Sometimes I wonder why I even Bother

[Bluerauder]

Sometimes I wonder why I even Bother.

I spent several hours on Sunday giving the MM the once over, cleaning up the engine compartment and wiping her down in anticipation of the big Safford L-M Car Show coming up next Saturday. Since I was about 500 miles shy on an oil change, I decided to drop it off with the local Ford SVT dealer and get a quick oil and filter change before going to work. I should know better. :o

Things didn’t start off well when the service writer called it a “Mariner” twice. Waiting time was about 45 minutes while I browsed the showroom and lots. Seems like the only things that they are selling are the Mustangs. The were about 7 Mustangs in the showroom and 10 lined up out front.

When the service was done and the car was returned to the customer lot, the mechanic pulled it in on an angle close to a red Explorer. When I went out to the car, the guy had his door open and rubbing my passenger rear fender. I mentioned something to him. :mad:

Then I popped the hood to check the oil. Years ago this wouldn’t be necessary; but now I find myself checking behind every little thing. I am getting way too cynical as I get older. Oil level was fine; but I notice oil dripped down the fender and three new scratches. By the looks of them, they were caused by someone bending over the fender or by the removal of the fender protector that some folks use. Looks like it was just dragged off. :mad2:

Then I noticed a rub with light scratches on the driver’s door. That looks like someone used their hip to bump the door closed and hit it with their wallet or something. :eek: I hope that all this will just buff out.

This just pizzes me off. I brought the service manager out to look at the scratches, oil and the door rub. I even mention the piss azz poor parking job. My word against his although he did acknowledge the oil “might” be his problem. I’ll be talking to the supervising manager this afternoon when he comes in.

Sometimes I wonder why I even bother to keep the MM nice. Nobody else seems to give a rat’s azz. Now I gotta try and find another place to get my car (and the 3 other Fords) that I own serviced in the future.

I'll probably feel lik crap all day just thinking about it. Thanks for listening …………

[Ken]

I think that I can speak for all of us here, that we agree with your post, and have been there and done that at some point with either our MM or another vehicle. It's not their vehicle, so what do they care.:banghead:

Ken

[CBT]

I got a beautiful scratch on my driver door about a month ago from a kid opening a passenger door and letting it go in the wind. I was waiting to pay for my coffee at 7-11 and watched it happen. I almost dropped my coffee. Since it was a youngster I couldn't go all berserker on them and mount thier heads on my hood as a warning to others, but I did wait outside until the girl and her dad came out. I motioned them to my door and there was clearly nasty green Pontiac grand am paint from them. I said "Try to be a little more careful when it's windy out, okay?"
As far as shoddy service from a dealership goes, they would be having a fire sale the next day if that crap happened to me. GRRR!!

[Breadfan]

Wow, Charlie bring it by next time we'll put it up on ramps and do it scratch free. :)

This is why I'm always paranoid of leaving my car at the dealer, always afraid of new scratches, etc. I'm going in for a trans flush soon and now I'm extra paranoid!

[KillJoy]

Ugh..... Stories like this are the EXACT REASON I hate having anyone else work on my car. Hell....look at my alignment woes :rolleyes:

Good luck in getting the marks out :up:

KillJoy

[Pat]

Been there, had that to done to my MM, got the T-shirt.

I had a little low rider mini truck with a "drip" paint scheme on the hood and down the front facia. Never in the four years that I had it parked in the Wal Mart lots, movie theatres, at home or any other parking area did I get a single scratch. What I did get was the stereo stolen out of it three times.

But they just broke the side window and took the equipment, but didn't scratch the magnificent paint job.

I had more parking lot dings, scratches on my MM in the first six months than on any other car or truck I've owned. I can't explain it.

Others have some kind of force field around their cars, park and leave it anywhere and nothing ever happens. Even the rain drops part.

Karma.


Pat

[Local Boy]

I know how you guys feel. I try to do all the work myself for that very reason. I just have a hard time when someone f#$ks with my car. ALOHA

[Zack]

I think Im gonna build a concrete barrack for my Blue, seeing the accident rate associatd with the color

[ctrlraven]

I feel your pain Charle, I tried so hard to keep it the shape I got mine when I bought it. I've noticed every month their is one new scratch or dent on mine. My rear bumper has so many scratches on it that it's not even funny and would have to replace it. Just last month I came out to my car that was parked at the end row away from the mall, what do I see??? Some peanut brain person sitting their few boxes on top of my bumper while unloading the stuff into their trunk. I walked right up to the guy and said WTF are you doing? "Oh I'll just be one more second and you can have the boxes if you need them. My face turned red, I got in my car, revved the engine and laid rubber, not carrying if any of HIS stuff broke while it fell off the back of MY car. -end rant mode-.....for now.

