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Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2007 10:57 am Subject: I hate car dealers

Ok heres my story..... I started having some problems with my trucks exhaust. I knew one of the welds broke, but it is rattling and hitting the frame and it is sooooo loud because of this. Well I had an appt to get my oil changed so I have waited a couple of days and using my truck in the meantime. So I bring in the truck this morning for the oil change and the recall work and they tell me that they will look at the exhaust and get back to me. Well almost 2 hours later the lady calls my name and tells me how much I owe. Thank god it was only for the oil change. Then I ask her about the exhaust and told her they were supposed to come talk to me about that So she goes back and talks to them and comes back and tells me that it is a special order part that I need. Then I ask her well was it just the muffler and tail pipe or is it the whole exhaust she looked at me like I don't know and was going to go back and talk to them. I told her I will go and talk to them. So anyway I go back there and ask why no one came and talked to me he said he was sorry (right) then I asked about the truck and he tells me the WHOLE exhaust system needs to be replaced. I'm like WTF and then tells me it will be around $300. Then he gives me a list of the things that are wrong with my truck, exhaust, 4 ball joints, one of the axle seals are leaking, air filter, and a serp. belt. I know my belt is over $100 then the ball joints are $1000 but $300 for the exhaust? I don't think so. So I called a muffler shop and was asking about prices (hubby called them yesterday) and told them that now they say I need the whole exhaust. The guy on the phone says I don't think you do but bring it in for a free inspection and we will let you know. I am thinking that the dealer just wantes more money out of me because I used a coupon for the oil change and then I told him that I had a quote for fixing the exhaust. So I think they were pissed. But I am still trying to figure out where I am going to pull this money from because it is still going to cost me $140 to fix I hate it though because it is so loud until you step on the gas then the noise goes away. I hate it because everyone stares and it sounds like the truck is going to blow up lol. Ok so now I go speeding through town so I don't make a lot of noise and lets say I get pulled over for speeding lol then I tell the cop well sorry officer my exhaust is loud so the only way to make it quiet is to keep my foot on the gas so thats why I was speeding instead of breaking the noise ord. lmao what do you think they will say to that lmao. I hate car dealers, they just try and suck you dry and if your already dry then they say well too bad Sorry for going on so long I was just pissed. I will let you know what happens tomorrow at the muffler shop.

Oh and btw, I asked hubby if I could use his truck so I could do my running because mine was so loud and he looked at me and said no. So you all know where he is right now (in the dog house)lol.

Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2007 11:25 am Subject:

So just what is broke? are the pipes separated? can you just by a $3 metal muffler strap at the auto store and fix it? If it's just a weld, find a welder to seal it up. I had a damaged trans pan that would have cost me a couple hundred to replace fixed by a guy at the car shop up the road from my house for $10. Good as new.

Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2007 5:18 pm Subject:

I was fortunate enough to find a fair mechanic who didn't want my first born for repairs.

Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2007 6:26 pm Subject: reply

puddle, I'm sorry. This does bite. First of all, let me say that I love your new avatar! You're getting like volley! I keep seeing a new one! Second, I used to work at a car dealership. Yeah. You need new EVERYTHING at a dealership. God love them. You're best bet is to go to the small "mom and pop" shops (no lie) and get quotes. The ones that won't rip you off are the ones working for themselves. The dude owns the place, whatever. The dealerships are horrible when you take your vehicle in there. They will try to convince you that you need everything under the sun. Bull. You do not. Try to find a nice honest place (word of mouth is the best reference) and just have them take a look at it. Unreal. Like I said, I used to work at a dealership. Loved the "service department". Sharks.

Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2007 6:31 pm Subject:

the repair shop that i took my car to was the best. if the work does not need to be done, they will not do it. when my car was about 2 years old, i was i needed brake pads and i took it to one shop and they said that i needed rotors and pad. when i took it to my repair shop, the man said that the people were trying to rip me off and he replaced the pads and i had no more problems. the same shop told a friend of mine that he needed rotors and pads and i had him take the car to my shop and the only problem he had was brake dust.

Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2007 6:37 pm Subject: reply

See? Word of mouth is the best way to find an honest person who will not rip you off. Amazing what some people do. Huh. Maybe they do car repairs during the day and make pdl calls at night????? Shocked

Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2007 6:51 pm Subject:

OMG! That's just horrible they are trying to rob you blind. They always want me to do something crazy when I take it to the dealer-then I go to the local mechanic & he's always telling me that don't need to do what they are telling me.

Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2007 8:34 pm Subject:

yep I agree with that. I used to have someone but he ended up closing shop due to health problems. He used to let hubby use his place on a sunday, so we rented his place for $40 used his tools and he was there helping hubby and all it cost was $40. But I know that some of the brackets are broke and we have a co-op here that will weld them for $5. So if the muffler guy says the exhaust system is ok and all I need is a couple of welds then it is just $5 Very Happy

I am keeping my fingers crossed. This dealership is the same one that charged me $90 to tell me that my tranny was sticking on my car ummmm duh I knew that, thats why I brought it in there. Then they tell me it's going to be $400 to fix. Well I called around and found someone and he is going to fix it plus do a tranny flush (it needs it the car is a 96 and it has never been done Embarassed

) and change the filter all for $200. I got socked with a $150 tranny flush on my truck from this dealer Evil or Very Mad

But I needed it asap my light kept going on telling me that something was wrong. Thats the problem with living in a small town there is one place to get your car fixed and it's the dealer all others are 40+ miles away.

thanks about the avatar lol that is just how I feel today lol just so stupid. I had a different one that I wanted to use but my puter would not let me resize it Evil or Very Mad

I will let you know what happens tomorrow at the muffler shop. he even thinks that I don't need a whole exhaust system. Keep your fingers crossed lol. Plus, thanks for letting me vent lol

Posted: Fri Nov 02, 2007 8:51 am Subject:

There's only two things I hate in this world. People who are intolerant of other people's cultures.

And the Dutch.
Wink

Posted: Fri Nov 02, 2007 9:06 am Subject:

Car dealer's are a necessary evil that I may visit only rarely.My father in law is a retired mechanic and if I can't convince him to help he does know who will not rip me off!!

Posted: Fri Nov 02, 2007 10:14 am Subject:

Jeff- I just HAVE to know--Why the Dutch?
(I'm sure there is some twisted reason)

Posted: Fri Nov 02, 2007 10:32 am Subject:

I was hoping to post a link to the video of it being said, but no luck. It's a joke from the last Austin Powers movie "Goldmember". Austin's dad Nigel said that line.

Personally, I love the Dutch. Best national team uniforms in the world - both standard and their alternates:

Posted: Fri Nov 02, 2007 11:00 am Subject:

Must be nice Cajun hmmmm can I borrow him lol

lol@ austin powers Jeff

Ok now back to my truck, well it wasn't a quick fix but it also wasn't the whole thing either. The best part is that they took me in the shop and pointed out what was wrong so I saw for myself. But thanks to ford for not having just a regular muffler it still cost me quite a bit. But I did get my serp. belt, air filter changed and my exhaust fixed (and welded) for $200. I was pretty happy with that. Seeing as the dealer wanted $300 just to fix the exhaust. So if I would have had the work done at the dealer it would have cost $465 so by driving 40 miles I saved $265 Smile

Oh and I forgot hubby had some overtime on his check so I am taking that to pay for my truck getting fixed seeing as he wouldn't let me use his truck hehehe(in my most evil laugh) Plus this place doesn't only do exhaust work they also do regular car work so I think I found a place I can trust Smile

Thanks for all your input!!! Now people can't hear me coming lol.

Posted: Fri Nov 02, 2007 11:34 am Subject:

@puddle. Girl that man has not touched a vehicle not belonging to him in ages.He works strictly on his toys now unless I am broke down with no way to go to work.

Posted: Fri Nov 02, 2007 12:25 pm Subject:

This is the reason why mechanics at dealer's get bad reputations. I myself have been given the run around about how much it was going to cost to fix my Honda. Thank god my cousin in manager at a tire store and all the work that have done is through his mechanics. He has saved me lots of cash. Typical male species, they think woman don't know crap.

ladybug

Posted: Fri Nov 02, 2007 11:49 pm Subject:

Lady I totally agree with you !people always get taken advantage of because they don't have the expert in their corner! Maybe car dealers or mechanics are not considered an expert until you expect them to protect your interests!

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