There's a reason I hate squirrels and Mr. Tire.
Last spring, I was trying to meet a friend for dinner and noticed my car was acting up. I was able to get back, but when I opened the hood, I found a nest in the engine! A nest!
I removed it and checked back the next day. The day after that, it rained so I didn't bother. Bad idea. Sunday came round, and I opened the hood. Not only was there another nest, but FOUR SQUIRREL BABIES. Plus, they had chewed up the windshield wiper fluid line and a bunch of wires and my PCV valve. Arg.
A friend recommended Mr Tire to me, so I took my car there for repair. It cost $400 for my repairs. Instead of replacing wires and the fluidline entirely, they had just reconnected them and taped the exposed wire over. I felt this was shoddy, but seeing as I don't know much about cars, I assumed this was the way of doing it normally.
As I drove back home, the Service Engine light went back on. So I took it back the next day, where they told me they had to replace the PVC valve. This cost another $300. I got my car back, but as I was driving home, the Service Engine light went back on. This time, it took a few days for them to figure it out. Apparently, they ordered the wrong valve. Yet when I got my car back, the Service Engine light went back on. It turns out that they installed it incorrectly. BACKWARDS.
I was there a total of six times. The last time I was there, the SE light did not go on. But when I turned on my car, I realized that they had just turned it off so it wouldn't go on. EVER. So if there is a real problem with my car, I won't really know until it stalls in the middle of the road in Nowhere, Minnesota. Thanks, Mr Tire.
At this point, I was really frustrated and decided against going back. I mean, I had spent over $700 and quite a few hours at their location. I didn't really feel like wasting my time with people who kept charging me to crappy job on my car. The main mechanic guy is from the School of Fifties Masculinity, so he was condescending to me in a way he probably thought was flattering. Plus, each time I was in, they kept telling me to get some other services done on my car.
I still get calls from them about check up services that need to be done. But seeing as they didn't really fix my baby to begin with, no thanks. I'll go somewhere else. If you like being belittled, overcharged, and left with a car that isn't completely repaired, feel free to go to Mr Tire.
And that friend who recommended Mr Tire to me? We are no longer friends.
Just kidding. We're actually neighbors now. read more