Why Mag City Sucks
My car doesn’t move
Along Darley Road there are rows of men that flag down cars, get inside and fix car problems while overcharging horrendously. Over time, one of these operations has grown into a large garage which still has the same basic operating procedure. This is Mag City. Mag City has a car elevator, a few floors, modern machinery, etc. The people there, however, are still driven by commission and thus customers pay to drive. The trouble is that sometimes you have to go to Darley Road cause you just don’t know any better. Or at least I don’t. Ignorance plus desperation, however, is a terribly combination, ripe for exploitation.
During the rains, my car broke down. Like wouldn’t move. In this situation, and with a bunch of people in the car, I didn’t know what to do. At 9 PM on a rainy night, who has a tow truck available? The only place I knew was Mag City. Mag City is a place I try to avoid. At first I went there cause it looked like it had modern facilities, but these are in essence just a fancy cash register. I’ve always gotten huge charges which I found out later could be done much cheaper and better by the simple home garages along the street. When a car is broke down, however, what to do. In essence, in a non-moving car, all roads are Darley Road. You have to call the little garage that could.
So now my car is in the shop. They tell me one thing and then another, which I don’t quite understand, which I suppose is my problem. In front of me they show another bill for over a lakh which I find horrifying, until they bill me something horrifying as well. Apparently the engine needs to be rebuilt, but each time I call they have a new problem or excuse. It’s been two weeks now. The waiting room upstairs has ancient magazines, big screen TV, etc, but it’s still a chop shop like any of the other chop shops on Darley Road. Does anyone know any place better to go, or have similar experiences?
Note: underneath this there is a more interesting issue as to why Sri Lankan customer service is excellent on the street level but breaks down in companies. I shall think that out for my Sunday Leader column this, er, Sunday.
Note: also, I know nothing about cars and probably should
Today on the 
Janith has updated 
This is highly dubious. Miss Travel is a travel/social networking site that connects ‘Generous’ and ‘Attractive’ travelers. To, like, travel together, I guess. It all seems a bit like arranged prostitution and trafficking. This is part of a broader online trend to connect rich men to younger, attractive women. Sites like 
Sri Lankan domestics never say anything, they just stop coming. My maid just stopped coming and when I finally pressed her she said I needed to get a washing machine. I was hoping to ride this one out, but I’ve run out of underwear and I have no choice. I finally caved and bought a washing machine, from 
I’m sorry man, but judging by experiences by people who actually know something about the subject (not us laymen) your car is probably being setup for ruination. Get it out of there as soon as you can. There are plenty of towing services available in Colombo, just call the dealer of your car and they will recommend one. Take it to the agent when there are problems, or a garage you trust. Mag City, after all, is the place that dropped a well known personality’s sportscar off the hoist…
Incidentally, your insurer will also be able to recommend a towing company and will give you their number if you don’t want to make it a claim.
Your story is a “repeat telecast” of what happened to us. Car broke down, we went to Mag City. The only difference was that we were not desperate, and the circumstances didn’t call for immediate remedies. Rather, we didn’t mind spending a bit more for a “good place”. Not that we had extra cast to spend, but we expected to save in the long run.
Mag City looked like a good place, judging solely by the hardware and setup. The list of “good” ends there. They wanted to replace this and that, did unnecessary checks for which we had to pay, and the bill for ended up close to eighty thousand.
We soon realized that their cash machine is to do with commissions. The more parts they replace, the more commissions they get.
The best option is to learn as much as possible about the car, find the service manual on the web and read it, and get a garage man to do the job while you instruct based on that knowledge.
What did they replace? If you have a flashy care 80,000 repairs could be a pair of lights
No, it was not a flashy car. Now I have a much better mechanical knowledge to know that 80%+ of what they replaced was grossly unnecessary, and nothing to do with the issue at hand!
My only experience with Mag City was about 6 years ago, when I had them clean my car, and charge me like five times what it’d cost anywhere else. Never been back. Basically, if you’re not seeing progress within a week at any garage, take your car out (unless the prob is clear and they’re awaiting parts or something) — even if you have to tow it. Ask someone who knows about cars to recommend a garage to you, if your car’s dealer isn’t taking care of it. Always ask for an estimate BEFORE work begins. If you think it’s too steep, ask around before OK’ing it. Check parts prices with your car dealer — dealers are always more expensive, so you’ll get an idea.
