Getting new tyres fitted, does every fitter test drive your car after?

Lmonkeyfood on 21/01/2020 - 20:47
Last edited 23/01/2020 - 19:48

I'll start off by saying I have obvious trust issues with unknowns driving my car, yes its a issue with me not the outside world but yeah thats how I am.

I got a older wrx so nothing fancy or expensive but definitely a car every apprentice or young mechanic would want to floor a few times.

This started years ago when I my car went to a panel beater, came back with a few extra kms and I was told ohh yeah the owner test drove it, don't worry its only a wrx we had Ferraris here. nobody took it home.

Few weeks later the throw out bearing on my clutch died, possibly coincidence wasn't brand new car then but who knows, I don't take off hard or drive hard.

Years ago I used to get my tyres changed at Tyre factory and similar workshops which put my car on a hoist took off the rims, changed tyres put back on car and done nice and easy.

Last time I went to a smaller place that was recommended to me and ofcourse cheaper and discount when mention names. No issue there change tyres balance etc but the kid who fitted them jumped in my car and disappeared around the corner. I know the car won't end up a burnt out shell in a ditch but my trust issues give me anxiety here, asif the kid won't floor it in 1st gear because its a wrx.

So my question is, I need to get 4 new tyres soon, do most places test drive the car after fitting?

If so what would be a good neutral approach to tell them not to test drive it?

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Thanks for all the replies they made me feel better and laugh.

Yeah it is a old wrx, 2005 so its no ferris bueller bait. I think I will just go back to the place I got tyres done at before, a return customer is hopefully treated slightly better then a new one. Keep my mouth closed as saying anything will just bring the opposite effect. Get 4 tyres done + alignment I guess since im already risking a risky test drive lol

And ill make my dashcam hardwired so its also a mental deterrent from anybody interested in giving a non interesting car a quick thrash.

p.s I was expecting to get more attacked like Hyundai excel guy that put a similar post lately

Automotive Tyre

Comments

  • AdosHouse on 21/01/2020 - 20:54
    +11

    Every place I have been to takes it for a test drive.

    And I think you are overestimating a older WRX a bit here.

  • John Kimble on 21/01/2020 - 20:54
    +5

    "Please don't test drive my car"

    • monkeyfood on 21/01/2020 - 21:07

      yeah worst comes to worst I will have to say this however getting on the bad side of somebody who works on my car is something I need to think carefully about

    • zuuutoootuuu on 21/01/2020 - 23:32

      Ask them not to test drive as above OR wait outside the workshop gate for them to reverse and hop into the car with them.
      I usually pick the latter, makes them think twice before giving it beans.

  • ProlapsedHeinous on 21/01/2020 - 20:57
    -1

    My suggestion would to let them know the car has telemetry & gps reporting, and not to do anything other than moving it to be ready for collection.

  • Tee Rex Arms on 21/01/2020 - 20:58
    +1

    Get a dash cam if you’re that stressed about it.

    • monkeyfood on 21/01/2020 - 21:00

      yeah I got a dashcam, I read in alot of ozb posts alot test drivers turn them off

      • pegaxs on 21/01/2020 - 21:46
        +1

        *a lot

        And they turn them off for legal reasons. You cannot record someone where you are not a party to the recording and where there is a reasonable expectation of privacy.

        • monkeyfood on 21/01/2020 - 22:05

          sorry my phone dictionary auto corrects a lot

        • k-rokfm on 22/01/2020 - 08:42

          I took mine to a mechanic, they didnt turn it off. I would say if they are turning it off then you ask them not to test drive it in future

          • pegaxs on 22/01/2020 - 08:46
            +1

            @k-rokfm: Some will, some wont. It depends on if they a: see it, b: care about it, c: are told to by the service manager (or d: have something to hide.)

            Whenever I have road tested vehicles with dash cams in them, I usually use it as an opportunity to explain to the customer what I am doing on the road test and explain what I looking for and testing for. Or, if it's one of my really good customers, I like to play practical jokes on them sometimes… :D

    • ATTS on 22/01/2020 - 08:54

      if you later on check the dash cam and have footage of them flooring your car, can you even do anything about it?

  • steven6 on 21/01/2020 - 21:01
    +2

    Get a hard wired dash cam?

