Woe is me, woe is my car
Nov. 24th, 2003 04:59 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
thistlechaserStupid mechanics. Car was supposed to be done by 3, he (Saturn dealership guy) was going to call me then to come pick it up. 3 arrives, but a call does not. 3:40 I call him. He says he's handling some stuff, and will call me "right back". 4:40, no call. I call them again.
Him: Oh guess what! Your wiper blades have some non-dealership standard blah blah blah, it'll be $50 instead of $20!
Me: Whatever. Okay, do it.
Him: You need this hose and that nut and this other thingie replaced. $6, $8, and $20 more!
Me: Mumble. If it needs it...
Him: Have you noticed a rough idle lately?
Me: Yeah... (It's been very rough lately, enough that I thought it might stall out.)
Him: Your motor mount is cracked!
Me, thinking: That does not sound good...
Him: $165 more!
Me: Mumble, mumble. If it needs to be done, okay...
Him: All four tires need to be replaced!
Me: GRRR! How much?
Him: $70 each, plus $85 in labor!
Me, while chewing on my desk to keep from sounding overly annoyed: So I suppose this means I won't get it back today? (Unsaid: I've been sitting here waiting for it to be done since 8 AM. 8.5 hours! I have no food, ate nothing since breakfast.)
Him: Nope! You can pick it up tomorrow mid-afternoon!
Me, thinking: Right. Like you'll call me at 3, like you'd call me "right away". Grrr!
So the initial estimate was $490.00. We're now up to about $1,100. I should just ride my fucking bicycle to work from now on. Cat needs to go to the vet (just for the yearly checkup, nothing bad), but I can't even make an appointment because lord knows if I'll even have a car on Wednesday, let alone tomorrow! I just hope they're not totally screwing me over. They probably are, knowing I'm a car-clueless woman (which I am). I don't want to know how my car works! I couldn't care less! I just want it to go when I push the gas! I hate feel-- heck, not just feeling: being at someone else's mercy. They have my car. I have to take their word on what's wrong with it (I only have until Wednesday off, I don't have time for second opinions).
...Okay. If I'll be calm and sane and not raging, the tires I half-expected might need changing. Those are the biggest extra cost (though a lot higher than I expected). That leaves the only other big thing as the "motor mount", which he knew/guessed about the rough idle ahead of time. Who knows.
Okay, Mr. Saturn Dealership Mechanic, how's this for a deal? I won't bitch about the cost if you get my car done for sure tomorrow afternoon. I feel helpless without it. I don't trust you at all, but I have no choice. Screw me over while you're talking to me in your way-too-happy voice, just get the damned thing finished tomorrow afternoon (as you promised). Please.
Him: Oh guess what! Your wiper blades have some non-dealership standard blah blah blah, it'll be $50 instead of $20!
Me: Whatever. Okay, do it.
Him: You need this hose and that nut and this other thingie replaced. $6, $8, and $20 more!
Me: Mumble. If it needs it...
Him: Have you noticed a rough idle lately?
Me: Yeah... (It's been very rough lately, enough that I thought it might stall out.)
Him: Your motor mount is cracked!
Me, thinking: That does not sound good...
Him: $165 more!
Me: Mumble, mumble. If it needs to be done, okay...
Him: All four tires need to be replaced!
Me: GRRR! How much?
Him: $70 each, plus $85 in labor!
Me, while chewing on my desk to keep from sounding overly annoyed: So I suppose this means I won't get it back today? (Unsaid: I've been sitting here waiting for it to be done since 8 AM. 8.5 hours! I have no food, ate nothing since breakfast.)
Him: Nope! You can pick it up tomorrow mid-afternoon!
Me, thinking: Right. Like you'll call me at 3, like you'd call me "right away". Grrr!
So the initial estimate was $490.00. We're now up to about $1,100. I should just ride my fucking bicycle to work from now on. Cat needs to go to the vet (just for the yearly checkup, nothing bad), but I can't even make an appointment because lord knows if I'll even have a car on Wednesday, let alone tomorrow! I just hope they're not totally screwing me over. They probably are, knowing I'm a car-clueless woman (which I am). I don't want to know how my car works! I couldn't care less! I just want it to go when I push the gas! I hate feel-- heck, not just feeling: being at someone else's mercy. They have my car. I have to take their word on what's wrong with it (I only have until Wednesday off, I don't have time for second opinions).
...Okay. If I'll be calm and sane and not raging, the tires I half-expected might need changing. Those are the biggest extra cost (though a lot higher than I expected). That leaves the only other big thing as the "motor mount", which he knew/guessed about the rough idle ahead of time. Who knows.
Okay, Mr. Saturn Dealership Mechanic, how's this for a deal? I won't bitch about the cost if you get my car done for sure tomorrow afternoon. I feel helpless without it. I don't trust you at all, but I have no choice. Screw me over while you're talking to me in your way-too-happy voice, just get the damned thing finished tomorrow afternoon (as you promised). Please.
