Safety Check - $2k + quote for what?

[cro142]

Originally Posted by Mr Brooksy

I'm not surprised, but on the other hand I am. I'll explain.

I'm not surprised as many franchises of many kinds have a policy to over sell anything and everything, why do we think there are the small cheap things within reaching distance of kids at supermarket checkouts etc? You kind of just expect it.

My experience with this particular franchise (admittedly a few years ago now and very rarely even then) has been one of appreciation. I've spoken to a few franchises that I wouldn't even bother driving to for an opinion of the weather let alone my car. But the ones I've actually gone to have been very good.

One such experience was a trip from Newcastle to Adelaide. Got my local mechanic to fit Nolothane bushes in the rear of a BA V8 Ghia just before the trip. Everything felt fine for the few days before the big trip... Till I whacked on a trailer fully laiden with audio visual equipment. And drove off (rookie mistake).

Only took 45mins of very weird driving for me to stop at the nearest privately owned local suspension specialist. They went over it with a fine tooth comb for 2 hours (another team of guys on the trailer to check that too), and found... Nothing. Their best professional guess was tyre pressures. Do you know how many times one can stop and change pressures at every petrol station from Sydney to Adelaide?! By the Hay plains I was sick to death of getting no where. So with the specialists reassurance ringing in my ears (there's no mechanical issue with car or trailer), I coped with an unpredictable rear end the rest of the way. Nerves frayed, the initial onset of a severe case of gastro I went to the first local Pedders franchise I could find in a city I knew nothing about. In 15 mins they had me under the car showing me that the rear cradle hadn't been tightened properly and from what they could tell, a few bolts were missing (no sign of deformation so likely not even put in). They fixed it gave me some vouchers and charged me for the $21 safety check. That's it. The drive back to Newcastle, while having the worst trip home ever thanks to my then friend Gastro, was perfect on the mechanical front. The rear of the car felt great... I should know, my rear was sensitive to any movement that trip ;)

Point is, yes I generally don't trust big companies as a rule, you have to go in expecting the worst and yet don't assume the independent local guy isn't the same now days. WHEN you find the realy good guys, stick with em through thick and thin. Even if they are big franchises.

Take it to multiple places for quotes, advice, chin wagging, whatever, for nothing more than to find the right guys you feel are down to earth and reliable enough to touch your car. You'll peeve off some places cause they'll feel you're a tyre kicker. No worries, they don't want tge work enough to show some humanity and customer service.

Yep, the most important thing is to shop around and find someone you can trust, then stick with him.