Well this sucks

"My bird IS the word" (mybirdistheword)
08/17/2016 at 12:26 • Filed to: None

Whining about my car after the jump

So probably none of you were wondering “what happened to that tetanus box mullet machine?” Whelp, I decided to take it to a shop because 1. oxy-acetylene equipment is expensive, 2. oxy-acetylene equipment scares me and 3. Im a lazy mofo. Upon reccomendations from some bona-fide car guys at work (guys I trust), I did something you should never do (and I hopefully never will again) and took the dirty bird to a guy who told me up front that he had no idea how long it was going to take, or when he is even going to work on it. I asked him if this was going to take months and months (I would have taken it somewhere else had that been the case) and he assured me no, he would probably get to it next week, it just wasn’t going to be a main project for him.

All of this is completely understandable. This is a job few would want to do (after all, I didn’t) and I as a customer am a liability, since if the bolts start snapping off, who is to say I wont be upset? He doesn’t know me. Nor did I have much of a choice, it would be the same story at another shop (mine quoted me well over what I wanted to pay)

Next week was over a month ago, and the car hasn’t moved an inch. Am I being impatient? kinda. I’m thinking that I want to wait two more weeks, and call him in September should it not be touched.

I just want to drive the damn thing. It will be a year since I’ve owned the girl on the 29th. All she needs is a set of tires, the exhaust hooked up, and an electric choke wired. 1 week of work tops.

I haz a sad.

DISCUSSION (16)

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > My bird IS the word
08/17/2016 at 12:35

No you’re not being impatient. He said he’d get to it next week and assured it wouldn’t take months and months, we’re already into the months category. I’d be pissed

FromCanadaWithLove > My bird IS the word
08/17/2016 at 12:36

That’s a pickle. Would you owe him anything if you decided to go elsewhere? I’m not sure about the laws there. My opinion is to try somewhere else.

BringBackTheCommodore > My bird IS the word
08/17/2016 at 12:43

He agreed to do the work, 4 weeks has passed, he’s not done any work on the car. Time to go elsewhere. If it’ll move and drive under its own motive power, that much better.

I had a similar issue with my truck. Shop took it in for repairs. And it sat. And sat. And sat. Long enough for wasps to build a nest in the door jamb and in the side view mirror. Needless to say, I was a little upset over that one - so, I’ll just say, you would be better served getting the work done somewhere else that will actually give you a timeline to completion.

My bird IS the word > FromCanadaWithLove
08/17/2016 at 12:44

I don’t owe him anything (but I used my geico tow already)

shop-teacher > My bird IS the word
08/17/2016 at 13:05

Suck it up and pay for a tow somewhere else.

BigBlock440 > My bird IS the word
08/17/2016 at 13:22

All she needs is a set of tires, the exhaust hooked up, and an electric choke wired. 1 week of work tops.

So what’s the job few wanted to do and you needed a torch for?

My bird IS the word > BigBlock440
08/17/2016 at 13:28

rusted exhaust manifold bolts. metal is too soft and no amount of penetrating oil is helping (likely a seal of rust)

BigBlock440 > My bird IS the word
08/17/2016 at 13:39

Hmm, that’s pretty shitty. Probably have to be drilled and tapped.

uofime-2 > My bird IS the word
08/17/2016 at 14:28

Have you followed up? Sadly the squeaky wheel get the oil, if it's not on his mind it won't get done.

cletus44 aka Clayton Seams > My bird IS the word
08/17/2016 at 14:34

Get out and get out fast. A shop that treats you like that will only get worse.

My bird IS the word > BigBlock440
08/17/2016 at 14:51

once they got oil, the front two came out like they were just out last week. I have faith that the big red wrench can fix this. drill and tapping is a worst case scenario (money wise) at this point. very budget build

My bird IS the word > uofime-2
08/17/2016 at 14:52

I am waiting the customary “not a dick” period. That period has expired already but I am making sure.

My bird IS the word > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
08/17/2016 at 14:54

normally I would agree with you but I don’t have many options here.

uofime-2 > My bird IS the word
08/17/2016 at 16:18

That period was the one week agreed upon!

I'm not suggesting you be a dick, just call them up, ask how's it's going and for an estimated completion date. Then keep calling every few days to a week until the work is done.

My bird IS the word > uofime-2
08/17/2016 at 16:24

He specifically told me that this wasn’t a primary project, and it “probably ” will get done next week. But you're right, it seems a gentle prod is necessary .

cletus44 aka Clayton Seams > My bird IS the word
08/18/2016 at 10:11

Always have options. A $170 tow is way cheaper than a $700 bill on a repair done poorly.