the kind of thing that would happen to me, excet I wouldn't find out that it wasn't free until afterwards. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Green Peace Posted February 8, 2005 Share Posted February 8, 2005 LOL!! They do say nothing comes for free don't they. The local mechanic thing i can syimpathise with. How many times have you been screwed over my a garage for things that cost half the price or didn't need doing to start with? Luckily i found one who is a top bloke, does great work, and tells it as it is. I wouldn't go back to Toyota after they ipressed with my there distinct lack of part knowledge. Dont know what you are talking about lol, cant relate to that at all he he! Seriously though what you wrote above...is actually when you have been lucky...its real frustrating i know. I only goto Toyota to buy new windscreen wipers these days...last time I went some 'poshed up' salesperson in a cheap suit pounced on me on the way through the building, 'Hello Sir Can I interest you in any of our range?' I replied sarcastically whilst looking around at the MR2 Rav4 Corolla and Prius and said........ "nah its ok mate.....I'll just stick to the windscreen wipers for now cheers' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian C Posted February 8, 2005 Share Posted February 8, 2005 Halfords do perfectly good wipers Si There you go, Main Dealer freedom! £35 to listen to a noise? I'd give them £35 of noise in the shape of yelling "FUCK OFF" at them -Ian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Green Peace Posted February 9, 2005 Share Posted February 9, 2005 Halfords do perfectly good wipers Si There you go, Main Dealer freedom! £35 to listen to a noise? I'd give them £35 of noise in the shape of yelling "FUCK OFF" at them -Ian mmmmm i have never been happy with Halford blades or Bosch Ian..they dont seem to last very long ....also I got the whole things this time not just the rubbers I was finding that the design of the other brands were crap at very high speeds.. Toyota windscreen wipers Rock! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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