Mechanic damaged my bird

[Wraith2097]

After having my flowmaster put on, I brought my bird back to Midas to have them look into the annoying rattle it was making. I hate bringing my car to franchise places, but its my only car and I just didn't have days to wait like with a private garage. Anyways, I'm sitting there in the waiting area and I watch them pull my bird in. I heard a lot of loud clanging like he had hit something. But I couldn't see what was going on because there were other cars on lifts and such.

I pass the sound off as the lift being noisy when he drove on it. Anyways the guy works on the car, drives it around the block, and hands me the keys when he's done. Tells me he adjusted the pipes and toned the rattling down, though there was no way to fix the problem because "It was designed for a V8, not 6".

I then take the car home, cursing myself for having horrible luck with exhausts. While I'm standing there I lock the door and start to walk away, then do a double take. There is a thumb sized impression just under the door. You know that panel running just below the door? It looks like someone jammed their thumb in it down to the first knuckle. Now I just waxed the thing from top to bottom only a few days ago, I know every inch of it. It spends 90% of its time in a garage.

The problem is, I don't have pictures of it before the damage, I have no proof that they did it, but I have no doubts that they did. Anyone here ever have a problem like this arise? How do you handle the situation? My girlfriend was planning on helping me pay to have it painted for my birthday anyways, could it cost that much to repair it?

I'm so pissed :mad:

[Dominic]

Yep, just go back to the store, talk to the manager, and call them on it. Explain it calmly too, and you might get help. who knows

[99v6cam]

LMAO, designed for a v8 not a v6. I love ignorance.

[Red]

just for the future, be sure to do a walkaround with the head guy before they touch your car. It has saved me a few times.

[HokieBird]

If you are going to get it resprayed it won't be too much more trouble to fix if they shaft you. The question is what the hell did they do to make a hole in the rocker panel? They would have to bang it pretty good judging by your description.

[Wraith2097]

I don't know how it happened. Midas is just a few blocks away from me. For something to do that kind of damage I would have heard it for sure. This was my first 'Cool' car. I worked hard to get it and pay for it alone, which for me is a big thing. Which results in me checking it out from all angles on all the time. Bottom line is that I know it wasn't there before I left home that morning. I regret not giving it the once over before I left. Its not the kind of thing you see unless you look lower than usual. Will that panel come off? If so, would it be cheaper to find someone parting out a bird and just put a non dented one on before its sprayed?

I'll do my best to post a pic tomorrow when its light out so you guys can see.

[SpeedingFirebird]

Midas is frickin aweful. My first car, a toyato pickup, they broke all but one exhaust stud. They told me the truck was suppose to sound like that. My father looked at it, and we went back. They told me I must have broken the bolts on my way home.

The are a bunch of lying crooks. Never ever go to Midas. Bunch of losers who couldn't fix a car. :mad: :mad: :mad:

16 years and I am still flaming pissed at them. :mad:

[Rabid Dog]

You take it to Midas, you takes your chances, bub.

[96RS Alex]

Is that what they mean by giving you the Midas Touch? Sorry to hear about your misfortune but hopefully you'll have some good news soon. My Meineke dealer is considered safe and all the techs I met are conscientious when it comes to customers cars.
If it isn't resolved, write to their District Mgr for a resolution. You can expect a quicker response from higher up and maybe a discount on future visits. They do want your business, it's called customer retention.

[HokieBird]

We are talking rocker panel right? I assumed you didn't have side skirts. If its a hole in a side skirt then you can replace it, but it won't be cheap. If it is the rocker panel (which is what it sounds like) then you can't replace it unless you cut it out. So either way it would probably be best to just get the hole filled. A body shop should be able to weld in a small piece of metal and make everything smooth again before paint.

[94firebirdteal]

Originally posted by 96RS Alex:
Is that what they mean by giving you the Midas Touch?

LMAO!!!

[Loochy88]

i had a similar experience with a tire shop around here. they ripped my front ground effect off somehow when they did my front shocks. we made a huge deal out of it. we talked to authorities and they told us what we could and couldnt do... long story short it wasnt even worth it to fight it, but believe me i wanted to. thats probably going to be an expensive repair at a body shop.

[9camaro9]

"Its the midas touch" lol [img]smile.gif[/img]