Can you trust a car mechanic?

Discussion in 'Off-Topic Discussion' started by jjordie, Apr 5, 2007.

  1. jjordie

    jjordie ex-mod

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    Because o/h crashed the car we had to buy a new one. Being rather short I found the seat belt cut right across my neck so went back to the main Ford dealers in Norwich, where we bought the car and asked them if they would adjust the seatbelt for me.
    After much shaking of heads and pondering I was told it was not possible despite the fact I had read in the manual that it could be done.

    Our son called in on his way home to see us and after a few words *** *** *** - he got a ring spanner from his car, undone the appropriate button and screwed it into the lower fitting. Approximately two minutes!!

    He rang the service Manager and asked what sort of mechanics they employed and after much apologising he said that he also didn't think you could adjust the seatbelt in that car!

    Nuff said! I would not trust them to do anything with my car again if they cannot even adjust a seatbelt! :mad:
     
  2. pete

    pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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    Usually its because they cant be bothered.
    I took mine in recently to a Ford agent to get the brakes checked.
    No one really wanted to have a look, they gave me the impession that they were doing me some kind of favour.
    I hate garages, I've not come across one where they value the customer yet.
     
  3. Victoria

    Victoria Lover of Exotic Flora

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    Years ago, when cars weren't computerised in their mechanics, I'd rather work on a car myself, and have actually done things such as change head gaskets on my Sprite. I had Sprites for 18 or so years and maintained them myself.

    I was brought up in racing with my Dad so it was "natural" doing mechanical things.

    I find it a shame there are few women who know anything about a car .... SAYS SHE LOUDLY NOW AS TIMES HAVE CHANGED!

    In the States I had this wonderful mechanic, a wonderful black man in the 60s (Martin Luther King days) who worked on the Police cars there and my cars when need be, usually much to his horror with me peering under the hood!

    I went from grease under the nails to dirt.

    I'm happy with that now! :D
     
  4. Banana Man

    Banana Man You're Growing On Me ...

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    Well my mechanic is the business, I just got back from having my car upgraded (again!) and re-tuned and he is close to god on the car front !

    Most dealers, or stealers as I like to call them are utter rubbish. I have had Fords, Hondas, VW's, Rovers and now Subaru's. All very different cars but all very common faults, the cr@p dealer service !
     
  5. shiney

    shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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    Sorry to hear about your problems jjordie. In the past we have had trouble with the main dealers. Nowadays we go to a little garage down the road. There are three men who work there and they really know what they are doing.

    They also give a brilliant personal service. They are always cheerful and seem to remember all their customers' names. Although I hadn't been down there for about 6 months, I drove in there the other day to say that one of my brake lights has gone. The owner called me by my name and then came out and fiddled around inside the boot. Replaced the bulb and wouldn't charge me for it! [​IMG] [​IMG] [​IMG]

    Well done, Maltings Garage, Sawbridgeworth. [​IMG] [​IMG]
     
  6. jjordie

    jjordie ex-mod

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    You could be right Pete, but even the manager said he didn't know the belt could be adjusted.I only took it back there because that was where I bought it and it is on a three year warranty.
    I since find that if it is taken to any registered garage then the warranty still stands. So guess where I shall go in future - to the local garage where I have had very good service for many years and like you Shiney, bulbs replaced without charge. And they have always run me home when I have MOTs and servicing done!
    Hooray for Richard Nash Group, Norwich [​IMG]
     
  7. Webmaster

    Webmaster Webmaster Staff Member

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    I have a 'Mobile' mechanic that does everything on my 4x4 and van, and services my Subaru.

    I would not trust anyone else apart from Andy, he is also an MOT tester, so he does the work on my vehicles pre MOT, and you know they are going to pass ....... and before you think any further, he won't pass it, if it shouldn't, so you know the vehicle is safe.

    Great also, that I do not have to drive to a garage, find my way home whilst work commences, and then return.

    I would suggest trying a mobile mechanic, lets face it, most of the work is possible on your drive, especially as their vans are usually laden with the same tools that a garage would have.
     
  8. mef750

    mef750 Gardener

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    My Husband was a mechanic, and he always said that warranties wasnt worth the paper they were printed on!
    Dealers work in a sterile enviroment! So asking them to get there hands dirty would be a bit of an insult. small garages or mobile mechanics are the way to go.
     
  9. jjordie

    jjordie ex-mod

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    Interesting mef750! But three year warranty -parts and labour no good?
     
  10. Daisies

    Daisies Total Gardener

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    I use a little local garage and the guy there has been like an uncle to me! He really goes out of his way to help me out and sort me out. But sadly, though he's equipped himself with the necessary computer widget to 'do' the electronic management, he still can't do my Corsa because the latest version is available only to Vauxhall dealerships!! And we only have one such dealership in our area so it's rather Hobson's choice! Talk about a stitch up! Bob still does the work but I have to take it back to them to have the o/b computer reset.

    But I wouldn't want to take my car anywhere else. He's even come out to me when I've broken down and only charged me for the work he's done, not the call-out. And he drove all the way over to north of Newcastle to check out a car for me and only charged me for the petrol! Plus, he's not registered for VAT so his bills are a lot lower than average!

    And Shiney - I know Maltings garage! Never went there but I know of it!
     
  11. mef750

    mef750 Gardener

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    Jjordie, You will find that your 3 years parts and labour only cover certain things.
    They have there own get out clauses wrote into the agreement.
    MEF750
     
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