lonewolf Posted April 10, 2004 Share Posted April 10, 2004 once upon a time a decidedly handsome man bought a XT6 AWD 91 subaru at an auto auction for only $300.00! seeing that he was in the midst of a nasty and expensive divorce, and his only means of transportation had just blown a head gasket, (87 golf), a cheap working car was just what the doctor ordered. Little did our hero know that he just bid on quite possibly THE worlds most coolest car. Having won the bid, our hero decided to take the car on a quick test drive only to discover a mile down the road that the hood wasn't securely latched and thus 'foumph' the poor little subbie's first of many problems...a hood that is wrapped around the roof! Fast forward two years...after many small (and not so small) problems...differental stuck in locked out position...overheats in any weather other than winter...lose of 2nd gear most of the time...replaced cv joint...muffler link to catalatic converter rusted off and dangling while doin 70 on a freeway...of coarse blown air shock...finally a problem that i can't blow off and would rather not fix meself...a blown clutch... so off our hero goes to a mechanic that is brought to his attention thru his girlfriends mom,(she trades the hunting rights to the farms in return for mechanical labor to the farm equipment) he figures 'this guy at least won't try to rip me off since he knows i'm part of the extended family'...WRONG....it started with a simple beating...hit me to the tune of $225 for the clutch kit (i think should be no more than 160) but i think whatever if it gives me this car back i'll be stoked....than i go out to his yard a few 5 days later and there's my car sitting out in the field w/the window down and it's been raining for 2 straight days! The battery was dead(hmmm)so i jumped it and rolled up the window, brought that to his attention and then paid 100 of the bill...come back next week to pay another 100 to find the tire flat. I leave it. Come back 2 weeks later to pay off the remaining 300 to find that the passenger side quarter panel has been hit(hard and deep) the muffler is detached from the cat, converter and it turns out that a freakin ½ inch bolt was the cause of the flat tire! So he welds the pipes together and off i go. After driving the car for about 10 maybe 15 miles i notice smoke comin' from the hood...so i pull over and glance at my gauges...water temp is pegged...didn't even know the needle went that far up off the mark! I instantly saw the problem, one of the hose clamps was tightened so hard that it sliced thru and drained all the antifreeze. Blown engine. Head gaskets at least as well as i'm freakin sure warped head. Then i notice that he filled the crank case to the bloody top w/ tranny fluid...only about 800% past the FULL mark...honest mistake huh? He should thank his god that i do not hold a NRA card cuz if this were a decade ago...one less mechanic on the planet. In 26 yrs of drivin, this has been, buy far, the best car i've ever owned and i've had 50+ at this point. for overall comfort,speed,weather conditions,and all important 'cool factor' nothing beats the xt6 4x4's. I hate to let this go but i think this may be an omen. i'm open to any and all suggestions Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
v8vega215 Posted April 10, 2004 Share Posted April 10, 2004 sounds like this mechanic is a hack and owes you a new motor and a new tire and he should have to pay to have your interior repairedas well as a new batery. this guy is seriously ripping you off and you should take him to small claimes court and get your car repaired by the subi dealer and send him the bill. if all else fails sit outside his shop and tell every cutomer of his how bad you were treated, (big BIG giant sign with some angery but polight words.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeneralDisorder Posted April 10, 2004 Share Posted April 10, 2004 Aluminium baseball bat to the head. He won't get up..... probably ever. Might even have to be a closed casket. GD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
calebz Posted April 10, 2004 Share Posted April 10, 2004 I second that. If its a real shop, file a complaint with the BBB.. If hes some backwoods no teeth havin redneck wrenchtuner, you ar SOL. Exact your revenge however you are able, don't get caught and get another Soob. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turbone Posted April 10, 2004 Share Posted April 10, 2004 Man, what a sad story It sure sounds like he was out boondocking in your car. First of all, I would get ahold of your GF's Mom, and make sure this rump roast no longer has hunting rights on her property. Then, if its in a small town it shouldnt be to hard to pass the word around about him (if its not already known). Then do whatever you can to make him pay for the necessary repairs. And I hate to say it, but never take your car to a tractor mechanic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheSubaruJunkie Posted April 10, 2004 Share Posted April 10, 2004 What kinda mechanic is this? Did you get a reciept for the work? Uh... he kinda took a car with a bad clutch, and turned it into a car with a destroyed engine and a damaged transmission, with a good clutch. Not sure what you could do, but i would definatly hold him 100% accountable for the damage. Is he licensed or does he run a business? And I hate to say it, but never take your car to a tractor mechanicExpecially a Subaru. I have yet to meet many domestic mechanic's that know much about Subaru's. -Brian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
