Toyota Garage, Do you trust toyota garage test driving your car? Options

[3SGTE]

I was in getting some work done to the gt-four a while ago, and while i was waiting a mechanic drove out the garage in my car and didnt return for 15mins. I wasnt even informed of this test drive of my car, and no mention of whether the mechanic is insured or not.

Whats your thoughts??
I reckon the car was given some beans.

Going in again soon, what should i say to not let happen again??

This post has been edited by 3SGTE: Jan 20, 2008 - 5:16 PM

[Supersprynt]

The insurance from the dealership/shop will cover any damages if they were to happen.

That said, I really don't trust anybody with my car that's why nobody touches it.

[Stogbob]

Was it just like minor work? or was it something he would have to actually test drive to see if it's working well or not? That is pretty sketchy though..

[Valo666]

yea...dealerships usually have an insurance policy and will cover any dmg done to a car while at their shop/with some one driving it from the company. I work at a Canadian Tire *kind of line a department store with a garage and decent auto parts section*, in the garage and im covered under the companies insurance for any dmg done to the car. One of the guys who i work with actually accidently backed a brand new Mazda 6 out of the garage with the back door open and did so much damage it needed an entire new door, he was fully covered on it. Owner didnt have to pay any thing for the dmgs. Also depending on what your car goes in the shop for, they will have to do a test drive.

What kind of work exactly did you bring it in for??

[stetsonaw]

mechanic...test drive...thrashed it; reminds me of "Ferris Bueller's Day Off".

[mrgrape]

mechanic...test drive...thrashed it; reminds me of "Ferris Bueller's Day Off".

lolz

[TheMadScientist]

I don't trust anybody working on my cars let alone someone else driving them

[lagos]

What kind of work were you having done?
They normally go for a short test drive to help diagnose the cause of your problem.

[dagreat1]

The same thing hapened with my 3sgte when i took mine in for an alignment and when i got the car back it was still pulling and they broke a mirror... they gave me the alignment for free instead of fixing the mirror which was okay i guess since i got another fomr the junk yard... Very recently though I took my car to a mechanic to get my AC reinstalled... I bought what i thought was all the parts from someone off here and the mechanic then told me i didn't have enough of the AC lines... so the car sat in the shop for 3 months as he went from junk yard to junk yard searching for AC lines... I was at school and I'm sure he probably put my car on the back burner ince he knew i wasn't going to be back till christmas break... when I got back yea the A/C was fixed but there was a huge dent on my driver side fender the rear passenger corneranel looked like it had been side swipped.. there was a nail in my fron right tire and the switch that changes the colors of my gauges insde my car was missing... and in the end I still had to pay $150 for the install. Yea I'll never trust another mechnic with my car again... except for maybe Dr. Tweak

[Turbotone]

when i paid my local Toyota dealer a visit to enquire about some headlight covers, while i was in the parts dept i was amazed to hear 2 so called technicians ask each other "So what is it" (maybe de badging the front really threw them). when i went outside they asked me "nice car mate, what is it"? "It's a Celica" I told them, (I didnt want to confuse them with the details so i left it at that) I have heard of a few horror stories, and would not let ANYONE i didnt trust drive my GT4. as for a toyota dealer...............NO WAY
If a test drive is required go with them. I spend time allowing my temps to rise before i rag sh*te out of my turbo. Do you think the technician is as bothered as you? i think not

hth

[robdrummer]

you have every right to go with the mechanic when he test drives your car.

[CelicaZR]

Well I put my car in for the 80k kms service today at Toyota.
I'll see how it goes. They have been alright so far:)

[jason]

i think you should go with them, since you are concerned something provoked that...

at the very least the guy prolly wanted to have some fun and who can blame him. next time it goes back talk with them and tell them you would like to be present for anythign done to it. usually they give you insurance lines, but most all technicians will allow you to watch.

as for test driving, id go with them, and once everything is all warmed up let them have a little fun with the car. its not everyday someone gets to drive such a magnificent car. that way you are there with them, and are conscious of what happens, plus your not pissing them off.

might even put a smile on the guys face n he'll drop some labor charges

but to ask again, why was it in for service?

[cjh4l22]

I drive my car. only other person to ever touch it was my best friend. for lik 10minutes. and my brother moving it one day in the driveway. i was still kinda pissed about that because he didn't tell me, and i later came to find out that on one occasion he was pulling out in his car and sideswiped mine (i had originally thought it happened at work, b/c he didn't tell me). so yea.. can't even trust family. its MY car so I drive it. and as for working on it... nothing done by mechanics anyway. if my friends and i don't know how to do it (or dr. tweak here soon ) it doesn't get done.. lol
and **** them driving it at all.. i'll tell them if they did the job right or not, and if they don't i'll bring it back.

[3SGTE]

Was it just like minor work? or was it something he would have to actually test drive to see if it's working well or not? That is pretty sketchy though..

What kind of work exactly did you bring it in for??

An oil filter change. do them myself now

[Valo666]

yea..for a lube job, they shouldnt be taking your car out..it should b in, and out, unless your car is cold, even then, they should only take it around the parking lot or down the street for 2 min to warm up the engine, but not 15 min. If i were you, i would go talk to the shop foreman/manager and the owner of the dealership and give them hell.

personaly, most of my jobs that come in at my work are LOF *lube oil filter* and the only place i drive the customers car is out of the parking spot, around to the back of the shop where my bay is, up onto my hoist and repeat the same places as i go to park it for them when im finished. Even if the customers car needs a part from the dealership 2 units over, i get out of their car and take the shop truck.

[azian_advanced]

yeah, they took your car for a joy ride man.. that's why i can't trust others to do work on my own car unless i wasn't capable of doing it myself.