Had a car in for 12 days now, with two missed delivery dates already and being told they could need until the end of the week (another 4 days). Every time the tech tells me the car isn't ready with no explanation or apology, only saying that they're not done.
When pressed he made it clear that I'll get the car back when he's good and ready, and there's nothing I can do about it. While I consider an agreed upon promise to perform work by a delivery date to be a verbal contract, the tech seems to have no regard for either promises or customers' dissatisfaction when they're broken.
This is extremely frustrating, given the only real option is to pay in protest for work done (if any) and have it towed somewhere else to be completed, suing in small claims court. The owner seems serenely confident I won't risk $300/hr attorney's fees on a breached verbal contract for delivery date.
Actual damages are a rental car at $40/day and whatever court costs and attorney fees it would take to get that back, with the risk of being stuck with legal costs if the judge rules promised delivery dates aren't a verbal contract.
Meanwhile the shop can hold my car hostage, giving it back whenever they get around to finishing the work and only after I've paid - there's no way to refuse to pay and still get the car released.
Save yourself the trouble and just go somewhere else to begin with.