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#1 | ||
Regular Member
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: West of Melbourne
Posts: 488
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I took the car for a 'Safety Check' at a popular suspension company, I figured I don't have a hoist and it wouldn't hurt to find out what needed attention as I just bought the car and I am working through what needs doing.
They come back with a substantial list of issues. A quote with labour of well over $2k. I'm working through the list and no surprise, most of the stuff on their list is perfect. I'll be checking the rest of the back end over the weekend but expect there to be no issues there either. No wonder I have little trust in workshops etc. (I know it's a franchise and not all workshops are dodgy.) ![]() (posted in Workshop area as well http://www.fordforums.com.au/showthr...23#post5624923)
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Cheers Ozrider AUII XR8 200KW FG MK2 XR6 Mini 850 Rover P5 3 Litre Mk1 |
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#3 | |||
Regular Member
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: West of Melbourne
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Quote:
Notes are mine, the list and estimated costs are theirs.
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#4 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
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#5 | |||
MY21.5 Mustang GT
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Shoalhaven, NSW
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Quote:
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#6 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Nov 2009
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I assume that's OP's comments
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#7 | ||
Donating Member
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Location: Checking out soft furnishings....
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Oldest trick in the book, catches a lot of people out
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#8 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 5,033
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Do they still claim the car is too dangerous to drive and refuse to let the customer have the keys until the work is done?
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#9 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Aug 2013
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Quote:
I've seen that done plenty of times when the bill hasn't been paid but not in a situation as described. |
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#10 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Jan 2011
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It wouldn't take too much figuring to work out who the " popular suspension company" actually is. I believe that we all know who it is.
Dr Terry |
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#11 | |||
Former BTIKD
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#12 | ||
Where to next??
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Sydney
Posts: 8,893
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So, are you saying the work needed is all... bull?
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___________________________ I've been around the world a couple of times or maybe more....... |
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#13 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: brisbane
Posts: 1,316
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I had the same problem with a "popular" suspension franchise about looseness in the front end of my AU fairmont a quick look and I was given a quote of over $2000 I said yeah right I got it fixed locally for $200 labour and a $300 reco rack
they must have thought I was an 18 year old girl just get a second opinion John |
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#14 | ||
Regular Member
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 308
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Ha Ha
Yes I know the suspension company you refer to. This racket is just their business model - all the franchises do it, and have been doing so for many years. An inspection will ALWAYS generate a repair quote of around $2K to $3K. Some dummies will pay up, others will say "What's REALLY URGENT, and settle for a (say) $500 to $800 job. The franchise is happy to oblige! I think that to avoid fraud charges, they would say to the Office of Fair Trading that we set our repair criteria at "If it's not as good brand new, it needs replacing" - as we have high standards you know! Stay away. Last edited by cro142; 27-03-2016 at 12:11 AM. |
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#15 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Mar 2006
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I bet I know exactly who this is, they did the same to me. Had a ticking noise I couldn't figure out so dropped it into the "experts" to looks over. I get back 2hrs later to a $1500 quote. Everything they told me was stuffed was perfect, the car only had a rwc a few months prior. Ticking noise ended up being one of the crappy recaps the car came with.
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#16 | ||
Donating Member
![]() Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Sydney
Posts: 1,940
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Let me guess, pedders?
I took my car there (Granville) about a shudder when braking, they came back with a quote saying everything is stuffed an it will cost 4 grand to fix ... everything from four shocks to brake pads which had less than 1000 km on them! The moron deserved a punch to the face, but i paid him his $28 and left. Took the car to Jim Hunter Suspension in Blacktown, identified a couple of issues with front sway bar bushes, $300 or so later, car drives like new. It's been almost 10,000 km since, and no issues. I even asked Jim Hunter to double check my shocks, he put the car on some test rig, and said they're almost like new, and are even better condition than the car's odometer suggests! Stick with the smaller guys, who are more experienced and passionate about cars and their work, who actually care about their Customers, and stay away from the big franchises who woo you with their $28 obligation free safety checks, and then hope some fool falls for their B.S.... |
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#17 | ||
R.I.P. Maggie
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 1,286
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Ive seen alot of "smaller guys" that are really shonky too, its not just the franchises although they are shonks, they are not the only ones
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#18 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Mid North Coast
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They been doing this since the 80's I remember taking my first car there when the brake pads went and they came back with a $1400 quote and I was earning $200 per week at the time.
