Car Talk
So the car's been in the shop about a week now, and from the few words I was able to pick out of the phone conversation with the service manager one of the mechanics is out test driving as I write. I'm to call back at noon. From the words 'service manager' you may infer that the dealer, and not one of the prodigious number of local mechanics is working on the car. This is against the advice of nearly all that have voiced an opinion (which is anyone I've talked to about it) as the independent mechanics are a resourceful crew, and will work for half the cost. But…
I've been driving a friend's car for the past few months and I've had it to his 'local' guy three times, the last for the brakes. At first he claimed there was nothing wrong, then he realized after a close call during another test drive that the master cylinder or some such was faulty. He came up with the cost of a new part, and then the cost of a part from a different car that was a third of the price. Naturally my friend opted for the less expensive fix. The travel on the brake pedal nearly doubled while also requiring a more stout application, and as of about a week ago there began an interminable scraping noise from the brake-age area whilst driving, and a nice loud squeak when the brakes are applied cold to boot.
Before I took possession of my 'new' wheels the former owner took it to his preferred mechanic (we went together) to have it 'tweaked' (the car is otherwise in near cherry condition). We had determined that the power seats were out of whack and requested a full tune-up and change of fluids. When they presented us the bill it turns out that they replaced the entire seat mechanism, for which they charged dearly, and after a day with the car I realized that the seat still doesn't go up and down, or tilt. The default position was killing my back as I struggled to look out over the expansive hood to get into parking spaces. They also never did the tune-up or change the fluids.
But the biggest offence in my view was that the 'preferred mechanic' allowed the former owner to operate the car with about 3 inches of play in the steering wheel. This was an occasional weekend car for him, and as he is not of a mechanical bent (and a typical Tico driver) he scarcely noticed anything wrong. When the car was first sold in '84 it was top of the line. It weighs a gazillion tons and has a huge motor and if anything were to go wrong, especially at speed, there would be hell to pay. I decided professional help was needed, so, off to the Mercedes dealer. 
After spending two days determining that the suspension was straight and true they decided that the steering box was the culprit. I went to visit. There was much consternation as to the availability of the part and, as it was Friday there would be no solution until the new week. On Monday they called and said they would fabricate a part.
Now Wednesday I sit and wait for the verdict.
