I bet that's the REAL story.

I too am surprised this still happens today. I was a porter at a P car dealer back in 84-85 and it happened there on some level, not over night but we drove the cars all over town for legit reasons. Then went on to work at a BMW indy shop...and holy $hit! The stuff they did was truly criminal. Mechanics taking cars home for the weekend, stealing BBS spares out of everyone's car and reselling them, hammering customers cars.

Wasn't there a guy in Florida that made the news for doing that? I'm picturing this fat guy defending himself over driving someones vette for a week while they were on a cruise or something?

 

Ferris Bueller's day off coming true?!?! I would be BEYOND LIVID!

My laundry list of recourse;
-Service refund
-Get my story out (1 bad apple...)
-Sue for punitive damages (over-revs...get a dealer to do a cost estimate on new motor as baseline for compensation )
-Pay for new rear tires regardless

That drives me nuts!!!!

A neighbor had an 08 M5---took it in for service and the little ghetto rat mechanics took it out for a joyride...couldn't handle the power and long story short slid it off the road side swiping a guard rail on lunch. Dealer refunded 100% of the cost of the car new after first trying to cover it up calling to inform of an incident requiring 'a little body work.'

I have ZERO tolerance for this...

I took my 996 911 in for an oil change and it came back with 26 more miles, got it comp'ed and never went back to that shop...I remember that feeling...can't imagine yours.

 

Not sure this always would apply but I usually WAIT for the car during a service of less than 2 hrs... or at least make it same day pickup... I know thats not always possible but something to think about.

 

many many moons ago, my parents olds(ter)mobile sedan was in for service over the weekend at the local oldsmobile dealer. at 2am on that Sat. nite, they were called by Baltimore city cops - a city 45min away from where the dealer was - who had pulled over "their nephew" in their car and wanted to confirm he had permission to drive it. i guess it's possible that my parents, being white, could have had a black "nephew", but the lie turned out even funnier than that - turns out there was an ambitious prostitution business operating by a few in dealership/service bay. cars in for service were used as sluttransport.

at first my 'rents reluctantly accepted the "goodwill" of a measily full detail. but just a few weeks later, mom still couldnt get past the grossness of it all and demanded more. the dealer agreed to buy the car for a couple grand over bluebook (which was of course probably still screwing my parents but at least it was more $ than any other dealer would give.)

is it a P-dealer? if you're in the market for a new one, maybe you can work in a hell of a trade-in/new deal if you play your anger correctly.

 

Horrible...so to hear.

 

Attorney for sure!

 

Wow, this has always been my biggest fear when I drop my car at a dealer or any other shop. I would definitely get some money for depreciation, tires, etc. Good luck and keep us posted! Also, call your local news. Often times they love this kind of news.

 

I think most of the suggestions are gross overreactions. Claiming damages from 230 miles of depreciation? It won't make a difference on blue book value. Type 2 overrevs? Won't cause engine failure, and you'd have to prove that they weren't there before the joy ride. Tires? Absolutely if they wore them out. If it's a smart shop, they had you sign a work order authorizing them to drive the car, which would prevent any legal recourse. You may find some sympathy in small claims. I'm interested to hear what your lawyer says.
The bigger issue here is that your trust and your property were taken advantage of. How do you put a monetary value on that?

 

230mi on a 1/4 tank of gas?!?! is your car a hybrid?

 

Good point! He must have put $10 worth of gas to "cover it up"

I filled it up with Shell gas before dropping it off as I thought is was misfiring because of the bad gas.

 

Agree 100%.
I am just going to put them on notice that if anything goes wrong with the car in the near future they may be liable.Not going to waste my time trying to recoup any depreciation or such..It is more mental than anything..

 

how on earth would you prove it was down to that particular 230 miles though, its impossible.

He could have driven it perfectly nicely and gently, the over revs may have been you or may have happened before you bought the car, if the mechanic only drove it 5 miles but beat the absolute hell out of it he could have done much more damage than 230 miles of gentle driving

i would be pissed too but theres really not much you can do (other than spreading their name over the internet), you just need to get over it and move on

 

DME report shows total hours used and when the revs occurred.It's easy to pinpoint as it just happened.
Many think that redlining is ok I just don't do it, period.

As you said, its done, I am moving on.

 

Vladm,

I have to agree with the quote here.

I have many lawyers for a bunch of specialty I need. Something like this happens, if your attorney is greedy he'll tell you we can get this and that and ask for a $5k retainer... If he's a realist he'll tell you the fight will not be worth the expenditure and the value of your time. Also you can't squeeze water out of a rock, it's one thing to get a judgement another to collect it, a shop like that must not have much net worth.

Out him everywhere you can. Plus chalk it up to experience and vest thoroughly the next shop. Why didn't you have the Porsche dealer do the coils they seem to have done the analysis well?

 

before I threaten legal action I would want to be afforded the opportunity to thoroughly and completely investigate what was originally attached to the long blond hair. Chances are, since you are the real OWNER of the vehicle, you could come out quite well there.

Once that inspection has been completed, you can contemplate your other options.