92 MR2 Turbo...

[eckoman_pdx]

Hey all, been on here for awhile...been waiting to check in until I get the MR2 back...but it's been so freaking long I just decided screw it...

Anyways, I bought a 92 MR2 Turbo on the 28th of October. I was stoked!! It needed some engine maintenance, but even with the work needed, it was a great price ($3800, got it from a friend).

It needed a new timing belt asap and the oil seal down there needed to be replaced, so I decided to have that and all the associated work (water pump, oil pan gasket, etc) done asap. A manifold stud was broken, so the exhaust leaked @ start-up. I decided to replace all the exhaust/turbo gaskets and the broken manifold studs. My buddy I bought it from was doing the work. 1 week after I bought it, the dome light went nuts and some other electrical things went whack, so now I have to source the problems in door harness. I mean, I kind of need to have a working dome light...among other things...

Anyways...I'm just stressed out. It was suppose to be done on November 11th, and that date passed and it was no where close. Then it was supposed to be done on November 18th, and that day passed without it being close. Then I was supposed to get it back by tonight...which passed. I am told that it's one evening away from being done, and he will finish it Saturday night. He stopped due to the fact it's 30 something degrees out and he couldn't feel his fingers. I understand that, but am still upset. This is the 3rd time the set date to get it back to me has been missed, and I feel I am getting put on the back burner...which pisses me off since I am paying him to do the work. My finance' is FURIOUS as well, so I have to deal with that now...

Another reason I am pissed is the fact this is thanksgiving tomorrow. My best friend is in Air Force, and he is back in Town for the Holiday. A friend from Seattle is down here too. Both wanted to see the car, and I told them I'd show it to them since I'd have it back...and now I can't. My best friend is making a special trip back to my place before he goes to the airport Saturday to see it...great...what a great start to the holidays (my thanksgiving and Black Friday are ruined now)

IDK, at this point I hate the friggen car. I've almost had it a month and it hasn't sat in my driveway once, and I still haven't driven it. I have new carpet and floor mats, a new shift boot I stitched in black novasuede, a glove box I wrapped in novasuede, other pieces I wrapped, etc (I used to work at an upholstery shop)...all ready to go in.

I was waiting to post in here about my new purchase until after I got it back, I was so stoked too. I am 28, and I've anyways wanted an MR2 turbo, ever since I saw one as a kid in the early 90's. I finally decided screw it and posted, since I am sick of waiting. IDK, I just got the car 1 month ago and now I am so stressed it's taken this long for them to do the engine maintenance I don't even want it the stupid thing right now...I half way hate the stupid thing right now.

But yeah...I bought a red 92 MR2 Turbo...woohoo...I guess...I hope my experiences with this car get better than my first month of owning it has been...but I'm not holding my breath...

[Gairloch]

Be cool man It'll come. Welcome to the club!

Is the work being done by someone on the side? If so then you're sacrificing time for cost(ideally).

Quality, fast service, low cost; pick two 'cause you can't have all three.

Why is your fiancee upset about it?

[eckoman_pdx]

Originally Posted by Gairloch

Be cool man It'll come. Welcome to the club!

Is the work being done by someone on the side? If so then you're sacrificing time for cost(ideally).

Quality, fast service, low cost; pick two 'cause you can't have all three.

Why is your fiancee upset about it?

Not really on the side, per say. They have a business license and are about to start a shop.

Be patient? Today she told me she wants me to sell the stupid thing...

My Fiancee is upset because he said it would be take him 1 weekend, 2 tops. It's been 4 weeks now. He constantly said it would be done by a certain date, and then didn't work on it and finish it. Said Nov 11th, then didn't work on it that weekend. Same with Nov 18th. This weekend he said he'd come back from Seattle and work on it Saturday and get it back to me Saturday night, but didn't come back till Sunday and won't work on it till Monday night. She's pissed he wasn't straight up. Just say you can't work on it, don't say you will when you know you can't. If you aren't gonna be back in town until a certain date, say so, don't lie. If sometime comes up, say so, don't lie. She HATES it when people say one thing and do another. Her issue is he said 1-2 weeks, and promised it done by a certain date 4 times, and missed all the dates and went way over the time he said he would take to do the job. He said it would take 6 hours for the timing belt/engine gaskets/water pump, and 6 hours for the exhaust/manifold/turbo gaskets. She's pissed 12 hours (2 weekends tops, his words to her and me) turned into one month.

There's also been multiple cars coming and going from the shop, yet the MR2 sat there, un-worked on for at least half the time. That made her feel like feel like he was putting me on the back-burner, and really pissed her off. It put me in a weird spot too, when family and friends came to town for the Holidays and wanted to see the car I had purchased one month before.

If I'd known it was going to be 1 month, I'd of taken it elsewhere. It's not the fact that took so long that pissed her off, it's the fact he wasn't honest about it. It pissed her off he kept saying he was working on it and was going to be done by a certain date, when he wasn't and couldn't be done by that date. It further pissed her off that when the date approached, he didn't call and tell me he couldn't get it done and why. I'd have to call him, and I usually couldn't get a hold of him for a day or 2 past when I was supposed to get it back. Then it was just, I'll have it back by next weekend (or insert date here). All this puts me in a bad situation, stuck in the middle. She's pissed because of how he's handled it, He "doesn't want to get involved" when it comes to her being pissed at him, and I am caught in the middle. He has my car, but she pissed about the whole situation, and I live with her (So I can't get away either way). On top of that, this car is suppose to be my DD, so...yeah.

Honestly, I've known the guy for awhile, so when he said 1 weekend, 2 tops (1-2 weeks), I figured that's what it would be. I don't know, I'm caught in the middle, since he doesn't want to get "get involved," yet she's pissed at him and he has my car. I can't win for loosing...

[mr2ace]

That has happened to me quite a few times from a bunch of different shops. It is very difficult to find a good shop that sticks to their deadlines. Most places tell you what you want to hear initially ("one week - no problem!" - right. )

Get a firm deadline from him IN WRITING and tell him if it is not done by then, you just want it back, then find another shop. Maybe even take it to the Toyota dealer and get it done right and in a reasonable time (timing belt & w-pump is $950 out by me - near Chicago). Who knows if this 'new' shop-starting mechanic will even put the timing belt on right? Then you have a whole new issue on your hands.

OR... just have the girlfriend rip this guy a new one! haha

It is so sad that this BS happens so often. Where are the good mechanics?