I just dropped my Z to the dealer for the 15000 miles checkup, rear tires change (third set !) and rear axle clicking.

I hate to leave my baby’s keys. I’m always afraid one of their kids is going to go for a joy ride. Manual gear shift is not something people are used to here (a valet almost blew my Impreza’s clutch last December) and I often hear comment like “It’s under warranty anyways”. I have a terrible imagination for these things…

-Let’ see if that rev-up engine is really better near the red line
-Wow, aftermarket exhaust, let’s hear it (redlining a cold engine in neutral…)
-There is still some rubber left on this guy’s soon-to-be-trashed tires, lets burnout!

There’s always something that feels wrong afterward…

 

it is like dropping your kid off at the first day off school you do not want to but you have to. I know the feeling man!

 

I can totally relate to that. I totally dread what you just described and thats why I am not going to get any maintainance work done at any shop or dealer, better do that in my garage.

There is only so much you can do when you have get some warranty work done and dont forget to note your mileage before and after you drop off the car.

How long is the dealer going to keep the car?

 

I've got the Ferris Bueller feeling as well. But the kind where I'm listening to "Danke Schoen"

 

I always stay there. One time the kid that was taking the car around back kept stalling it, and after the 3rd time I told him to get out and tell me where he wanted the car parked.

 

Not to make things worse, but one of our members had his Z32 at a dealer to have the injectors replaced... after putting it back together, the dealer fed him a line that he wanted to keep it one more night so he could start it cold in the morning, make sure everything was working properly on cold starts...

His car was stolen that night and found a couple days later after the body work and wheels had been damaged (joy riding) and the stereo stolen

 

I only let them do the 7500 miles tune up. Just to make sure there are traces in case I need some warranty work done.

Should only be one day, unless they want to change the rear bearing right away.

 

My roommate told me how when he worked at a tire place once, his co-worker used a customer's Dodge Stealth to learn how to drive standard...

 

You guys aren't helping me deal with this very well ! LOL

 

Just think how you feel when you drive a rental car. I work on my drifting techniques every time.

 

Don't worry man, they'll prop up the rear end later and set it in reverse to take off all of the excessive mileage...

 

I can hear the Star Wars theme right now...

 

no need to wonder...

http://www.buygpsnow.com/item.aspx?itemid=263

cheap.. you can playback with a PDA when you pick the car up, right there...

 

Worried about what's happening with your car when you leave it somewhere? Check out one of these....

http://www.davisnet.com/drive/produc...p_products.asp

Basically, it records several parameters, like speed, RPM's, etc. and logs severe braking and accelerations. I decided to buy one after somebody else here posted his story about having one on his Z and leaving it at the dealership. He downloaded the data after picking it up and saw the abuse that they put it through.

 

Thats a very useful tool. Lets say you have to keep you car at the dealership for couple of days, then you could go in the evening and say that you forgot something in the Z and then get the data. If you see someone has taken it out, then question them right then and there. Also longer battery life will help.

 

every time i leave my car for valet the person that drives it is leanin waaaay back in the seat, left hand at the top of the steering wheel and chin up in the air... cracks me up LOL

 

I avoid valet parking like the plague. I'll pay the valet fee and park it myself if I have to.

Here is another car monitoring option: http://www.networkcar.com
This one also reminds you of service mileage, and can graph fuel economy, speed, etc. over time.

 

Always mark your mileage in your mind. I got backed into and had to take it to a body shop and I watched that mileage like a hawk.

 

I just dropped this thing off at a shop I've never been to before for an overnight stay...kinda had that "not so warm and fuzzy" feeling about the whole thing. Not so sure why, but it's true...I'm sure it'll all be ok though. At least the shop owner is an enthusiast. He pulled up in a modded Evo. I think the more modding you do, the more paranoid you get. That's true for me anyway.

 

All this is too funny and too true My boss had a friend who valeted his VETTE and gave the keys right to a guy/thief dressed up as one of the valets. I think I would have thrown up after finding that out...

I live downtown and will never valet my car. It's cheaper and less stressful to just CAB it. I had too many friends as valets in HS and I know how they drive based on their stories. F'n scary!

Zquicksilver