Have a tow service number saved on your phone, along with a 24-hour battery service place, or at least someone with jump cables. If you’re forced to take your car to a garage you don’t know (say on an out-of-town trip), just get ‘em to do the minimum to get your car back on the road and over to a garage you trust.
And as already has been said, try to build up some knowledge about your car and its oily bits so that they can’t screw you over too badly.
excellent advice, and not just for indi
Fully Endorse this. You have to have a ‘garage guy’ if your car is not under warranty . Mine comes at 11PM in a tuk tuk and takes care of stuff. Works on Sundays and literally lives in his garage. Love the bugger.
Is that a Vitz/Yaris/Echo? Whatever it is, it looks relatively new and Japanese. Unless you’ve well and truly thrashed it, or put a million miles on it, or never had it serviced, seems very unlikely that it would need an engine rebuild.
Here’s a towing service: 0777870870 or 0112585686 (Jayagiri Transporters I think). It’s not cheap, but in my experience they’ve been reliable and competent, and they have a pretty nifty truck.
When your car stalls, you need to try and figure out might have gone wrong before you give it to a garage. Was the battery dead? Was the engine overheating? Did you drive through water that night?
I once had to replace the four tyres and since MagCity seemed to be open while most other places were shut, I decided to take my car there. I asked for one of the brands that the manufacturer recommends and the guys at MagCity wanted me to wait for about an hour until they got the tyres from their warehouse. I demanded for four tyres from the latest stock. Once they arrived, I checked the production code and realised that the tyres were older than 3 years; they have been sitting in a warehouse for far too long. The staff look baffled at the fact that I knew when the tyres were produced. They tried to convince me that the tyres were new. I refused to buy the tyres and the maintenance staff directed me to the Manager – who apparently had worked at Kandy Tyre House for many years.
Guess what? The Manager did not know how to read the production code engraved in the tyres. It was the first time he had heard about that..!
I had to postpone my out-of-Colombo drive and replace the tyres at the agent in Havelock town the next morning.
I wonder how many Sri Lankans purchase tyres without knowing much about the information available on the tyres. We seem to ‘trust’ places with fancy signboards – just like MagCity – far too much, don’t we?
So where does one go? What are good garages? And any more bad stories about Mag City would be helpful, doing an article on it
Well I use AutoSafe on Castle St (here’s their FB page :D http://www.facebook.com/pages/Colombo/AUTOSAFE/75354716816). They do everything but AC repairs and upholstery.
Plenty of horror stories here: http://www.autolanka.com/forum/index.php?/topic/2675-mag-city/
I think there are a few other threads as well
Get your car out of there FAST.
Become a member of the AA. They will help with small problems and tow it to some garage.
Mike Mutthumani runs the Janashaksthi garage in the Braybrooke St area. its a short walk from the Sunday Times office/DFCC/Mobitel office down the same street towards the Bo Tree.
He is not the cheapest but I think he is competent and honest.
If you want to learn more about cars in Sri Lanka and fixing them, check out http://autolanka.com/forum/index.php. The site is awesome for just this kind of thing – there’s a long thread there on just how bad Mag City is, which is when I decided not to go there – and there’s a lot of very informed discussion going on.
And really almost any garage is better. My personal favourite if you’ve a Mazda is Mazna Motors which is on Pepiliyana Junc Dutugemunu St.
If not, I had a good experience at Randoli Garage. As a bonus, while you’re waiting for your car, you can have a drink and something to eat – Nasi Goreng! – at the Randoli Bar above…
Dude is this the Randoli sports bar next to hotel Renuka
You mean next to Hotel Janaki.
oops i meant janaki.
So there are some advantage in owning an old jalopy of a car. Low cost spares and making mechanics feel sorry to overcharge you.
Only way to save money and have a reliable car is to keep the car serviced properly. If you are out of warranty, then develop a relationship with a good small garage and a mechanic. Best way to do it take the car to the same mechanic for oil changes brake adjustment, tire rotation etc and if you are into mods work with him to get thing done. I have done so. Once he / her knows you are a regular customer, he will try to rip you off less. But most importantly learn about your car and show the mechanic you know what you are driving.
The current mechanic (of about 5 years relationship), I met after similar incident as yours. My engine belts needed changing but kept postponing it. Then rains came and while driving in the night belt started slipping and battery was not getting charged. Yes after a while car died, Triple A came and towed the car to nearest garage.
