Thought i'd treat my 90 caravelle to a wash on Sunday arvo so took it to one of those car wash places that seem to have sprung up all over Sydney (water restriction and all).

I was a bit hestitent as they dirve the car whilst it's being washed and thought due to the size and the fairly unusual 5 speed (hard to get 1st & reverse for non vw people) they'd probably get it in trouble. so i tried to explain to the guy how to get 1st and reverse - he didn't want to know and acted like he knew it all.

So im sitting their watching them drive it out of the washing bay and then them attempt to reverse it back it for the second going over - what do you know they guy can't get it in reverse! so there's a big commotion with him trying for ages to ram it into reverse then the supervisor steps in and's trying to explain that you've got to push it down first etc etc - they finally get it back.

Then another bloke drives it out of the washing bay to dry it - he's obviously going too fast and takes the corner to tight as he swips the drivers side against one of the big metal poles and gets it stuck there!!!

Lucky for them it was the end of the day and only one other customer there - we just look at each other in shock.

He goes to reverse it out, obviously to prevent any further damage - but what do you know - he can't find reverse! All the workers gather round in shock - they swap drivers, back to the original guy - but he can't be arsed putting it in reverse so he drives it out forward adding even more damage!!!

The 2 drivers side rear panels and rear wheels arch totally trashed! and they didn't even do a good job washing it!

They guy that originally got it stuck probably isn't even licensed and will probably get the sack and deported back home. The owner/manager wasn't there but i'll ring today and try and sort it out.

Anyway that's my little story from the weekend.

So anyone know of things i should keep in mind when choosing a panel beater for a 90 model caravelle?

Disillusioned Car Wash patron

That really sucks - hope they didn't have the audacity to ask you to pay for the car wash!

Best of luck with organising the repair - hopefully you won't need the other driver as a witness in case they try and shun the blame onto someone else.

damn! that sucks buddy. not a sydneysider so i cant recommend anyone, but Im sure someone on here can. They should obviously pay the repairs (your insurance possibly wont touch it as the car wash would be private property). make sure you are sorted with them before you get any work done otherwise their insurance may refuse to pay. absolute bummer. all teh best.

That's bad i'd be pissed. I've seen those shops as I drive through Sydney. Did they charge you for the wash after all of that?

I don't trust anyone to wash my cars I do it myself. I don't even let hubby do it he's hopeless. But I think he bungs it on so he gets out of washing my car. lol

Holy Crap! Thats insane, how could they possibly treat you car that way?

They paying for the repairs I hope.

And the guy who did this is still walking without crutches ???

yep they charged me for the wash, i'd already paid. i was pissed but didn't blow up - i'm not the type.
the guy who operates the joint (don't know if he's actually the owner) doesn't want to give me the drivers details (probably because he's an illegal immigrant and/or unlicensed) he wants to sort it out on the side etc etc - not likely!
NRMA are going to chase the owner and i've reported it with the police just in case.
i just hope the panel beater can do a good job

Damn,
I feel sorry for the damage and good luck with the chase. Don't be to kind to them, they are the ones who damaged your pride and joy!

What bastards.

Would worry me having someone struggling to drive my cars. Luv seeing other people drive my rides who know what they are doing. i dunno why, but seeing them zip around, i luv it. Can't explain it... :S... won't even try lol.

Goodluck man on sorting the issues. what wankers... I would be absolutely screaming!

they would have needed a bloody ambulance if the was voodoo she would have bit them while i bit and given him a nasty look

thats really bad, i'm horrified for you, did you get any pics as evidence? get some quotes of your own then ask the guy for the cash to do the job.

if they dont agree park your van out front with the damage on full view and explain to incoming customers how they "looked after" your prideand joy!

What a horror story!!!
The owner of the business would need to identify the worker from the morgure had he have done that to any of my vehicles.

Hmmm NRMA...... is your area one of those covered by that shithouse scheme where they send the car to a quoting centre and try and get the lowest bidder to do it?

If so, avoid it like the plague. The people on the phones will push the issue but you dont have to. I won my battle a few years ago, but they won the war and wouldnt pay for a tailight because it was "inconsistant with the accident" It wasnt damaged before the accident, it was when it was put on the back of a truck. Damn aliens must have shot it out.

NRMA back then had all of my business. House, contents, cars, green slips. They dont have anything now. Not even road service. Screw NRMA.

Damn car washers and NRMA to hell.

haha - yeah i could imagine some of you guys going ballistic - fair enough though if you've something a bit more classic than mine.

I would've been stoked if it was mid morning and the place was packed with other customers at the time.

Good idea though regarding parking out the front and showing people what extra's they threw in.

The police said they were going to give the operator a friendly call and ask him to provide the details of the driver even though NRMA is apparantly on the case.

Regarding NRMA, the operator seemed fairly new so not so pushy in getting me to choose the option of dropping it at their Taren Point assessment centre (just around the corner from the car wash funnily enough) and letting them handle it, but you could tell that was the option they'd prefer. I said i'd get some of my own quotes, her response was "Oh so you've chosen the more traditional way of doing it - that's fine it's up to you" haha.

Even though i have no real experience with the industry i assume if you left it with them they'd then pick one of their preferred smash repairers who they squeze for the lowest price possible.

I'll try me hardest (if time permits) to get some of my own quotes

I have a good industry knowledge of how assessment centres operate. I would never go there unless I had a leased company car.

A lot of people have good experiences getting there car fixed through assessment centres.

A lot of people leave McDonalds happy with their meal.

I gotta say my drive in and come back deal with AAMI suited me fine for my 98 liberty. Idiot backed into it, 1k panel damage in rear guard. Fixed in a week, looks good and minimum hassle when I cant drive around to repairers for quotes- 2 young kiddies....

Horses for courses. I would however take my car to a reputable repairer in your situation. My repair was nothing complicated.

I have been known to eat the brekky muffins @ mcdonalds though :P

Soory to hear this

My mate had a car stolen from one of these coffee/car wash places on Parramatta Rd

Sat there having coffee while he watched his car drive out and up the road.
You give your keys to them and you dont know who is hopping in you car.

He just thought it was the next fellows turn to drive it up

OMG... I've taken PBB to those car wash guys and haven't had a problem, only because water restrictions won't let me wash my car at home. The last few washes have been in the ones where you pay and do it yourself with those highpowered gun things, I think that's a much better option now after reading your scary story!

I am able to use recycled water wash at work lucky, and at home I use tank water and buckets. I cannot trust my car to strangers ever ever ever.

Most panel shops take digital pics of the vehicle, including - overall picture, damage picture complete, damage pictures in details, old and existing damage in detail, rego label, ID tag, compliance tag, chassis number, odometer, including petrol guage with ign on.

Covers a lot of bases. I have been accused numerous times of driving a vehicle or stealing petrol from customers cars, and ALL of them backed down when presented with the time stamped digital pictures as e-mailed to their insurance company.