Wilfred

Let me get this straight...so, the mechanic's key is for when you valet park or have the car serviced and want to keep stuff safe in the trunk/glove compartment, right?

That's why it doesn't directly insert into the trunk or glove, right?

But, you can still press the trunk release button after you've entered the car. STUPID!!!

Now, I have to take my valuables out of the trunk before having my car serviced this morning. Am I missing something?

Richard Solomon

Yes, lock the trunk with the "real" key by turning CCW(?)

Wilfred

Stupid owner trick, not reading the manual completely.

Delaware_Tom

And don't forget to lock the fold down seats.

April

unit, etc.

Richard Solomon

...and treat it as a measure of trust. If the dealership abuses my trust by horking my tire-change coveralls, I simply won't be back. If the guys need to make change for a coke from my change drawer (nee ashtray) I will neither notice nor care.

No, I wouldn't leave my new laptop in the back - but that's more because it's with me than away from them

Besides, if "they" want your stuff, "they'll" get it... Heck, I had a radio stolen from a previous (non-Audi) car while in the dealer's care. Almost certainly an employee because they took at least 10-15 minutes to carefully unbolt and leave behind the modified face plate...knowing they'd have to replace it later.

phred

Why take the chance? Lots and lots of people pass through service departments and have lots of opportunitiess to window-shop. Besides, why does your car have so many valuables in the first place? Do you really think a car is a secure environment? I've had several convertibles over the years, and I learned long ago that anything in the car should be treated as community property, only in your possession briefly.

Same goes for body shop visits. I once had a serious accident in my Acura, and when I went a few days later to visit it in the body shop where it had been towed, the thing had been sucked dry of everything! Cassettes, cup holders, wet naps, change, even a toy Gumby!

Bollinger

By mistake. They were still there when I got the car back.

I leave change and real money around my car all the time, like $20-$50. I took my car (my Saturn) to get it detailed. When I got my car back the detailer told me I shouldn't leave the money in there when I get my car detailed.

I guess I'm glad that he warned me, but I'm shocked that he would run a business that even he doesn't consider trustworthy. I won't be back. I am paying him a fair price to detail my car (actually for the job he did it was more than fair), so he shouldn't have to go stealing money out of my car to cover his margins. And there is plenty of disincentive to do so, since he'll get back word-of-mouth.

phred

There is such a thing as human nature, ya know. NBC did a hidden camera job the other night where they left stuff out in someone's house to see what the cleaning lady would do, and naturally she helped herself to some of it. And this is a woman who is paid to clean. That's like blaming a dog for ripping open a box of dog biscuits if you leave it within their reach. Remove the temptation! Be responsible for your stuff.

phred

Thanks, a blast of common sense