[sicilianmarquis]

dude people noadays are ****ing retarded,. they dont give a ****, and never will, ensecially if they dont even cant hear the difference between a Mariner, and a Marauder, theres no D in the SUV.i never let anyone work on my car.me and only me, i dont trust people i dont know, "if your want something done right, do it yourself", and that is so dam true

[sweetair]

This is exactly why I do it myself. Sometimes @10pm after the kids go to sleep. Sorry for your troubles.:bs:

[fastblackmerc]

I feel your pain Charle, I tried so hard to keep it the shape I got mine when I bought it. I've noticed every month their is one new scratch or dent on mine. My rear bumper has so many scratches on it that it's not even funny and would have to replace it. Just last month I came out to my car that was parked at the end row away from the mall, what do I see??? Some peanut brain person sitting their few boxes on top of my bumper while unloading the stuff into their trunk. I walked right up to the guy and said WTF are you doing? "Oh I'll just be one more second and you can have the boxes if you need them. My face turned red, I got in my car, revved the engine and laid rubber, not carrying if any of HIS stuff broke while it fell off the back of MY car. -end rant mode-.....for now.
I would have just thrown his boxes accross the parking lot.

[Motorhead350]

dude people noadays are ****ing retarded,. they dont give a ****, and never will, ensecially if they dont even cant hear the difference between a Mariner, and a Marauder, theres no D in the SUV.i never let anyone work on my car.me and only me, i dont trust people i dont know, "if your want something done right, do it yourself", and that is so dam true

YES YES YES!!!!! :eek: Don't get me started with people dude, trust me. :mad: ha!

[ckadiddle]

Notes from last Friday's mishap:
The trailer hitch receiver that I had installed (anticipating Freddy's possible liver transplant recovery) kept the rear bumper cover from being dragged on the pavement while my poor wrecked beast was dragged up onto the flatbed truck. The receiver dragged the ground for five inches or so instead. I really didn't need to see that after just having ruined the front end of the car.

[Marauder]

I feel the same...had a few incidents like that with shops and dealers over the years.

Luckily NorthEast Lincoln Mercury takes extreme care of the cars plus Ray (TheDealer) is a friend here so he knows how to treat us right. I'm glad I live near them for routine service and inspections.

[Bigdogjim]

When my marauder goes into the shop they park noting next to it:)

They feel it's better to take up the room then listen to me go off!

Some days it's good to be the Big Dog :up:

[Hack Goby]

Well im sorry to here all of this.My Marauder goes to Dorian Ford for all my work and never once have I had a problem.They have a "Express lube" area where they write up the cars and the guy doing it goes out of his way to do a good job.They even grease the fittings on my upper and lower control arms.If you leave your car then I can see where it might get parked to close to another car.I don`t take that chance.They even let me in the area to watch.Going back to 2002 when I had my LX Sport I have not had a door ding since then.Ya just got to walk that extra hundred feet.Now don`t get me started on rock chips,Thats a whole different story

[GordonB]

Bluerauder,
I have an Oil Change suggestion -- call me up and make an appmt and I'll do yours with my 2. My garage is always open and the service is top notch!
My garage is the ONLY place for oil changes. No scratches, no dings and nobody to blame but me for screw-ups. I learned my lessons at the dealer, at least for oil changes.
I'll load up my car for Saturday's show with all my cleaning goodies, incl. paint and hopefully you will have all of your paint problems cleared up when you and I finish, if you want help, up to you.
GordonB

[Bluerauder]

Bluerauder,
I have an Oil Change suggestion -- call me up and make an appmt and I'll do yours with my 2. My garage is always open and the service is top notch!
My garage is the ONLY place for oil changes. No scratches, no dings and nobody to blame but me for screw-ups. I learned my lessons at the dealer, at least for oil changes.
I'll load up my car for Saturday's show with all my cleaning goodies, incl. paint and hopefully you will have all of your paint problems cleared up when you and I finish, if you want help, up to you.
GordonB
Gordon and Mike,

Appreciate the offer on oil changes as long as I don't have to drive to Myrtle Beach for the appointment. :D You guys provide the oil and filter, right? ;)

Spent 2 hours giving the MM the clay bar treatment after work today. She's looking good and may give Gordon's Blue and DTR a run for the money. Auto Zone was out of Liquid Clay bar so I opted for the Meguiar's Clay Bar system. Was just about dusk as I was finishing up so I'll have to check it out under bright sunlight tomorrow to see if the scratches are a noticeable as this morning.

[CBT]

Was just about dusk as I was finishing up so I'll have to check it out under bright sunlight tomorrow to see if the scratches are a noticeable as this morning.