subarubrat Posted April 10, 2004 Share Posted April 10, 2004 In the future do your own work. It could have taken you all day to do your first clutch but so what. As far as the destruction of the car's interior, engine etc. I think I know just the thing. When I was getting my BRAT's bed bedlined the guy doing the work commented that it would really suck if someone bedlined your car to the ground. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
c150L Posted April 10, 2004 Share Posted April 10, 2004 If it is a legit/established business, go after the busihness. If it is more on the order of someone working out of his garage, go after the individaul. Get ALL your witnesses in order and document what they know. (and will say in court, need your witnesses. He'll have his!) Can be rather expensive to take the A#$ H*&^ through full a blown court case. Small claims court probably cost you less that 50 bux to file. The jerk will probably run to his lawyer, but if you have enough in witnesses, photos, documentation, etc and plan your case enough that you don't forget key elements in court, when you're nervous as hell, his lawyer, if he has one, would have problems proving the guy didn't CAUSE THIS DAMAGE to your car. This is what he was supposed to do, this is what he did thing. Get one or two professionals to go to court on your behalf to say this guy should have noticed the hose(s) were too bad to be trusted or they were OK, but appear to have been over tightened and damaged adequately good hose. Other profesionals in that field, on your side, can benefit you greatly. If the other pro says the guy did wrong, but will not appear, you might be able to get by with a signed/notarized affidavit from him. Ask that guy if he will fix your car? In small claims court, I beleive there's a limit on the amount you can go after, but I do believe you can double or tripple the actual cost of the actual damages incurred. If your motor was damaged and body damaged due to his negligence, won't be hard to get the maximun allowable through your small claims court. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myxalplyx Posted April 10, 2004 Share Posted April 10, 2004 Pay some backwoodsy boys to Deliverance/Pulp Fiction his arse. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heartless Posted April 10, 2004 Share Posted April 10, 2004 Way sorry to hear of the major malfunctions, guy. Definitely get your ducks all in a row and go after this yahoo idiot!!! ESPECIALLY if he has a business license, but even if he doesnt, get him for everything you possibly can. there is NO excuse for that kind of negligence, or the raping you took on the clutch kit. Granted I dont have an xt, but when I had my clutch done, did both front axles at the same time too, total cost was $628, give or take a couple bucks - just over $120 for the clutch and right at $100 each for the axles, the rest was labor. Have had NO problems with them either & this was done 2 and half yrs ago by a reputable shop (and this was the first Subie thay had done too!) You may even want to try talking to a lawyer yourself - some will take cases on contingency - they dont get paid unless you win....worth a try anyway. either way, take this jackoff for everything you can! Good Luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hondasucks Posted April 11, 2004 Share Posted April 11, 2004 You are NOT SOL, you can take him to court. Granted, he is not a business, so some of the laws don't apply, but you can still take him to court, etc etc etc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheSubaruJunkie Posted April 11, 2004 Share Posted April 11, 2004 Well, he didnt get TOO reamed on the clutch. Cost me $1100 in parts and labor to have a new clutch installed in my Legacy. But that included flywheel work as well. Also, when i got my car back i knew i could trust the work because I know the mechanic good, and (this is the MOST IMPORTANT) I spoke to a few of his customers who all recommended me to use him. That is the key... know who it is your taking your car to. If you cant do it yourself, its good to know someone who can and wont rape you in the meantime. I'd hate to say it... but if this is some shadetree tractor mechanic with no license and you have no reciepts then your probably screwed. Then it'd be time to take the law into your own hands. -Brian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
calebz Posted April 11, 2004 Share Posted April 11, 2004 Brian.. the price you paid for the legacy clutch doesn't compare with an XT6 clutch.. completely different beast... $1100 is quite a chunck of change, but the peace of mind knowing it was done right can be worth it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
v8vega215 Posted April 13, 2004 Share Posted April 13, 2004 I you cant afford a lawer you might try going to your county court-house and see if they can provide you one based on need. also if it helps you can get documents/letters notorized at most big name banks and credit places as well as you local count court-house. let the usmb know the results if you do go after this guy and his company. You really are strongly urged to do all you can to him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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