Background to the story, my RS6 has been in the bodyshop for the last two weeks after an old duffer scuffed the rear door by not looking where
he's going.
This morning the tracking system goes mental. Seems the car has been taken up and down the road outside the bodyshop, twice, accelerating hard both
times. Basically they've taken it out and razzed it up and down the road outside a couple of times.
Engine was running for two minutes before the acceleration alert so it's been done from cold.
Keep in mind this is an Audi RS6 so not exactly run of the mill.
I've rung the bodyshop and spoken to the manager, who says they had to take it for a test drive because they had repaired the rear wheel. The
second time was apparently the first guy heard wind noise from the rear so asked the mechanic to take it out too. This would be fair I guess if it
was just a gentle drive but the data suggests that it was given a foot full.
Of course I drive it like that too, but it's my car and I certainly don't do it from cold.
I'm pretty annoyed about this. Is that justified? What do you think I should ask the bodyshop to do to remedy the situation?
Chris
Hi Chris, sorry to hijack the post but you should have a U2U.
Get on their case, i had a similar experience but in my case they crashed it. Not acceptable as far as im aware.
My question would be : how exactly can they repair a rear wheel ? Sounds like hogg wash to me and they just fancied a blast.
I think your annoyance is totally justified, your car has gone in for a body repair not to be "road tested".
ATB Dan
[Edited on 22/3/13 by wylliezx9r]
I can understand you being annoyed Chris, I would be. But as far as being able to attribute any tangible loss to this, is going to be difficult,
therefore so would any reccompense.
Body shop is not somewhere you want to be often is it? So it's not like you want to arrange your next repair for free!
Notch it up to experience and make it known you will recommend they are not used is about it I think.
Unless they pull something out of the bag as a peace offering, bouquet of flowers or box of chocs
Someone on PH went to pick up his GT86 after a warranty repair that took two weeks, only to find it had over 250 miles extra on the clock! All he got
was an apology from the dealership.
Personally I don't trust any main dealers. There must be some good ones I suppose (and equally some terrible independents), but incompetence and
lying do seem to be their most exercised skills.
Walk into his office and without asking start using his PC, or phone, or coffee machine.
Just to make a point.
make sure as many customers notice too.
I would tell them you have seen the tracking device report, and explain that you're not happy with their actions - like you said, not warming the
car up, thrashing it etc..
Big case in Essex recently where Quik Fit employee took out customs' Porsche, without express permission, and killed a child.
What they think is just a bit of "harmless fun" isn't always seen that way....
You've clearly caught them red handed and their excuse doesn't wash. A test drive yes - caning it up and down outside their premises no - its not going to find wind noise or an issue with a wheel. You should expect compensation in the form of a reduced bill and if its through the insurance company you should inform them as this is not acceptable service.
Name and shame the bodyshop and then email the manager a link to this thread so that he can see the number of people who will have viewed your
post!
[Edited on 22/3/13 by richardm6994]
Does the tracker tell you what speed it reached? To hear any body related wind noise you would need to be doing over 50 or maybe even 60 MPH.
Well out of order but I bet it happens a lot.
Stu
Average 62mph. 
Chris
Nothing new but sickening all the same. Total lack of respect.
I agree with others there is not much you can do except show your disgust in the usual ways.
I believe you live not far from Aylesbury like me, if they are local I would appreciate a U2U if you don't broadcast their details on here. I can
add then to my blacklist.
Do 'em Chris!! There's too much of this garbage goes on. I always make a note of mileage if I ever take a car in and maybe I'm paranoid, but I don't trust a garage I've not used before until they earn it.
Report it to the Police as taken without your authority - aka stolen!
I had something similar years ago. I had a dreadfully awful fiesta 1.6S - the first new car I ever owned! On one of the many occasions that it went
back to the ford stealer, as my sister drove me in to work, I saw the car parked outside the local bank!!! I went straight over and demanded to see
my car, but they too were unrepentant saying it needed a test drive and they thought they would kill 2 birds with 1 stone?
I too would go in to them when they are busy and make as big and loud a fuss as possible and wait for them to cringe and give up!!!
What's the speed limit on the road they're on. You could report them to the police for TWOC and breaking the speed limit in your car. And if
I was being mean report them to MIB because (seeing as they didn't have your permission) the insurance they will have used to drive your vehicle
is officially void.
Quite clearly the "manager" is feeding you BS. There's no need to go for a full-throttle blast in that circumstance and they know it.
I'd just do the broken record thing and keep on asking why they did it until they gave a reasonable excuse (IE cos they could) and then ask them
what they're going to do about it.
Gggrrrrrrr. This takes the piss, I would want an answer, and not some BS about a road test. This was blatant abuse of your car.
quote:
Originally posted by richardm6994
Name and shame the bodyshop and then email the manager a link to this thread so that he can see the number of people who will have viewed your post!
[Edited on 22/3/13 by richardm6994]
quote:
Originally posted by ChrisW
Average 62mph.
Chris
Local papers love stories like this, especially on a quiet news day.
I agree with DarrenW. Average of 62mph......in a 30 zone. Illegal. Make em squirm using that as a bargaining chip for a reduced bill i'd say.
The fact you have data to back it up is all that matters. It does not lie. They might, but the data doesn't.
A car that has gone in for some body repair does NOT require a test drive. Was the job so poor they were worried the paint might slip off in the
wind?!!!!
