'It Wasn't A Date': Man Takes Car To Dealership. Then He Asks A Worker To Take Him To The Movies

Most people spend their time at the dealership staring at their phones in a waiting room that smells like burnt coffee. 

This guy found a better option, and commenters say they might just follow suit.

Waiting On Dealership Maintenance? Now Here’s an Idea

In a trending video with more than 146,000 views, content creator @s_enriquez shared what might be the most iconic dealership visit in recent memory. 

Rather than sitting around waiting for his car to be serviced, he got the dealership to drop him off at the movies.

"Got the dealership to drop me off at the movies while they serviced my car," he says.

The video shows him settled into a dark movie theater, hot dog in hand, ketchup and mustard applied, happily watching a movie (it's unclear which one). 

"Fine, I'll have a hot dog at 9:30am too while I'm at it,” he said in the caption.

How Long Does Car Servicing Actually Take?

Dealership service visits take longer than most people expect. According to MaxXT, a standard oil change takes 30 minutes to an hour, a tire rotation runs 15 to 45 minutes, and an air filter replacement is about 15 to 30 minutes. 

Basic services done together could easily run 1.5 to 2 hours. More involved work takes considerably longer. For example, brake pad replacement typically takes 1 to 2 hours; a transmission fluid change takes 45 minutes to an hour; a coolant flush takes 1 to 1.5 hours; and a timing belt replacement can take anywhere from 2 to 6 hours, depending on the vehicle.

Pickup Truck Talk suggests that if you’re having a major service done, you should just drop the car off for the day.

Why Does It Take So Long?

Even when the actual work is quick, the total time at the shop can stretch well beyond the job itself. 

According to Zima Automotive, diagnosis alone can eat up significant time. Even when a check engine light triggers a diagnostic code, the reading often provides only a starting point for mechanics to investigate further, especially on modern vehicles with complex computer systems. 

From there, many repairs require parts to be ordered, and while common parts for newer vehicles can arrive within a day or two, less common parts for older vehicles or models can take longer to arrive. 

Shop scheduling is another factor. Mechanics can't pause ongoing work to prioritize a new arrival, and busy periods lead to longer queues. Finally, a quality shop won't rush the work: inspection and quality assurance after the repair add time, but ensure the work was actually done right. An honest shop, Zima notes, should always be upfront about its current workload and timeline before work begins.

‘My Dealership Used To Drop You Off At Topgolf’

If you’re going to have multiple hours to kill, why not take yourself out for a good time?

“I’m not using my free will enough,” a top comment read.

“I had them drop me off at the gym for two hours,” a second viewer shared.

“My Cadillac dealership legit will take you to do your errands while they change your oil. Mine took me to the grocery store to grab a couple things, home and then dropped me at the gym- picked me up from the gym, 7brew and then back to the dealership,” a commenter said.

Another added, “My dealership used to drop you off at Topgolf and cover your play time while your car was being serviced. They quickly discontinued it after it got popular.”

Motor1 reached out to @s_enriquez for comment via email and TikTok direct message. We'll be sure to update this if they respond.