Wednesday April 19 I took my 2003 S80 in for a 95 dollar wheel alignment. An hour later I was informed that the alignment could not be performed because the front bushings were broken, the rear bushings were cracked and the front tie rods were worn. The cost of the repairs would be 1,267 excluding the allignment. All on a car that was 3 years old and had 60,000 miles. I had told him that I just bought the car. I asked him if the car had any damage under the car or had been abused. The owner told me it was normal for the car. I was amazed because the car drives beautifully. I felt he was lieing so I paid him 55 dollars for his mechanics time and left. This was my first time doing business with them.
Seeking a second opinion I called Scotty's Automotive Repair in Rocklin. I talked to an older gentlemen name Russ on the phone. He was chuckling as I told him the story. He told me that the rubber bushings could not deteriorate that quickly and said he would be happy to look at it. I was there in less that an hour. He put the car on the lift and then called me into the shop to show me the bushings. The rear bushings looked like new much like rubber on a new tire. The front bushings were dirty but they were not broken. The bushings in the front are unique and are split by design. He said they were made that way to prevent them from breaking. The left tie rod showed little wear and the right was slightly worn. Russ said they each should be fine until the car reaches 200,000 miles. Scotty's did not charge me for the inspection. Scotty's could not allign the wheels because the car has a computer tracking system. I felt like I should compensate them so I had them inspect the entire car for $110. The manager said them had never had a car that pass an inspection so well.
Thursday I took the car to Turner Volvo in Sacramento for the wheel alignemnt. I told them what I had been through. They had no problems alligning the wheels and it was $79 instead of $95 at SVS.
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