Name and shame, Chris - about the only satisfaction you'll get!
Sorry to say that they'll probably continue to bullshit their way out of it.
Had a similar situation years ago when I owned a Thema Turbo.
Booked it into a Lancia dealer near Iver for a service.
Dropped the car off first thing and asked for a lift to the station - "Sorry but no-one available".
So I walked to the station and as I sat on the train in the station my car pulled up at the nearby newsagents, one of their mechanics gets out ,
strolls into the shop , buys his fags and newspaper, drives off!
Needless to say I gave the receptionist a bollocking when I picked it up but had it explained to me that they "needed the car hot to drain the
oil out properly"!!!
Cheers, Pewe10 
Was the repair done via your insurer Chris?
If so, that would be my first call. Most bodyshops rely on insurer fed work and the threat of losing it will be a wake up call. Next up tackle the
manager and his staff head on with the tracking data and do it face to face on front of customers.
If they broke the speed limit I'd have no qualms about reporting to the police either.
Let's face it, they wouldn't have done it a Mondeo would they, it's not acceptable.
Reminds me of this
http://youtu.be/SZbQ_KOGBcQ
I was cycling to the MOT garage to pick up my car , only to be nearly run over by it.
An old colleague of mine once had an unexpected speeding ticket come through the door.
The his local car dealer denied any thing to to with it.
Unfortunately for them his data tracking device said otherwise.
I guess it happens a lot.
As I said on FB I'd be fuming. Go down there and make as much noise as possible then go smash their hire car up 
To average 62mph is quite a feat, if as you say it was a short but hard squim down a road near the premises. That would need a top speed of 100mph+ to
average over 62mph when allowing for the buildup.
To get an average of 62mph on a motorway when you drive at an illegal 80 takes some doing allowing for slip road and roundabout on and off and a 50
mile journey between. Thats why I am always in awe of the riders on the Isle of Man TT average of 130mph+ - think about it!
Chris, you have to knowledge and technology on your side. Book and appointment with the manager, go and confront him face to face and ask him very
politely for your keys and suggest they put their account in the shredder. If its an insurance job then report it. As someone else has posted an
innocent persons life could be on the line next time.
quote:
Originally posted by ChrisW
Background to the story, my RS6 has been in the bodyshop for the last two weeks after an old duffer scuffed the rear door by not looking where he's going.
I've rung the bodyshop and spoken to the manager, who says they had to take it for a test drive because they had repaired the rear wheel.
Average of 62mph means it went over 70mph unless they went a very long way, certainly well over the speed limit for an industrial estate.
Sounds like that could be made to look very career limiting for the manager. Doubt the owner of the business would want the press attention never
mind the police turning up and making life difficult for him.
As for recompense an oil change and a tank full of fuel would be my starting point.
quote:
Originally posted by iank
Average of 62mph means it went over 70mph unless they went a very long way, certainly well over the speed limit for an industrial estate.
Sounds like that could be made to look very career limiting for the manager. Doubt the owner of the business would want the press attention never mind the police turning up and making life difficult for him.
As for recompense an oil change and a tank full of fuel would be my starting point.
Name and Shame Chris
I would inspect the work, take the car for test drive so you've got the keys and then promptly refuse to pay the bill until the matter is
resolved to your satisfaction.
If they've done that speed on a public road I would have no hesitation in reporting it to the Police and the Press.
One of the many reasons why I don't trust garages to carry out work on my vehicles.
Hi Chris, as earlier can you please read your U2U messages.
why not name and shame them right here right now?
you have every right too
quote:
Originally posted by iank
Average of 62mph means it went over 70mph unless they went a very long way, certainly well over the speed limit for an industrial estate.
Sounds like that could be made to look very career limiting for the manager. Doubt the owner of the business would want the press attention never mind the police turning up and making life difficult for him.
As for recompense an oil change and a tank full of fuel would be my starting point.
quote:
Originally posted by balidey
Walk into his office and without asking start using his PC, or phone, or coffee machine.
Just to make a point.
make sure as many customers notice too.
Having just got my first car about 6 months ago, I don't think I'll ever use the services of the garage.
I don't like the idea of a garage fixing my car even if it is paid for under insurance 
Although my car is a banger so it'd be written
off, then I'd just buy it back.
How much does a tracker cost?
About 25 years back a garage owner well known in old car circles in my part of the world was doing work on an XK120 drophead while the owner was abroad. Betraying the customers trust ran the Jag in a Sprint at Knockhill.
Booked my mint, club concourse cup winning old SAAB 96 in for a new balance shaft (Ford Taunus V4) Went a week later to pick it up (I always turn up a
bit early just to catch people out) . The guy came swinging into the garage , explained they didn't do the work as it was too much work and the
car was full of sand from the local beach, lunch rubbish, kids shoes etc. I lost it and he ran off out the back of the garage and clambered over the
fence, I terrorized the bastard for months after that. 
Never did find anyone wanting to do the balance shaft, 3 engine swaps later out of old motors which were also no good I bought a reconditioned one and
sold the thing
Chris
I live in Aylesbury as well and run a 4.2 B6 Allroad not quite as exotic as your RS but in a similar vein and I would love to know which body shop to
avoid, as mine is due in next week to have a new parking sensor paint matched Graham
PS if you don't want to publicly post would really appreciate a U2U
Hope someone looses their job!