Let us know how it turned out, I'm tempted to try the clay bar myself.

[Bluerauder]

Let us know how it turned out, I'm tempted to try the clay bar myself.
The finish is slick as a baby's azz. I'm happy with the results. Weather permitting tomorrow she gets Meguiar's NXT Tech wax with a topper of Turtle Wax ICE polish.

[BruteForce]

My servicing dealer has the proper amount of awe and respect for the MM. Comes with years of training.

[Bluerauder]

My servicing dealer has the proper amount of awe and respect for the MM. Comes with years of training.

Yeah, same for me for the first 2 1/2 years with my Lincoln-Mercury dealer. Great relationship, great service, stable staff ... and they knew me by name and car. Unfortunately, as the result of a bitter divorce (so I heard), the dealership was closed and I got screwed in the settlement. ;)

The other local L-M dealer is overcrowded with little to no space for service vehicles or even new car stock. My service experience there with my son's car sucks. And, it is not in the best part of town either so I wouldn't want it unattended on the lot. :bigcry:

I picked the local Ford SVT dealer since they have been doing a pretty good job. However, recently they have had a major turnover in personnel especially in the service department. They might as well put in revolving doors as quick as folks come and go. Their service has dropped considerably. Even my wife told me not to take the Marauder over there. Did I listen .... :rolleyes: Noooooooooooo !!!! Guess I am more embarrassed than pizzed at this point 'cause I shoulda seen it coming. :o

[RoNiN77]

I hate people being around my MM. My girl always gives me crap for parking way out in the middle of nowhere...my car doesn't get scratched, but my girl just doesn't understand. I won't take it to work either. My '98 Avenger is still holding up as my daily driver, but if you look down the doors it looks like the surface of the moon. I work with alot of 'tards. And the oil change...I had a guy at Valvoline cause an explosion with the tranny fluid machine, dousing the whole engine compartment. Good times. Morons.

:help:

[Aren Jay]

Take pictures before you go. Print them up and take said pictures with you.

Compare afterwards.

If you must put your morning newspaper in the picture so you can prove the date.

[Mike Poore]

I feel the same...had a few incidents like that with shops and dealers over the years.

Luckily NorthEast Lincoln Mercury takes extreme care of the cars plus Ray (TheDealer) is a friend here so he knows how to treat us right. I'm glad I live near them for routine service and inspections.

A great dealership is a treasure. Crouse in Taneytown is one of those dealerships. In all these years, though, I've never trusted my cars to anyone for routine maintenance. Now I have my deluxe garage with a lift. :D

Glad she's looking good again, Charlie, although your experience is just awful, especially when you had to go home and hear Bernie say: "I told you not to go there". :rolleyes:

[GAMike]

The reason why we collect more scratches and dings is because the Marauder fills the entire parking spot. When the knuckle heads next to us in a import pull up they are jealous that they only take up half the space, they fling their doors open in utter frustration, and thats how we get our dings/scratches.:lol:

I never get dings from trucks or big MB's/Lexus's/BMW's ........ Female driven SUV's, Caddies and smaller cars are a whole different story:mad2:

[Bluerauder]

.... especially when you had to go home and hear Bernie say: "I told you not to go there". :rolleyes:
After 32 years, I have heard this quite frequently but I am getting used to it. :rofl:

I have been looking at boats again ... a SeaRay 215 Weekender and she supports my interest 'cause she said "You can do whatever the H3LL you want". I took that as a YES. ;)

[Bluerauder]

Notes from last Friday's mishap:
The trailer hitch receiver that I had installed (anticipating Freddy's possible liver transplant recovery) kept the rear bumper cover from being dragged on the pavement while my poor wrecked beast was dragged up onto the flatbed truck. The receiver dragged the ground for five inches or so instead. I really didn't need to see that after just having ruined the front end of the car.
As a note to other MM owners, my nephew owns 3 rollback trucks and does vehicle recovery under contract for a State and the police. I asked him about any special loading for the Marauder. He keeps a 4" by 4" and some other lumber with each truck to handle various loads. He drops the bed of the rollback onto the 4" by 4" to decrease the bed angle. He offered to load up my MM in front of the house just to demonstrate and I said no thanks. :D

He mentioned other cars that were a loading problem like the Corvette nose and such. If a potential loader doesn't have the 4x4 on his truck -- you may end up with damage to the rear fascia and the tips.

[whd507]

I know your angst from this kind of garbage. more and more the "me first" people out there are ruining everything. I wish I knew how to roll us back to a more civilized time when average folks respected other peoples stuff.

glad it came out, and no real harm done. I do have a good dealer that treats me right, and I know how fortunate I am.