Next morning I came back, mechanic inspected the car, said that I need my alternator replaced. I smiled and asked him what his hourly charge was and if he do fractions of hour work. He gave me the costs and I asked him to tension my belts and jump start the car. He smiled and said “Oh you know about cars” I said ” No but I knew my belts were loose”. Car started and I paid him for one hour even though the work was short ‘cos I had the car in his place over night. Before leaving I asked him to order a set of belts and paid an advance. After that I went their for oil changes etc even though I could have gone to the dealer. Now I can leave the car behind with him any time. But I always ask for the old part if any any parts are replaced!
In Sri Lanka, our mechanic is in Nuwara Eliya, who fixes lawn movers to big trucks :) he even has his own forge turning out truck parts. But I advise against you going there, ‘cos your car will come out looking like a lawn mover. (he likes to fix big old European cars, rice rockets no!)
Hope you get your car back in piece!
one piece I meant :)
Bri (Ponnambalam I think) on Braybrooke Street is a gentleman and a car fanatic. You cannot go wrong.
Hello,
This is to inform you I am very dissapointed about the service magcity provide and making customers uncomfortable. and will not recommend thier service to anyone as well.
In the future I will not bring my vehicles or tell any of my collegues to get magcity services.
I am a PREMIUM/PLATINUM Card holder of Magcity & a Grantans card holder of Magcity. I do all my vehicle’s related service due to only reason at magcity is, Its the closest to take my vehicle at.
I have done small repairs & wash to large expensive services including regular full services at this magcity service station.
Due to the heavy rain daybefore yesterday 10th Nov 2010. my car was drawned in water & got its interor and original seal carpets wet and I needed a interior cleaning & full service.
I did a booking early in the morning yesterday 10th Nov 2010. through Dinesh (the appointment taking guy) and he said not to bring the car yesterday and bring the car today (friday 12th nov 2010) morning.
when I took the car today/friday . they have already taken many cars which came as one time drop-in customers.
They rejected to take my car today & tomorrow and told me to bring the car on monday 15th nov 2010 evening and they will try to do something on tuesday it seems.
If these guys couldnt under take the appointment they should inform me early, as I had to cancel yesterday it self at Kleenpark & Pitstop appointment who agreed to return my car today it self. now since i have cancelled them I had no options but take my car away from magcity.
Bieng a loyal premium customer who holds a membership card who has done a prior booking before just brining the car I am heavily dissapointed and i wasted my official time without reporting to work also.
This is not the only time I was dissapointed at magcity services. but this time onward I decided not to require thier services and not to recommend your service to anyone.
I will also email & keep the public, media aware of your kind of service you provide to so called LOYAL customers.
I have also returned the Grantans card to Dinesh & I said I dont need any refunds for it.
I will give my feedback to grantans also about magcity services.
my issue is what is the point of prior booking and reservations and why do we need to get membership & granton card when magcity guys have a poor service
I dont want my time wasted and dont want others who wanted such service
therefore I would request everyone to take necesary steps to avoid such un professional service.
regards
Nissan Wingroad
Mag City sure sucks. Met with an accident a month back – bus rammed into the back of my townace at a pedestrian crossing ! Went to Mag where I usually go for service and had no complaints so far. Encountered one problem after another – had to replace back door which they couldn’t figure how to fit properly – mechanics sick – mechanics hospitalised etc etc and its been a month. Today I went for collection – vehicle looking good interiors done etc but found to my dismay back door still not fitted properly and there was a gap between body and door. Back to square one. What does one do – cant we sue the b……
I went to a service there at Magcity, after two weaks time my car was stopped took them they told to replace cooling water pump charged 12000 for that after three weeks time got cluth problem. went again to report them they told me to replace clutch washer and charged 13500. I dont know weather the clutch washer cost that much. again after one week time car started to vibrate I stupid again went to report them and told them all these chain problems comes. they this time told me to replace clutch system and charged 24000 for that. I thought all these problems will end here. sadly same vibration issue still there I am fear now to take this to them. any one know why do I get this mush troubles continuously.
Thought to buy da Chevrolet Beat car from Mag City. But after read of all the comments I got very negative idea about the Mag City and the service they providing. Can anyone help me what should I do please….
Perhaps they’re better at selling cars than fixing them, but I personally don’t recommend them for anything.
A bit random, but anything.lk is offering Rs. 500,000 off a Ford Focus. It’s still 4.2 million, so madness for me.
don’t buy american automobiles not even americans buy those. well, at least the educated ones. They’re shoddily made and tend to have a 5 year shelf life.