I had a hit and run with my baby(light scuff) and took it back to dealer to have right fender and bumper re-sprayed..Had to leave it for two days, so I took down mileage(distrustfull) and left it(sob). Well, checked work, actually was very well done, was not prepped, well though a couple things(overspray,fingerprints all over)so had that taken care of before I left..Noticed I had 6 extra miles on the odo, not happy. Did not say anything to body shop mgt., but, they called me to ask if i was satisfied with their job..Mentioned somthing about "test drive"(for a paint job) and basically there was no comment. It seems to me when a stook comes in, it's an invitation for anyone who has access to the keys to have free reign to play. Don't want to take it back for service at all, unless I'm there to watch every move,but not easy to do. Anyone else have this problem, and any solution???Thanks..

 

Was the body-shop actually at the dealership? I know a lot of dealerships don't actually have a body-shop on the premeses, and take the car off-site to do any sort of work like that. That might explain the extra mileage...

 

Personally, if I thought a shop drove my car excessively far for a "test" drive I would sue their butts in a second. There's no way to tell what long term damage they may have done to the car - they could have grinded the tranny, overreved the engine, or done a million other things that may not show up now but will shorten the life of parts of the car. And you know that if they were taking a nice long test drive they weren't driving your car like an Accord. Sorry to hear about your experience. I try to do all my own work on my car. Unfortunately, for most of us, body work usually doesn't fit into that category.

 

My suggestion, based on Sondra's post, is to put a little post-it note over the speedometer with a notation of the mileage when you turned the car over to their care. Also note the mileage on any docments they give you to sign when you leave the car and give specific instructions that the car is not to be driven on the roads without your permission. No doubt, some jockey took your car for a joy ride.

A test drive for paint? That's tantamount to fraud, IMO. I'd call them and tell them the car will never come back into their shop and ask for compensation for the mileage that was put on it.

 

Thanks Tim and Strike, yes the shop was at the dealership, and put my trust in them to do their job with my car without taking advantage of opportunity. I am not certain if their are laws pertaining to this subject, but I take extreem care of my baby, and cringe at the idea of leaving it somewhere for work anymore. Unfortunatlly, may need some warrenty and recall work done in spring, so I guess I'll have to take off work to watch. You would figure there would be a little more respect for customers, and have policies regarding this subject. Since the stook (at my dealer) was not allowed to be driven by anyone,salesmen,not even the future owner, there seems to me to be a facination with having one at their disposal to abuse at will..

 

OK, that's a bummer but I'm not going to hunt them down for 6 x $.315 = $1.89.

 

My philosophy is.... outside of a big burnout (which the S2000's barely do, even with a 9k sidestep), there isn't a whole hell of alot anyone else can do to my car that I haven't tried.

Look at what Aaron has done to his (see his video) and it seems to run ok.

I actually encouraged my mechanic at the honda shop to get on mine so i could hear the exhaust.. of course some dumbass pulled right out in front of him putting the kibosh on that idea!

Not the best answer, but...

 

Thanks Rick, I will do the post-it thing and have a conversation with manager before leaving it. I'm not hunting anyone down, and there are a lot of things that could damage motor(mis-shift to 2nd)in the hands of some non-mechanic 18 year old kid..

 

I guess the question comes down to, what really can be done, quickly and with lack of legal resources.

Its your word against theirs. They dodge the question, and you are left hanging. So what can you really do?

 

Bueller, Bueller . . .