Garage Checks

To the editor,

Driving along in the appalling UK weather one December evening a van in front of my car stopped abruptly. I was unable to break in time or swerve. The resulting damage didn't seem too bad, bonnet, valance, bumper and wing. I took my car to Aircool and told them that I was happy for them to do the work as long as the would not use any Mexican or Brazilian parts and they agreed. They were very helpful, sorting out all the insurance bureaucracy and even gave me a courtesy car to take on holiday to the continent with me.

At first progress was slow, they had trouble locating some of the parts and after three weeks they were obviously getting fed up with the car, it was taking far too much of their time they claimed. When I went to pick up the car, a month after the accident, the car looked as if nothing ever happened, until I looked closer that was. They had clearly started to cut corners towards the end. The metal pressed number plate had not been replaced, they claimed they were unable to get hold of these, I however have had quite a few made and have never experienced any difficulties. Spotlights I fitted had not been authorised by the insurance company they claimed, the insurance said they had. The old bonnet handle had been refitted even though the tread had gone on it. They forgot to spray the inner wing and finally, and I think most crucially, the bonnet had not been aligned properly. They agreed all these problems would be rectified and I should come in to get this work carried out as soon as the spotlights had arrived.

Seven weeks later and my cars went in to have the final touches done to it. At first the bonnet could not be done, that's the way these bonnets fit they claimed, I however insisted and guess what, it fits, even though it took them three tries. It would take no more than a day they claimed, three day and five visits later the car was almost finished. Almost, because there was no life on the spotlight wire, or so they claim, and they therefore had not wired up the lights. I asked for a voltage meter and found my life on the wire I had indicated to them when took in the car within 60 seconds. Three hours and lots of irritation later I drove my precious car home (spot lights still not working because they forgot to order the bulbs, another of the little details).

I would advise anyone considering to let Aircool work on their beetle to clearly say what you want and not to accept anything less. They do deliver a good product, but unfortunately do not have the 'feeling' for air-cooled VWs as most owners do. Maybe they should consider changing their name using some play on the word Golf, any suggestions?

Daniel van Boxel
Department of Statistical Science University College London