They are conning & ******** ppl & getting away with it!

Worst experience from this Hi Q branch (Montague Gardens)

After visiting 2 tyre fitment centres before ending up by Hi Q Montague gardens. I had them check why they couldn't do the wheel alignment. Both said "rack ends on steering rack needed replacing, but they don't do them." I would have to find a workshop that did.

I passed Hi Q & popped in to ask if they can do them? Carl the sales said yes & I left the car. Later Carl called me saying "He had Bad news! The whole steering rack needed replacing & the 2 front tyres too."

Got a qoute from him & it was pricey for my budget at the time, on that day... i asked if I brought the parts & they fitted & charged me labour only would it be ok? He said fine @ Labour rate of R650 per hour. I left & i sourced a set of good used tyres from a used tyre shop & good steering rack from a friend's car, same as mine & that i knew was still good. They gladly fitted the parts with no questions or complaints. Job done, they fetched me to get my car.

I got to desk paid them, signed receipt & left. Car felt good up to 80kph & then steering vibration gradually got worse in to a bad shuddering & i couldn't go over 120kph without the whole front of car violently jumping around! Not happy & scared as hell i took car back, especially cos now it was worse than before they replaced everything! I went back & forth over a week long period. 1st time was told "the parts are not new & there is no guarantee." I asked what the problem is bcos didn't make any sense as car was better before? They said bring back & they checked again, tried alignment & balancing again. Was still the same. I Used like that for 2 days as i couldn't have it there another day again. Each day it got worse.

After 2 days & calming myself from flipping out went back & said it's unbearable & unacceptable.

Salesman Carl said "put it on the lift again" to check. Then they had apparantly found the problem! Finally a Sigh of relief & joy! Apparently the tyres i bought were bad & I was duped! " the 1 tyre had belt seperation internally" The older guy & fitter agreed that i needed 2 new front tyres & the problem will be solved!

I asked if they are 100% certain? Carl had told me he has 16 yrs experience in the industry & knows symptoms of belt separation, with the steering shaking like it did.

The following day i gave them the go ahead, dropped car off, collected car & was still the same! Went back again & want to show what car is doing. Only to get told i must come back the following week to see technical manager.

By then the steering was making a noise unlike before. The day finally came & met the "tech manager" Jacques from Tonneson fitment centre. He checked & also fed me the story of "i bought a bad steering rack & my inner CV's also now supposedly needed replacing."

Yet them nor the other 2 reputable, known fitment centres picked this up. Nor did they say so when I first booked car in for checking what needed to be replaced. I told them I am also a mechanic & run a motorcycle repair workshop & I am not stupid & they have a last chance to sort out their mess. Cos @ the end of the day, i spent over 3K by them, have a problem that was not there b4, can't enjoy my car, & they refuse to accept any responsibility for any wrong doing & sort out their mess. No attention to detail all round, small example: They couldn't even wipe off the dirty finger prints & brake dust on the mag wheels after them fitting the new tyres & i had to ask for my fancy steel valve caps back that were not fitted.

Oh and the "bad tyres" with "belt separation" that I was duped for & wasted money on. I had to ask for them back & I sold them online. The buyer fitted them following day & gave feed back as i asked him to. They are perfect, smooth & drove over 140kph no shaking or problems. I have all this & voice recordings of Hi Q. for any arguments sake.

Other Hi Q branches I have had no problem. Sadly this branch will let down the rest & the brand. Especially after reading other scary reviews with similar stories about this branch, unfortunately only after my costly & frustrating experience.