    • Richardc on 21/01/2020 - 23:15
      +3

      they unplug it from the dash cam

      • John Kimble on 21/01/2020 - 23:17

        Super glue/glue gun?

  • Mechz on 21/01/2020 - 21:34
    +1

    Just stay while they fit them and ask that if they need to check the car on a drive after, that you are in the car with them.

  • brendanm on 21/01/2020 - 21:41
    +10

    Far out it's an old WRX, no one will care enough to thrash it, when you drive a tonne of cars a day you don't care. I've test driven cars worth half a million dollars, someone requesting no test drives of his WRX would get quite a laugh.

    The only guy I ever had who requested "no test drives" had a crappy wb on gas. I told him it needs to be test driven for a rwc.

    Also, Subarus are well known for throw out bearing failure.

    • monkeyfood on 21/01/2020 - 21:43

      hehe this calms my anxiety a bit

    • pegaxs on 21/01/2020 - 21:58
      +5

      Yep, can confirm. As a mechanic, I test drove anywhere up to 5~10 cars a day. You get to a point where you just don’t give a shit what car it is.

      Most of the time, I didn’t like test driving “enthusiast vehicles” because the owners are normally anal retentive peanuts and their cars are borderline shitboxes that you are worried is going to break without notice with the inevitable phone call 3 days later claiming that “after you test drove my car, it just doesn't feel the same as it used to”

      And I don’t know of a lot of tyre places that road test vehicles after fitting tyres. Unless they have done something like a set of brake pads or rotors, it’s usually in the shop, on the hoist, wheels off, wheels on, off the hoist and park the car and on with the next vehicle.

      • k-rokfm on 22/01/2020 - 08:43

        Do you unplug dash cams when you test drive vehicles?

    • spackbace on 22/01/2020 - 01:11
      +2

      Have the same for car valuations. Guy got pissy about the valuer not driving his $30k HSV, while the valuer drove a $70k V8 daily.

      Funny how people's perspective can be so far off

  • bobbified on 21/01/2020 - 21:47

    I took my car to Bob Jane to get all tyres replaced recently and I was able to watch them do it from the waiting room. When they finished, they drove it back out from the workshop to the parking area. They didn't take the car for a drive. I've been to a few different Bridgestone service centres before too and they didn't take it for a test drive either.

    • monkeyfood on 21/01/2020 - 22:03

      thanx for the tip, when I am shopping for tyres ill do some price comparison with BobJane if its not a big diff ill go there

      • bobbified on 21/01/2020 - 22:43

        They pricematched for me too. (But there are others who have had different experiences with pricematching too). Depends on the fanchise.

  • Bargainaholic on 21/01/2020 - 22:09
    +1

    They will test drive if they do a wheel alignment

  • [Deactivated] on 21/01/2020 - 22:29
    -1

    I’d be surprised if they didn’t roadtest (not test drive, that’s what happens when you’re buying a car) it after pulling the wheels off. What happens if they don’t seat the wheels fully when doing them up and you go road a corner and the wheel shifts? What happens if the balancer didn’t get the weight in the right spot and there’s a vibration? What if the wheel aligner had an off day and the wheels off cerré or pulling to the side?

  • askme69 on 21/01/2020 - 22:56
    +1

    Yes, includes mandatory sideways so everything you had in the boot which hasn't moved in years is strewn all over the place.

  • JimmyF on 21/01/2020 - 23:06
    +2

    Go to costco, no test drives. But yes as others have said, old WRX who cares……. They drive hundreds of cars a week.

  • brad1-8tsi on 21/01/2020 - 23:11

    Nope, not after tyres unless the customer has specifically complained of vibration issues. Only for wheel alignment purposes.

  • p1 ama on 22/01/2020 - 03:39

    I'll start off by saying I have obvious trust issues with unknowns driving my car, yes its a issue with me not the outside world but yeah thats how I am.

    Then you should resolve your trust issues. I would say that it's irresponsible for someone to change your tyres and not test drive your car. Not to mention they would be in for a huge lawsuit if something happens to you if they don't test your car properly.

    I got a older wrx so nothing fancy or expensive but definitely a car every apprentice or young mechanic would want to floor a few times.