I was devastated and told my father, who took me to Repco where we bought some new $19 brake pads, two hours later they were changed and the car was fine for another 12 months till I moved on to a better one. About that time I started doing 98% of all my own mechanical work, and have never had a problem with any car that I service and work on.
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#19 | ||
Regular Member
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: West of Melbourne
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Cheers Ozrider AUII XR8 200KW FG MK2 XR6 Mini 850 Rover P5 3 Litre Mk1 |
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#20 | ||
Forum Director
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Central Coast NSW
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Have you taken the car anywhere else to get a second opinion? Whilst I don't doubt your own abilities, perhaps the mechanic involved was erring on the side of caution?
I'm sure that if he said that everything was fine, and the car was inspected by the police/RTA/TMS etc and they found something marginal, he would much prefer to have pointed out potential issues in writing. Put yourself in his shoes. car comes in, owner asks for a full inspection as he has recently purchased the car, and knows that there are a few issues, that require attention(has just bought the car, perhaps limited knowledge of its maintenance history). After a roadtest you discover steering feels a bit "iffy", do you risk your reputation / livelihood(read licence) on a bare minimum quote that you are not entirely sure would rectify the issue, or explain in writing that there may be factors that you haven't yet ruled out? |
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#21 | |||
Regular Member
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: West of Melbourne
Posts: 488
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Quote:
To be told items need to be replaced that when physically removed for inspection show no signs of wear or damage is just plain wrong. He even commented on his test drive that everything appeared tight. As an example, the passenger side wheel hub and bearing was reported as urgently requiring attention as there was play in the assembly, it turned out to be perfect. When I removed the front sway bar bushes they look brand new as do other bushes on the car, the steering rack was reported as 'completely stuffed' yet had no leaks and the only issue I could find was a split boot and play in the left side rack end. The car had only been roadworthied a couple of months earlier by another 'reputable' mechanic and has only done around 1000klms since. He didn't even pick up the split boots and rack end play.
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#22 | ||
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Join Date: Jan 2016
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That's got to be Pedders - once again taking the ****SS.
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#23 | |||
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#24 | |||
Regular Member
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Location: West of Melbourne
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Quote:
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#25 | ||
Experienced Member
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Australasia
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Sorry part of my message was never posted (omitted), don't know what happened there, but my last bit should have said "why be surprised when dealing with Suspension, Brake or Tyre businesses who advertise mechanical work" most will rip you off if given the chance.
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#26 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Nov 2009
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How old, how many km is the car?
If this is the AUII XR8 you recently bought? That would make it 15 years old and in other threads you said it's had years of neglect? Wouldn't surprise me if that quote is a good indication of what needs to be done to get it in tip top shape. Last edited by Brazen; 27-03-2016 at 10:54 AM. |
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#27 | ||
Regular Member
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: West of Melbourne
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Yep, that's what I figured as well, ironically most of the suspension is aftermarket Pedders. It's not the original as the car has been lowered all round.
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#28 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Central Q..10kms west of Rocky...
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I had a quote done by a reputable firm..then by a local suspension specialist. Both quotes stated nearly the same repairs . But local suspension firm was $1,000 cheaper. Went with them, BF now handles better. After 9 years and 150k kms I expected wear. Diff bushes need doing again, going with Super Pro, when I have the money..They are just over $1000k fitted...
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#29 | ||
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Central Coast NSW
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I would be more concerned about the stuff missed on the original roadworthy inspection.
From the sound of things, both yourself and the suspension specialist (perhaps even the mechanic that did the original roadworthy inspection) have felt something suspect on the front left corner. Kudo's to you on following up by taking it in a second time within 1000km - many wouldn't. Anyone that's been around cars for a whiles knows that some issues can be a royal pain to isolate down to a single component - especially when based upon a single road test / visual inspection. Sometimes it can take a more thorough(more labour intensive / expensive) pull down / rebuild to find. Sometimes it can be a combination of minor wear / alignment in multiple components that present the same symptoms. Comes down to a personal preference. Do you say nothing, or say too much? From the sounds of things you are getting ahead of the issues, and can enjoy your new ride.. |
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#30 | |||
Regular Member
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 308
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Quote:
Maybe so, but the point about this thread is that the company in question has a long-term reputation of overestimating the repairs required, to the point of fraud. Go somewhere else and start again. |
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