Woe is me, woe is my car

[thistlechaser]

Stupid 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.

Comments

[phoenixtoashes.livejournal.com]

This is the best I can come up with...

May your car always work when it has to;
May your cat always be healthy and happy;
May your job always bring steady paychecks;
May your computer always work when you use it;
And may something large and heavy fall on evil automechanics who try and screw you over.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

*laughs* I love it, thanks! I may just have to tape a copy of that to my computer, so I can look at it when I talk to the mechanic next.

Thanks!

[isiscolo.livejournal.com]

I'm always in favor of people riding their bicycles to work. Fucking or non-fucking.

[aretina.livejournal.com]

Rough idle can be the motor mounts, and not getting them fixed is a ticket to disaster-- you can literally stop, and the rest of the car besides the wheels and the chassis just kind of keeps on going. One of ours was cracked, then it broke altogether since we didn't do anything about it, and the car was lurching at every stoplight. Just image how happy the car will be with all those fresh new parts! I always feel kind of cleansed when I've had a lot of work done on the car, like I've averted disaster (like the accident I got into on snow because I was tardy in replacing the balding tires-- no one was hurt, but what a pain in the rear) or, oddly, as if I've gone to confession. Forgive me, it has been 3000 miles since my last oil change. Just give the car a nice firm pat on the rump when you get it back and tell it (gently) to be grateful for all that you've done, and everything will be just fine.

On the other hand, I had a car that was costing more to fix than the second job I had was paying me, so I junked the car and quit the job. It's sometimes an option, but moreso if you have two jobs, or live close enough.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Ah, thanks for the info, that's really interesting... and it sounds just like what I imagined a "motor mount" would do -- sort of keep all the important parts together.

On the other hand, I had a car that was costing more to fix than the second job I had was paying me, so I junked the car and quit the job. It's sometimes an option, but moreso if you have two jobs, or live close enough.

Nope, just one job, and not reasonably close enough to really bike. (Plus, I'm lazy.) Other than replacing brakes, I haven't had to put too much money into it yet, so I guess this is due.

So I stand by my ealier offer: If they can get it done by tomorrow afternoon, I'll try not to be grumpy and just pay the money.

Thank you!

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

*laughs* Sorry for the language, I usually try to edit it out. And alas, the bike-riding was more of an idle threat than anything else. Work is far and I'm way too lazy.

Thanks for the gigggle though!

[metron-ariston.livejournal.com]

I hope you aren't getting screwed. :\ I know nothing about cars and don't even drive. @_@; Aren't most tires supposed to get about 20-25k of use out of them? I know that a lot of Costcos have tire centers now, maybe if you call them up you might be able to get a better price and at least pass on that part?

Maybe next time you could enlist the help of a friend, or read up on that particular repair place to find out what kind of reputation they have? If they have a bad reputation you might be able to get some recourse, especially if he works for a Saturn dealership, and I always hear about how Saturn is such a great company (though I suppose it could all be lies, lies!)

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Silly (or is it 'slow'?) me did these things belatedly. I checked the BBB on them and I'm looking for tire prices and stuff. In three years, they have three complaints with the BBB (one for service, the other two for other things), so I suppose that's not too bad...

I always hear about how Saturn is such a great company

They did start out to be a great/different car company, but that was 10+ years ago. Now they're mostly just an average company (unfortunately).

Thanks!

[phoenixtoashes.livejournal.com]

*grins* No problem. :D
I enjoy bringing a little joy into other people's lives. Or at least some amusement. :)

[spenceraloysius.livejournal.com]

In some odd coincidence, I changed the windshield wipers on my car yesterday. It cost me $4.99 at Pet Boys and 30 minutes in labor, because I couldn't understand the printed instructions. Only 1/10th the price, but the same amount of aggravation.

[tersa.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I would second the recommendations against getting the dealer wipers; those are easier to change yourself than making Kraft Macaroni'n'Cheese.

Also, CostCo *does* do tires. You should ask them for $70 what kind of tires they are, how many miles they're supposed to last for, etc. You may be paying for low-mileage tires and, if so, you may be better going to CostCo or TirePlus or something.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

I think that was part of my problem with them, I must have gotten them changed somewhere else, and so Saturn tsk-tsked at me about it.

Sorry yours didn't go smoothly!

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Eek, I didn't even think about what kind of tires they might be. Ugh. Thanks for the reminder!