MrShades

Try this for a recount of two very different attempts by me to purchase some locking wheel nuts for my new STi8 recently...

DEALER 1...... well I went to see their parts department on Saturday morning, the conversation went like this:


"Hello, I would like some locking wheel nuts for my Impreza please"

"Certainly Sir.... What's the chassis number?"

"??????? Chassis number??????? You REALLY want the chassis number for a set of wheel nuts?"

"Yes Sir"

"OK, if you insist I'll pop outside and get the bonnet up and have a look"

(goes outside, pops bonnet, writes down chassis number)

"Here ya go......"

(types chassis number into computer)

"Oh, it's come up with a funny message....... How old is the car?"

"2 days"

"Hmmmmmm...... must be too new then. I'll have to ring the manufacturers on Monday and if you give me your details I'll call you afterwards"

"Ok - here ya go, name and phone number"


Loe and behold, today came and went with nothing from DEALER 1....... So, at about 5pm I rang DEALER 2 and spoke to Parts. (Oh, forgot to mention that I tried to ring DEALER 1 parts on saturday morning and the phone just rang and rang.......... IMHO they really are useless f**kers that make me angrier the more I think of them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

"Hello, I would like some locking wheel nuts for my Impreza please"

"How old is it?"

"2003.... STi....... Standard gold wheels"

"Hmmmmm...... think they might have changed them this year, hold on.......... No, that was the Forrester...... Right, yup, got two sets here"

"How much"

"15.73 plus VAT"

"OK..... What time are you there till"

"5:30"

"Hmmmmmm...... I'll pop in and get those soon when next passing then, as I'll be past tonight but later than that"

"No problem Sir, give me your CC details and I'll bag 'em up and leave them with the people at the Shell garage next door, they'll be here till at least 9pm"

"Great, here ya go....... yadda dadda"

(picked em up at about 7pm - perfect)


What a complete pain DEALER1 are - and useless to boot, and what a completely different experience with DEALER2... A real change, very good service and certainly will be getting my repeat business.

Any guesses, given my location, as to who DEALER1 and DEALER2 could be?????

Answers on a postcard, to the usual address...

Shades

*Sonic*

Monks Heath Motors one of them

they left my car keys with the Shell garage next door, as I couldnt get back in time for them closing

MrShades

Nope.......

mutant_matt

Your car isn't a UK dealer supplied car I'm guessing?

Dodge

Tileys = Dealer 2?

medders

Whites ? Simpsons ?

Come on tell us.......

martin_oleary

Dealer 2 - Adams in Aylesbury?

mwp

have i missed something ... when you say locking wheelnuts you mean something other then the standard supplied "locking" attachment.

JohnD

iTrader: (5)

Before you slag the dealer off, remember : - The locking wheel nuts already on your car have been logged against YOUR car. So if you lost the special socket it could be replaced but you would need the chassis No and proof of ownership? I believe this is true for the later models? - can someone confirm?
It's just possible this is what the dealer thought you wanted?

JohnD

MrShades

OK....

Yes, my car is a Euro-import (coutesy of Iain Lit ) and therefore doesn't have locking nuts as standard...

The two dealers are......

DEALER1 - CD Bramall - Cheltenham.... But this is no surprise as there is a general concensus as to their quality control and general level of performance

DEALER2 - Yes, Simpsons of Highworth. Thanks to Volemangler for recommending them, and will certainly use them again. Couldn't have been quicker with the info, and couldn't have been more helpful.

Up to about 800 on the running in now.... yawn....

Shades

m18use

I had to get a wing mirror glass from tileys
and they wanted the chassis no
when i asked they said it was necessary and mumbled something,
how can you need a chassis no for a wing mirror ffs

Silver Knight

The dealer asks for the chassis to make sure of getting the correct part as fitted in the factory, How many different wheels are fitted worldwide including special editions? some will have different nuts! be they flat or coned.

Wouldn't you be more angry if you got the wrong nuts, took them home(25 mile round trip),
started to fit the nuts and found out they were the wrong ones for your wheels.!!!

How much of a slagging off would the dealer get then for suppling you with the wrong parts.

mutant_matt

The dealer asks for the VIN so that they can refuse to sell you the part if it turns out you have a non EU market car (i.e. a JDM model)

You'll notice that the good dealers don't practise this approach (which comes from IM )

Matt.

Silver Knight

Not true,
I am a dealer (not Subaru)
Example, Shoguns and pajero, Uk cars one brake pad fits all, grey imports six different types depending on country of origin.
We need the chassis to get the correct pads.
Tony

Shark

I have to agree Silver Knight. VIN = Correct part.

David

MrShades

I can certainly agree with two schools of thought here....

1) VIN = Check for UK/Euro or JDM and refuse if JDM...

2) VIN = correct part...

...but for a set of locking wheel nuts!!!!!!!!!

I would put serious money on all standard fit, 2003 STi gold alloys being the same wheel nut - irrespective of it being a UK or Timbuktu sourced car!!!! Pads, discs, engine components, even interior features and fittings, yes, but wheel nuts!!!

Anyway - got em now - and know which dealer to use in the future to avoid any delays

Shades

PS At least CDB rang me back yesterday, and confirmed the price and that they'd need to order some for me..... I was honest and told them that Simpsons had them in stock so not to worry. Only a day late, but they day cost them a sale - lucky for them it was only 18 quid.

mutant_matt

Dave,

Has the part number or indeed the part itself changed at all ever for Impreza Locking Wheel nuts?

IIRC, the wheel nuts for Imprezas has been the same since they were invented...

Matt

Shark

Matt - both

About a year ago the part number changed from SACC2135 to SACC2150. The design changed from the key having three studs to a random nut like pattern.

David

GU5

But has the actual thread/ depth etc changed?

Wheelman

I was asked for a chassis number when ordering the plastic bits that go at the end of the front seat runners when I swopped the original interior in my UK MY94 for a MY00. When I gave them the number they looked up the original parts of course. Having explained what I was doing, there was much shaking of heads and a lengthy conversation between the assistant and the parts manager before common sense saw the light of day (despite the total cost being about £5)!

Baby Blue

Does it Corner! any better

Sorry couldn't resist

BB

mutant_matt

Muppet

GU5, exactly

Matt

St Andy

Silver Knight, you are a car dealer? Basicly I hate you, you are scum, I am yet to find a honest car dealer, you people make me sick.

GU5

Posts like that p155 everybody off, there's absolutly no need Everybody's gotta earn a living, and to say all xxxxx's are a bunch of xxxxxer is a bit of a crap statement Grow up!

St Andy

Sorry pal, just the way I feel about it.

Silver Knight

Andy,
Never said a car dealer (Drugs) you seem to know them quite well

[Edited by Silver Knight - 4/16/2003 4:48:15 PM]

Shark

Andy

Perhaps you should rethink? My Grandfather started our dealership in 1948, my Father followed him and I've been working there for 9 years. Those that know me on here will testify that a more honest dealership you could not wish to find.

Sure there are cowboys in the motor trade as any other, but to lable us all 'scum' seems a little unfair?

David

Brun

St Andy - Take comments like that else where, they are not welcome on Scoobynet

mutant_matt

Andy,

Grow up!! Mr Shark is indeed a good example of an honest dealer (as is his Dad) - obviously there are plenty that are not but this is true in most walks of life.

Matt.