Dealer servicing, does it have to be SUCH a rip-off?

[Mr Pig]

And then you've got the 'magic' paint protector and ludicrously expensive dent insurance dealers often try to sell when you buy a car. Anyone care to defend that as anything other than a total con?

let's be fair though, many smaller garages are just as bad, just in different ways. And then you've got the Quick Fits? They've got shafting customers down

 

[Mr Pig]

Overtightening wheel nuts is a problem everywhere. Years ago I got new tyres and the young blade refitting the wheels was about to use the air-gun on the nuts. I said to him 'Use the torque wrench', there was one lying nearby. He said 'Na, it's aright mate. I do it this way all the time'. So I let him.

While he was doing up the nuts I took the brace out of the boot. I handed him the brace and said 'Undo them with this'. He couldn't. I said 'If you can't get the nuts off in a garage, what chance does my wife have in the dark and rain by the side of the road?'.

Now I undo and re-torque the nuts myself when I get home. I don't trust any of them.

 

[Legojon]

And then you've got the 'magic' paint protector and ludicrously expensive dent insurance dealers often try to sell when you buy a car. Anyone care to defend that as anything other than a total con?

My FR+ was the first really nice car I've owned. I was naive at the time and fell for the paint protector which I believe they just sprayed into the air above the car. Lesson learnt. But I bought the smart insurance for £300. I paid a yearly installment of £100. And every year, I waited a month after the payment and walked round my car and wrote down every chip, scratch, dent. In the first year, I ran up a bill of £660. In the second year I topped £1200. I cross checked the prices with chipsaway and believe I got my moneys worth. In their defence, they never once questioned or failed to approve a repair. If there was 2 chips too close to each other on a panel, I'd just save one for the year after! LOL.

 

[Mr Pig]

In the first year, I ran up a bill of £660. In the second year I topped £1200.

Good grief! Where do you park, a golf course??

 

[Legojon]

Good grief! Where do you park, a golf course??

Haha, don't even get me started ranting! I have a thread on here somewhere showing empty 2000 capacity car parks with just me in the far corner and the only other car parked right next to me with 2 child seats in the back!

Ah, here it is! Keep in mind my car at the time was a black FR+
https://forums.seatcupra.net/index.php?threads/how-do-you-park-your-car.432382/

 

[Mr Pig]

I have a thread on here somewhere showing just me in the far corner and the only other car parked right next to me with 2 child seats in the back!

You're picking the wrong spots mate ;0)

There's an art to it. I can drive round a car park for ages looking for a good spot. Parking next to other cars can actually be a good idea if it's the right car but I try and find good end-of-row spots.

Avoid:
Passenger side, less careful than drivers.
Two-doors, doors are bigger.
4X4s, don't give a feck.
Child-seats, obvious.
Vans.

Look for:
Bigger spaces, you can often slide over the line or right up to it on row-ends.
Well kept boy-racer chariots, they are careful with their cars.
Evidence of business use, they'll probably be away all day, park on the passenger side of those.
The space no one else wants.

Had the Leon three-years and no dents so far ;0)

 

[Legojon]

Passenger side, less careful than drivers

Ah, I never considered that, I'll add it to my list. Whenever I go somewhere new, I use google satellite view to pre-pick my parking spot. LOL. But I'm cursed. Last winter I parked in a bay next to a 2m pile of snow, effectively writing off that space. I came back and a saxo had literally parked diagonally on top of the snow pile and 2cm from my passenger door!

I've even parked at the very back of a massive car park that was completely empty. I sat with my driver door open waiting for the car to cool down a bit. Another car was waiting for me to shut my door to reverse in next to me!!! She waited about 5 minutes before conceding and parking 1 across.

 

[Mr Pig]

Whenever I go somewhere new, I use google satellite view to pre-pick my parking spot.

Ok, you win. That is extreme! ;0) Maybe people just hate your car? Maybe it's the colour? I've had cars that got dented within a week and this Leon has no dents after three years.

 

[Seriously?]

I think some cars are just lucky - or not.
SWMBO has had her Leon ST for less than 4 months and has come back from work tonight with more battle damage....

 

[martin j.]

