Had anyone asked me before our departure to Italy, if I would feel safe to leave my car to an Italian mechanic, I would have shaken my head while my face would have collapsed in a mixture of “what Do you think”and an expression of pain. Now, after four visits at the local authorized Volkswagen workshop, I have to admit that all my prejudices are ashamed – even though I’m slowly getting tired of the old Touran!

The first time we had to the car to an Italian workshop was four days after our arrival in Italy. The rear brake had apparently had a hard turn driving down the Brenner Pass – and was much needed to be replaced by some new ones. With the help of a good Italian friend, we explained the problem to Signor Balducci, who after a little while looking at the computer and scratching his hair found that “It will be around 200 Euro.”
Signor Balducci both sketched, showed and explained in details what the problem was – and repeatedly regretted that he could not make the repair cheaper. We gave him a “go” and 15oo Danish kroner and a couple of hours later I happily left the workshop with a – it should turn out – quite stupid remark to my Italian friend, Matteo, that it would be a loooong time before we would have to go there again.

Blaaahhh !!

Never make such remark! It’s probably close to the biggest provocation of Karma, and you will not get away with it!
And we didnøt; Just 9 days later I had to pay signor Balducci and his apprentices a new visit. This time with a punctured wheel! Two hours and once again a scratch in the hair later I could leave the orkshop with two new michelin tires – once again 200 euros poorer.
Even though it appeared to look like a pattern, it must be noted that the price in Dk for a corresponding authorized workshop would have been quite different. And neither I nor the rest of the family was at any time in doubt that Sign Balducci knew what he was doing – and in no way did anything that was needless!

The third time we had to go to the now well-known premises of Balducci’s, was about 14 days later. This time with the help of a big truck from SOS auto help ….! In a parking lot, in god only knows where, my daughter and I had to realize that the sound the car made when pulling out was not good – and after a short consideration we had to surrender and call for help.

FIVE hours later (equivalent to approximately half an hour in Italian time) our new best friend, Giacomo, arrived with his car.
He had been told to drive us to the nearest workshop – but with the help of gestures and insistent glosses, I explained to Giacomo that we only wanted to be driven to Signor Balducci’s workshop – even though it was a little further away. It turned out that Giacomo knew our mechanic quite well – and with a “tumbs up” we drove in the opposite direction – to the man in Italy who currently knows our car better than anybody else.

Unfortunately we arrived just after closing time on Saturday – just up to Ferragosto. For those who do not know what Ferragosto is, this post can be recommended, for everyone else, I can only conclude that the Italian holiday meant that nobody looked at the car before the following Thursday !!!
In spite of that, Balducci was efficient when the workshop reopened – and the day after we could pick up the car, get the usual explanation, pay the bill – and yes it was 200 Euro – and get back on the bumpy roads of Umbria.

The fourth time the car has been sent to Balducci is actually in the present time of writing. The suspensions in front have apparently given up – and so it is. It must be fixed – because Umbria without a vehicle is like a candy store without money; Not especially fun for longer periods at the time.
I have just spoken with Signor Balducci on the phone. This time, it’s not a matter of hours. And definitely not even about 200 Euro. On the other hand, he would like us to come by so that he can show us the damage. We declined – and told him to do the repairs. In full confidence that with 256,000 km behind it, the car would have suffered the exact same damage in Denmark Dk – and there the price for hourly wages and spare parts had been somewhat higher. And now, we have learned that when ever we leave signor Balducci’s workshop, we will kindly tell him “until next time” while crossing our fingers for it not happen too soon.