What the ????

Okay, so I have decided that I will spend some of the profits from the sale of my home getting my car fixed (being responsible really sucks). I finally found a place that specializes in Subarus (YEA!), but it is closer to where my dad lives than where I live (Bummer). But, I have had such bad luck taking my car to anyone that doesn't know Subarus that I'm going to give it a shot.

I called them last week to see if they were available to work on my car, I also asked if I could get a ride to work. Now the ride isn't exactly necessary. I friend of mine at the law firm lives just north of the service center and it is not far off the freeway she takes to get to work in the morning. She had already agreed to give me a ride if it was needed. The service center said it would be no problem, even though I work 20 miles away, so I did not make arrangements with my coworker. Well, it turns out it was a problem. Big surprise.

They didn't have anyone to take me into work. They asked me several times if I had told the receptionist where I worked. I assured them that not only had I, but I was originally going to bring the car in when they opened at 7:30am, but she had called to tell me to come in at 8, because no one would be available before then. They sent me to the waiting room while they figured out what they were going to do.

A few minutes later they ask if a rental would work, at their expense (yeah, like I don't know they are going to work the cost into my bill). I agree and the search begins to find someone to take me to the rental car company.

The guy returns a few minutes later to tell me I am all set. They are going to give me a car to drive over to the rental company where I will pick up my rental, so I can go to work. Weird, but okay, whatever.

Oh no, it turns out that I have just returned the LAST GUYS rental to the rental company. They are goingt to give me a "clean" car. That is right, I have just been turned into the rental car mule. So, I get my rental, which is the EXACT same car as the one I just returned, color and all! And this was a totally CHEAP car. Manual windows and you had to put the key in the car to lock the doors. Pushing the lock down before closing the door did not work.

So, they call me later and tell me everything that is wrong with the car. To their credit, they basically gave me the same list the dealership had given me when I took my car in for its 180,000 mile maintenance a few months ago. (Except the dealership did not give me the list in English. I didn't like them and will never take my car to them again.) There is a lot wrong and they are going to have the car until Wednesday if I'm lucky, but Thursday is more realistic. It is still going to be expensive, but I strangely believe that these people know what they are doing and trust that they will do a good job. But the story does not end there, oh no, that would be too easy.

I carpool to work at the law firm, so I do not need the rental car. All I needed was a ride to work. I am going to use the previously mentioned coworker, who passes the service station, to pick up the car when it is ready. So I ask them how I can get the rental back to them. First they offer that I can bring it to them in the morning and my friend can come and get me. I let them know that this is not an option. I am not getting up an hour early 2 days because they couldn't find me a ride after they said they would. There was a mention of the rental agency coming to retrieve their car, but they refused because of the distance. I was then told I could keep the car, at their expense (yeah, right. You KNOW they are going to add it into the labor costs for my repair!). I assured them this was not necessary and a waste of money because the car was going to sit at my apartment for the next 3 days because I carpool to work. They FINALLY agreed that someone would stay late that night so I could return it the same day. What a pain in the ass, but at least I don't have a car sitting in my parking space "at their expense."