    I get that you like your car, but don't let it get to your head. Nobody cares about your old WRX. Everyone has a mate with an old WRX. Let's be honest, it's not even like it's an STi.

    This started years ago when I my car went to a panel beater, came back with a few extra kms and I was told ohh yeah the owner test drove it, don't worry its only a wrx we had Ferraris here. nobody took it home.

    Which is normal.

    Few weeks later the throw out bearing on my clutch died, possibly coincidence wasn't brand new car then but who knows, I don't take off hard or drive hard.

    Yes, because it's totally likely that they blew your clutch taking your old WRX for a spin around the corner. Does that really sound reasonable to you?

    Years ago I used to get my tyres changed at Tyre factory and similar workshops which put my car on a hoist took off the rims, changed tyres put back on car and done nice and easy.

    Well take your car there if you like it there.

    Last time I went to a smaller place that was recommended to me and ofcourse cheaper and discount when mention names. No issue there change tyres balance etc but the kid who fitted them jumped in my car and disappeared around the corner. I know the car won't end up a burnt out shell in a ditch but my trust issues give me anxiety here, asif the kid won't floor it in 1st gear because its a wrx.

    Nobody gives a flying shit about your old WRX. You sound like the sort of guy who's paranoid of every male coworker your girlfriend has. So what if someone floors your WRX anyway? They're bulletproof cars.

    So my question is, I need to get 4 new tyres soon, do most places test drive the car after fitting?

    Yes, it would be almost irresponsible of them not to.

    If so what would be a good neutral approach to tell them not to test drive it?

    "Don't test drive my car".

  • JIMB0 on 22/01/2020 - 06:39
    +2

    Put your car on jack stands at home and just take the wheels in.

  • t_c on 22/01/2020 - 06:58
    +1

    Ive never had this happen, but I get my tyres from fb market or gumtree.

    tbh I cant wait till i'm on the big bucks with stock options and a golden parachute then I just can waltz into a tyre shop like a boss and slam down a Visa Black and say

    'that'll be 4 NEW tyres mate'

    hashtag lifegoals

  • Bid Sniper on 22/01/2020 - 08:12

    Usually they dont. I"m right in the lobby when they were changing over rims on my new STI however.

    Old cars fail, throw-out bearing is common. Was it replaced when the clutch was replaced (its a WRX clutches are consumable item AFAIC)

  • k-rokfm on 22/01/2020 - 08:46
    +1

    This started years ago when I my car went to a panel beater, came back with a few extra kms and I was told ohh yeah the owner test drove it

    Side note when we took one of our cars to a panel beater (for a minor scratch), we left it there for a week, got told it needed a couple of extra days and when we came to pick it up the paint wasnt done properly (or at least quality controlled) and it had an extra 200kms on it.

  • psdillon on 22/01/2020 - 12:41
    +1

    Check if your car has "valet mode", which usually lowers max RPM on Subarus (and locks glove box among other things).

    If not, check if your ECU has a max RPM setting, then invest in an ECU harness.

    • brendanm on 22/01/2020 - 14:26

      Lol

    • spackbace on 22/01/2020 - 14:35

      If not, check if your ECU has a max RPM setting, then invest in an ECU harness.

      Srsly?

    • steven6 on 22/01/2020 - 14:40

      It's an older wrx. Could loosen the throttle cable instead lol

  • munecito on 23/01/2020 - 16:55

    If you are getting 4 new tyres and you value your money, then you should get a wheel alignment and then they will need to do at least two test drives.

    Get over it.

    • ATTS on 23/01/2020 - 17:06

      Just curious. How much you guys pay for a wheel alignment and do they charge extra for the test drives?

      • munecito on 23/01/2020 - 20:11

        Test drive isn't extra.

        Wheel alignment are usually between 45 to 90 dollars depending if it is just front wheel alignment or 4 wheels alignment. Depends on the vehicle.

  • monkeyfood on 23/01/2020 - 19:49

    Thanx for all the replies, I edited the original post with my conclusion

    • spackbace on 23/01/2020 - 20:08
      +1

      p.s I was expecting to get more attacked like Hyundai excel guy that put a similar post lately

      Well, big difference between WRX and a bright yellow Accent ;)

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