So this whole adventure starts after my work parking garage hiked up the daily rate...again. Now, only working three days a week in the office, the cost of driving in and parking on those days went over $225/month and I started looking for alternative ways to get to work.
FRI, May 18: After several weeks of trying (and failing) to buy a scooter from at least three business in VA (crazy that it was as difficult as it was, but I won't get into that here), I called College Scooters, spoke to Navid, about the Lance Soho 50. They didn't have the Lance Soho 50 in stock, but they did have the Genuine Venture 50 (which is actually the one I wanted). I decided to drive up to College Park and check it out. Checked it out, liked it, decided to buy it. It was actually a little past closing, so I decided to go back first thing in the morning the next day to pay, pick up Certificate of Origin, register it, then drive it back home.
SAT, May 19: Drove back to pay and pick up the certificate but was told there was a problem and they would need to get a corrected certificate, but that they couldn't even get it mailed to them until Tuesday. At this point, I give them a $500 deposit.
THU, May 21: The certificate arrives, so I drive back to pay the balance and pick up the certificate then get the tags from the DMV. Because of the problem with the title, they offer to deliver the scooter for free, but I decide I'll just head back out there and drive it back.
FRI, May 22: Scooter picked up and driven home. Finally!
SAT, May 23: Take it out for a dry run to work Everything seems fine.
SUN, May 24 - FRI, June 1: Out of town for work.
SUN, June 3: Take it on another dry run to work. I fill it up, get home, go to cover it up for the night, and notice fresh oil all over the underside of the transmission. Thinking I overfilled the gas tank (why I thought this was problem, I have no idea), I cleaned off all the oil and planned to recheck it in the morning.
MON, June 4: I get it ready to ride again and notice that there is still fresh oil on the underside of the transmission. I clean it off and drive around Alexandria for a while to once again verify there is an oil leak (why I kept verifying, I have no idea). I stop randomly while riding it and each time, fresh oil is present. I get home and yep, more oil. I clean it off again.
TUE, June 5: I ride it to work for the first time, but surprisingly, when I get there, very little oil was present. While at work, I call the shop and am told that I could check all three drain plugs for leakage, but if those turned out to be okay, I should have it towed since the scooter comes with roadside assistance. I get home, check it again and of course, more oil leaking. I check the drain plugs and they're fine so I call the number for roadside assistance. Since I just got it though, the information for the roadside assistance hadn't been submitted at the time I call and I'm told that I'd have to pay for the tow (which wasn't going to happen). I decide to keep verifying that it's actually leaking.
WED, June 6: I don't drive it to work that day, but after work I check it and again, oil is leaking. Convinced it can't possibly be a defect and convinced it was just overfilled or something simple like that, I ride it around again, wiping off oil as I go.
THU, June 7: I go to meet a friend for lunch in Crystal City and decide to drive the scooter. I get almost all the way there, decide to check to see if it's leaking (which it is) and finally decide enough is enough, call the shop, and explain to Navid what's been going on. Navid sends the van to pick up the scooter from Crystal City...I Uber home.
FRI, June 8 - Friday, June 15: In shop for repairs. I'll admit, I am a bit annoyed that it wasn't ready when I was told it would be (I was told Wednesday/Thursday), but an extra day in the shop is the least of my concern at this point, but it's finally done, so I grab a Lyft out to College Park to pick it up. I stop a couple time just to check that there wasn't any oil leak...and it was dry every time I stopped. Finally! I get home and cover it up for the night.
SAT, June 16: I go out to walk the dog and decide to check to see if everything is dry. IT WAS NOT. There was fresh oil on the underside of the transmission...again. At this point I'm over it. I call Navid to tell him what's going on and figure out where we go from here. Navid agrees to replace the scooter.
That decision alone is the reason I gave College Scooters five stars. The way I look at, he didn't have to do that, but rather than have me suffer through repairs that could have been as serious as an engine replacement due to a bad casting, he decided to just take care of the problem once and for all. He made it right without thinking twice about it (he may have unleashed a stream of profanity after we hung up for all I know, but he was 100% professional while I was on the phone with him)...and I am eternally grateful. read more