ABT Auto Care

Disgusting!!!!

• Car was towed to ABT Auto on 14th July 2025 • 24th July we received our first update: “Howzit. Motor stripped ect 3 bearing journals got damaged, picture is from cylinder 4. Busy getting quote together for you and list of parts I would need from landrover” Followed by a quote of R230 000.00 We were Advised that further tests needed to still be done of various partsand that he would still need to finalise quotes for parts. See what is available, what was not, what was needed. Etc. • A deposit of R100 000.00 was requesed to start the job. We found this strange as it was stated that only a few odds and ends were needed in terms of parts. He insisted on this deposit amount and refused an alternative. Zane then advised that he had, in the meantime, got some parts and started with the vehicle repair. We then reluctantly, paid over the R100 000.00 deposit. • Constant follow ups were done. From now on our calls were no longer being being taken from Zane. No solid timelines were given to us. No updates received. No estimated turnaround times given. • On the 12 September 2025 we received an update that he was still waiting for parts and engineering. No concrete timeline, turnaround or feedback given. Only that he was waiting for parts. He mentioned Dova parts and that parts were ordered and were coming in. • ⁠on the 24th October 2025 after again, many many phone calls and follow ups we received an update of a video of the car running, along with Zane stating that this was the first start up as he had bee waiting for a “pipe” to arrive. • ⁠On the 30th of October we received a voice note of Zane stating that he has driven the car several times and was happy with the motor. His only concern was that the air suspension was faulty and wanted to keep the car for further testing. He admited in this voice note that there be a possibility that one of the bellows were damaged from the vehicle being on the lift and that he would sort it out. • Again - Tons of calls & attempted follow ups ignored. • On th 14th November we received feedback that were could collect car and that balance of deposit needed to be paid over asap. • A Balance of R109 900.00 was paid on 14th November when we collected the vehicle. We Received the vehicle in a disgusting state. - Badge and front bonnet was peeling as if something was messed on it. - ⁠Rims scratched terribly. - ⁠Oil container and cloth left in back seat. - ⁠Car was not washed. - ⁠Car Stank inside. We Drove 3km and car started overheating. Returned vehicle and Mentioned all of the above to Zane. • WE AGAIN had to initiate follow up. • ⁠Followed up on the Monday 16th November with promise to get back to us that day. and again - Nothing. • ⁠Tuesday 17th November 2025 we followed up again with feedback stating that vehicle was being tested and that we would be able to collect later on that day. • ⁠ Vehicle was collected Tuesday 17th November in the afternoon. • On the same day that the vehicle was collected, the vehicle died and had to be jump started. Took the vehicle to Willard battery centre where we had to replace the battery and put in a brand new Battery which cost us R9000.00 • Air suspension was now faulty too and had not been fixed. Zane took no responsibility and claimed he didn’t know what was wrong with the suspension. ( after admitting that it would have been damaged in his workshop ). • Wednesday 19th of November we took the vehicle to an air shock centre where we had to pay a total of R38 800.00 to have suspention repaired. • On the 19th November we went to George where the car gave an oil pressure warning when throttle was released. We immediately tried contacting Zane. He advised that the oil put into the car was 15W40 Rimula and that it would need an oil change at 1000km. We questioned the type of oil used and Zane assured us that it was the correct oil used for rebuilding this type of engine. • We arrived in George and immediately took the vehicle to Landy Word where we were advised that the oil was incorrect and should never have been put inside this vehicle and that the spec was in fact 0W20. The oil was then Changed accordingly. • On our way back to Jhb on the 28th November 2025 the vehicle broke down. We had tried to contact Zane. With both messages and calls ignored. • ⁠We had to be towed back to Jhb at our expense. Which cost us R8500.00 • After following up daily, calls and messages being ignored and not responded to the vehicle was finally picked up by ABT Auto Care on the 5th of December 2025! • On the 10th of December 2025. Again, calls not being answered, we received a message advising that the vehicle would start to be stripped the following day. • Calls unanswered again. Messages not responded to. Countless follow ups in between from various family members and numbers. With no avail. • On the 19th January 2026 we received photos of the pistons advising that pistons had melted and that injectors had to be sent in for testing. We asked for turnaround time and got a very vague response stating that they would need to do further investigation. • Hundreds of calls and Messages being ignored again. No update. No answer. No response. • On the 26th January 2026 we received a message advising that they were still waiting for testing and that they were held up by parts supplier. • The 28th of January we received a message with 2 options to fix the piston problem where we advised that the rebuild was under warranty and that they should fix accordingly for which ever option they see best to maintain warranty. • 2nd February we went to the police station to open a case where we were accompanied by police to the workshop where we were advised that the delay was with the parts supplier - Dova parts. He assured the cops and ourselves that Dova parts was where these delays had come from and that he couldn’t give feedback because he was receiving non from them. We insisted on seeing proof of the parts being ordered where we were refused. After constant back an forth Zane finally agreed to put in writing a timeline for when we would receive the vehicle. He confirmed it would be no later than 6 weeks from date. We asked to be kept up to date on parts and progress and were promised this. Today is the 17th of February 2026 with no further updates since our visit to his workshop. We decided to contact Dova parts directly and spoke to the owner; Bill regarding the outstanding parts. We were advised that he knows nothing of this order and that he had never heard of ABT Auto and that he does not order parts and only sells what he has readily available. I have been paying my installment of R20 000 per month whilst not having my car and have spent thousands on vehicle hire in between. I’ve had to tow the vehicle at my expense Put in a new battery and fix the suspension all at my cost with absolutely no responsibility taken from ABT Auto Care. Not a sorry. No compensation. No Urgency. Nothing