Mook Posted January 15, 2008 Report Share Posted January 15, 2008 Most every tyre company I've ever been to, with the exception of Micheldever Tyres seems to employ monkeys who think the best thing to do when one of their customers is waiting for their car to be brought out of the workshop is to rev the nuts off it, so all their mates can watch while the muppet makes some noise. Yes, I bought a car with a big engine and fitted a Milltek to it and I like the way it sounds but AAAAAAAGGGGGHHHH! not when some spotty teenage idiot is in the driving seat. Won't be going back to the tyre fitters 2 minutes away from work again. I now remember why I decided not to go back there again last time - a trek to Micheldever is in order again next time. Are these the training grounds for twats in Corsas, 106s and whatever else to see what it's like to bounce valves off rocker covers? Yes, I complained to the manager and yes, the standard response (as if it was regularly a practiced reply) was "he's probably having problems with the clutch". Yes, the clutch is on the left and the throttle is on the right... [/rant] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AvantSE Posted January 15, 2008 Report Share Posted January 15, 2008 Remember a story a colleague told me about the police catching some tyre monkeys caning the arse off a van on his rugby club car park. They had even poured a load of oil and water down to create a slippery surface. The thick f**kers were so dim they chose to do it in a van with ATS written all over it. Needless to say they were sacked. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rustynuts Posted January 15, 2008 Report Share Posted January 15, 2008 Local garage near me are fine. I order the tyres, they ring me when they arrive, I drive into the fitting bay and chat to the lad while he carefully torques the bolts by hand etc. and then I drive it back out. Then I go to the office and pay for them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patently Posted January 15, 2008 Report Share Posted January 15, 2008 I will drive my car into and out of the bay. If they want to argue about that, there are other tyre fitters. I will stand and watch while they change the tyres. If they want to argue about that, there are other tyre fitters. I will ask them where they are putting the trolley jack to lift my car. If they want to argue about that, there are other tyre fitters. I will ask them if they know what torque setting to use, and tell them 130Nm if they're not sure. If they want to argue about that, there are other tyre fitters. Fortunately, there is a very good independent fitter near my office, who understand why I want to do this and are quite happy to demonstrate to me why I don't need to. As a result, they get my custom again and again, so we both end up happy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
962C Posted January 15, 2008 Report Share Posted January 15, 2008 too damn right - especially with a 996 Turbo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
techieboy Posted January 15, 2008 Report Share Posted January 15, 2008 Before having two sets of wheels with track and normal tyres on for the VX, I used to drive it into the bay and jack it up myself. Learnt this the hard way after some knobjockey tried to jack the car up using the fibreglass sill. The place I go to now looks after 3 VX's so know all the dangers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rustynuts Posted January 15, 2008 Report Share Posted January 15, 2008 Forgot to say, my bloke uses a 2 post lift to lift the car (or van) up to a working height. I take the opportunity to check the underside, the other tyres, exhaust, brake pads etc. while it's up there. They don't mind me watching them in the slightest, and usually have some banter with 'em about something or other. Always use stick on weights on the alloys aswell, not the usual hammer on stuff like next door neighbour ended up with from ATS. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patently Posted January 15, 2008 Report Share Posted January 15, 2008 [ QUOTE ] the usual hammer on stuff like next door neighbour ended up with from ATS. [/ QUOTE ] A set of these suddenly appeared on my business partner's Cayenne a while back. They're gone now, but the mark remains. If a set appeared on the 911 wheels, they'd come right off and go up the fitter's ****. Which is why I like my preferred fitter - they respond to a nice car, get genuinely excited, ask me about it, ask if I know where to put the jack, what torque etc. Basically, they want to do a good job for a nice car. Decent lads - worth going back to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AvantSE Posted January 15, 2008 Report Share Posted January 15, 2008 I have had some of them let me start to drive off without removing the jack from under the other side of the car; luckily I set off slowly and no damage was caused. Our local independent place is brilliant - everything is done with a lot of care and they are cheaper than the Kwik-Shits of this world. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patently Posted January 15, 2008 Report Share Posted January 15, 2008 [ QUOTE ] I have had some of them let me start to drive off without removing the jack from under the other side of the car; luckily I set off slowly and no damage was caused. [/ QUOTE ] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
techieboy Posted January 15, 2008 Report Share Posted January 15, 2008 [ QUOTE ] Forgot to say, my bloke uses a 2 post lift to lift the car (or van) [/ QUOTE ] And this is what happens with an Elise or VX on a 2 post and they drastically alter the balance by taking off a wheel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
962C Posted January 15, 2008 Report Share Posted January 15, 2008 bloody americans. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrisg Posted January 15, 2008 Report Share Posted January 15, 2008 The editor of Audi Driver had problems about 1990. He had a fairly new Audi Coupe 2.3 ( with a 2.5 conversion- nice) Jacked it up at some local place and he was standing close by ... but not in the actual workshop and noticed that they had the jacking plates in the wrong place. He got the manager quick but it was too late... the car needed two new sills and they even tried to argue about it.... wasn't me mate it was like that when it came in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr_Watson Posted January 15, 2008 Report Share Posted January 15, 2008 I change from summer to winter tyres every year, makes it around 14 changes since I've been in Switzerland, used a few different fitters here and they always let you drive your own car in and out of the workshop. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patently Posted January 15, 2008 Report Share Posted January 15, 2008 Health & safety is the usual reason for not letting you anywhere near the bay. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biscuits Posted January 15, 2008 Report Share Posted January 15, 2008 Event Tyres have just fitted a full set for the 3rd time (S4, Forester and now the 5). Cheapest I could find, no marks on the alloys, a torque wrench to finish the job off.... and they come to you. Can't recommend them enough. HAPPY DAYS (well........ they still skinned me £665!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pontyslapper Posted January 15, 2008 Report Share Posted January 15, 2008 My old schoolmates always seem to end up working in the local National tyre place, hell, even the missus' cousin did a stint there... Needless to say, never had any problems with any of the cars or my brothers S2000. They even allow me to select the stick on weights if its that quiet!! Sad I know, but truly satisfying all the same. I've even done a full tyre change on the Passat before now, when they were really stretched. Meant I got better than trade rates on the tyres - shame it was a once only event - 4 Michelin Primacy's for £80!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmyp Posted January 15, 2008 Report Share Posted January 15, 2008 PM inbound Mookster Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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