Disgusting service experience at Imperial Toyota Cape Gate

Ours was a very negative experience. Our Toyota Verso went in for a service at Imperial Toyota Cape Gate. After the service the car was still driving fine but it was recommended by the dealer that the pickup in sump was blocked and it needed to be removed, cleaned and resealed. Also as per the dealer the waterpump was starting to leak . To date we however had never found water under our car.

We then decided to listen to the experts as they are the specialists in this field or so we thought at the time. We booked our car in and the recommended changes were done. While they were working on our verso we got a call to say that the sump cannot be cleaned it was too dirty and we would need a new one and that we would also now need a new thermostat. As we have no knowledge of the mechanics of a car we told them to go ahead. By this stage the cost had tripled. Our biggest disappointment was yet to come. We collected our car and as we drove out our car starting miss firing and idling erratically. I drove it to the nearest gas station and I immediately called our service agent and she said I must bring the car back. I agreed to take it back on the Monday as it was a Friday afternoon and we had another appointment. We were so disappointed as our Verso had never given us any problem in the 13 years. Monday morning we were back at Toyota Cape Gate and they told us it will take 10 minutes to sort out. We left the car with them and received a call a while later to say they need more time as it was not what they thought it was. Late afternoon we received a call from my service agent to say it was a coil and the cost for one coil is R1836.91 to replace and they would suggest we replace all four as once one coil is a problem the others tend to follow. I told her I will not accept this as my car was driving perfectly prior to the service and after the service but now that we allowed them to do the recommended changes the car has problems. The next day we went to see the vehicle and to address our concerns with the service manager. We suggested that they investigate and speak to the mechanics and find out what happened to our vehicle at the workshop. To us it seemed as if our vehicle was tampered with or worked on by mechanics that lacked experience. The service manager as well as the gentleman in charge of the workshop were adamant that it was the coil as it could go any stage. They gave us their verbal guarantee that if we change the coils the car would drive perfect again. For an amount of almost R10 000.00, we couldnt believe what we were hearing. We were very upset as we felt that we now had to pay for something they damaged. We then left the car there and decided to take further steps and contact Toyota South Africa. Once again a HUGE disappointment, the lady we dealt with did absolutely nothing for us as customers. All she did was contact Imperial Toyota Cape Gate and then call us back with exactly the same information we were already been told. There was absolutely no investigation done, no sight visit and no car inspection, no interview with the mechanics which I assumed would have taken place. We were disgusted with the service received, very annoyed and frustrated by this stage. We made a decision to remove our car from Imperial Toyota Cape Gate and get a second opinion as we felt we had been treated very unfairly. The mechanic we chose to inspect our car was very busy and we had to wait 2 weeks but it was the best decision ever. In a couple our hours we received feedback, he had found water in the one coil and all he had to do was dry up the area and the car in back driving like a dream. Thanks to Rosenpark Motors, Bellville, you saved us from been conned out of almost R10 000.00

So we have learnt from this whole ordeal and we would like to share with others who also know very little about the mechanics of a car. If it aint broke dont fix it, Also Imperial Toyota Cape Gate just want to replace replace replace!!!!!! Toyota Cape Gate you have lost a customer and we are walkers and talkers.