Have you ever tried that? I'm guessing, not. Otherwise, you wouldn't have suggested it.

Actually I have dealt with customer services, admittedly Me with Honda CS (full result)and Kia calling me with enquiries regarding calls to them, it's maybe Seat CS that are shite?

 

[oilman]

If you look at the service schedule, if you can find it, everything except the oil gets left for longer than it used to. They charge you over £100 for an 'oil service' and they are literally only changing the oil, which costs them about £10 !!

You can save yourself some money by taking your own oil and filters in for the service. Some dealers don't like it but as long as the oil is correct its the customers choice to do so.

Cheers,

Guy

 

[martin j.]

You can save yourself some money by taking your own oil and filters in for the service. Some dealers don't like it but as long as the oil is correct its the customers choice to do so.

Cheers,

Guy

My Honda dealer is happy for me to do that, saves a chunk of cash, Seat has service plan.

 

[KXL]

In a supermarket or venue carpark (eg. O2 London) I usually try to park next to a car that is nicer, newer and more expensive than mine . Never park next to a car that has dents and scratches, or is an old banger. Otherhalf undid my hard work when I return to my underground parking space, and the one time I park the car 'the other way around' as I had a long item I needed to take from the boot, she opened the door and hit the wall quoting 'that wall wasn't there before' in theory that's right, as the wall is usually on my side of the car...

 

[Legojon]

she opened the door and hit the wall quoting 'that wall wasn't there before' in theory that's right, as the wall is usually on my side of the car...

. Part of me thinks thats not funny. Part of me is laughing out loud. I'm so conflicted right now.

Trouble is, I had the theory of only parking next to nice cars. Till I parked near to a brand new RS3 at Star City. Before watching 4 18-20 year olds pile into it, knock one door into a pillar and the other into an old banger the other side and rag it like it was stolen. They went over the speed bumps there around 40mph, the clonk echoed around the car park. I figure maybe it was his dads car or something. But he had no respec' for it whatsover.

 

[Seriously?]

I think it's fair to say that car parks are a no-win situation: however careful you are, you eventually encounter the 'don't give a sh1t' brigade.
Her indoors has had her Desire Red ST less than 4 months and has now had damage inflicted on both front and rear bumpers.

 

[KXL]

. Part of me thinks thats not funny. Part of me is laughing out loud. I'm so conflicted right now.

Trouble is, I had the theory of only parking next to nice cars. Till I parked near to a brand new RS3 at Star City. Before watching 4 18-20 year olds pile into it, knock one door into a pillar and the other into an old banger the other side and rag it like it was stolen. They went over the speed bumps there around 40mph, the clonk echoed around the car park. I figure maybe it was his dads car or something. But he had no respec' for it whatsover.

Was tempted to give her 'nicely maintained' designer handbag the wall treatement too! I wonder if the RS3 was stolen.or they had family issues..imagine how much insurance would be for that age group for a RS3!

 

[AnnaSmith73]

I feel the pain.
Last time I was given a replacement car they refused to give me my deposit money back (over 100pounds) because there were a couple of dog hairs in the backseat... Ridiculous!

 

[Legojon]

Was tempted to give her 'nicely maintained' designer handbag the wall treatement too! I wonder if the RS3 was stolen.or they had family issues..imagine how much insurance would be for that age group for a RS3!

Haha, I'd have paid to see that! Originally I thought stolen. But, they were all relaxed, laughing and joking. Not that means anything. But I think they genuinely didn't give a cr@p about the car. So maybe just loaded, hence the insurance. But... I have also seen a couple of guys outside KFC in an Audi R8, feet on the dash eating a chicken bucket (also on the dash). I went mad when the mrs dropped a smint in my car!

 

[Jimbobcook]

My most annoying hate is when the other half has her bag in the footwell and then grabs it and drags it up over the glove box door... There has been many a telling off. But I've not had the smint issue yet... I just get all the sweet wrappers in the door when she gets out...

Is there any conditioning available for partners?

 

[Legojon]

I run an advanced staring course. The mrs once maneuvered to put her handbag on the roof . Using my "advanced stare", she hesitated - twice, before deciding to move round and put it in the boot!! Training! That's what it's all about!