Makes me wonder about repair shops

[335bummer]

http://screen.yahoo.com/popular/police-repair-shop-employee-wrecked-230437720.html




An employee at a car repair shop in Melbourne admitted to taking a customer's BMW for a joyride and wrecking it, but that's not illegal, police said

[Big_Jim]

Post a description?

[Vr-4-Life]

I've heard many techs say their shops use customer cars to pickup parts and all.

[Big_Jim]

Thats the second time I've heard of this happening, just this week.

Jalopnik posted a story about a a ZL1 Camaro that was crashed by staffers at a dealership who came in on their day off for a joy ride.
http://jalopnik.com/owner-of-camaro-zl1-crashed-by-dealership-is-getting-a-1501366861

[05suby]

someone would get ****ed up

[dudewheresmycar]

Thats the second time I've heard of this happening, just this week.

Jalopnik posted a story about a a ZL1 Camaro that was crashed by staffers at a dealership who came in on their day off for a joy ride.
http://jalopnik.com/owner-of-camaro-zl1-crashed-by-dealership-is-getting-a-1501366861

holy **** smh

[Ej6Mike]

Just the other day i got an alignment and heard the tech take it for a test drive and have my tial wastegate open up down the road.

[yellow2000S/R]

It's common. Use to work for Mercedes/BMW in the body shop and vehicles were driven to check for wind and popping noises after repairs along with just general handling/alignment.

I would hear some of the body techs talking about hitting xxx amount of mph in some of the cars (one was a modded porsche with upgraded turbos).

It's pretty common for a shop to drive your car during an inspection. I just stay around if it's a vehicle I care more about.

My buddy works for a Infiniti/Volvo dealer and talks about 'getting on it' in some cars (new or auction/trade-ins).

[335bummer]

I totally understand some "road testing" is required but sure the hell not at 4 am.

[300zx_tt]

Took my Volvo c70 to a local shop last summer, my odometer was 75 miles higher than when I dropped it off and I left it with a full tank and had about half when I picked it up. Also the top was down and radio was pretty loud. I was so pissed off I didn't pay, they still have my valet key to this day.

[yellow2000S/R]

Just watched the vid/news report. I'd be out front with a gun.

[dumpleRL]

I always ask permission of the customer most common is to set emissions monitors if the customer doesnt want to come back to finish the rmissions test

[MPowerKai]

I work at a Volvo repair shop. I admit when a c70 hard top vert comes in on a nice day I'll drop the top and take it around the block. I won't beat on it though, I have my porsche for that lol

[HatchSurfer3]

I've had this happened when I lent my car for a test fit to Mishimoto. I specifically told them not to drive it. Came to pick it up and it had like 10-20 miles on it (was a while ago so don't remember) and a lot of gas for that amount of mileage gone, big indication of beating. I was pissed and they just passed blame along to everyone else. Obviously I don't buy their stuff.

[david gettle]

This is why I insist on going along, (or doing the test drive myself with the mechanic doing a ride along) on those rare occasions when a shop takes my car for a "test drive". My car doesn't go into a shop unless it needs a service I can't do myself. Thankfully my car is exempt from emissions testing, because of the way it is registered. I used to work for an insurance adjuster, you wouldn't believe how many insurance claims are caused by shops damaging cars they are supposed to be repairing. True my car is not expensive, but it is my car and I don't want some half baked mechanic that thinks he can drive like Mario Andretti taking my car for a test drive without me in the car with him (or her).

[PaleDSM]

I had my DD Elantra towed to Fred Beans Hyundai in Doylestown after hitting a pothole and blowing a tire out. When I picked it up a day later it had 1/3 tank less gas and my average mph reading went from 27 when I dropped it off to 11 when I picked it up. Yeah, I think it is safe to say they were beating on it.

[breNTx22]

I had my DD Elantra towed to Fred Beans Hyundai in Doylestown after hitting a pothole and blowing a tire out. When I picked it up a day later it had 1/3 tank less gas and my average mph reading went from 27 when I dropped it off to 11 when I picked it up. Yeah, I think it is safe to say they were beating on it.


I'm impressed that anyone would want to joy ride in a car with a 0-60 of 15 minutes.

[PaleDSM]

I honestly don't get it either.

[mcperson2k]

Is there a slight chance, that some of you guys, could have just had your car parked on a hill all day... and the fuel gauge wasn't reading accurately right off the bat? Some of deez stories a little craaazyzee.

[breNTx22]

Is there a slight chance, that some of you guys, could have just had your car parked on a hill all day... and the fuel gauge wasn't reading accurately right off the bat? Some of deez stories a little craaazyzee.

Not sure if serious.

[david gettle]

I worked on one insurance claim where a Sears store dropped a car on top of another one that was on another lift by not having the lift set correctly for the car they were raising to work on both cars ended up being totaled, and Sears ended up replacing both cars.

Tow truck drivers have been known to damage cars too, by not hooking them up correctly....

[stover]

I work full time as a mechanic at a local repair shop, it is required by our boss to test drive every car that comes in unless it is deemed unsafe for a road test. most road test are 1-2 miles and if the car has an issue we cant duplicate we will take it on the highway to try and reproduce the customer concern. I would be lying if I said that none of us ever leaned into the go pedal a little bit. is it something im happy to admit? no not really but we don't beat the crap out of cars, and it is very common to find this at any shop you go to.

[breNTx22]

I work full time as a mechanic at a local repair shop, it is required by our boss to test drive every car that comes in unless it is deemed unsafe for a road test. most road test are 1-2 miles and if the car has an issue we cant duplicate we will take it on the highway to try and reproduce the customer concern. I would be lying if I said that none of us ever leaned into the go pedal a little bit. is it something im happy to admit? no not really but we don't beat the crap out of cars, and it is very common to find this at any shop you go to.

I've always just assumed this. I think it's natural. However, that's why I always tell them not to test drive it. If there's an issue I will notice it on the way home and come right back.

[frosti108]

i wouldnt feel comfortable if your mechanic doesnt test drive your car. its part of the inspection process as far as im concerned. and not talking about state safety inspection. just a mechanics duty to inspect the whole car for correct function

[breNTx22]

i wouldnt feel comfortable if your mechanic doesnt test drive your car. its part of the inspection process as far as im concerned. and not talking about state safety inspection. just a mechanics duty to inspect the whole car for correct function

Maybe you don't care if your car gets abused (by someone other than you) but I do. I paid good money for my car and I don't want some young punk speed racer driving my car knowing he won't have to pay for repairs.

Sure, if I had a Sentra, Elantra, or something like that then I wouldn't worry. However, if you think someone is going to test drive your S13 and keep it under 3000, you're living in a fairy tale world.

[frosti108]

Im the only one who works on my car. but im the exception. youre kind of an exception too. most people dont know jack **** about cars and totally rely on their mechanic to fully check the car over including a test drive to identify current and future problems

[breNTx22]

Im the only one who works on my car. but im the exception. youre kind of an exception too. most people dont know jack **** about cars and totally rely on their mechanic to fully check the car over including a test drive to identify current and future problems

That's a good point. I'm the only one that works on my car for the most part. Some things I can't avoid (inspection, alignment, etc) but if I can do it myself, I will. When I do take it somewhere I take it to the shop that my family has been using for several years. Unfortunately, I'm moving and they're not a practical option anymore. I'll probably just end up taking it to Subaru but occasionally I'll read a thread about a dealership putting the wrong oil in or something stupid like that. A brand name can only offer so much comfort :/