WHEN a luxury 4x4 owner booked his car into the garage for a routine service, he never expected staff to take it on a 106mph test drive.

But when Richard Elliott used an online tracking device to see if his car was ready to collect, he was shocked to discover the rare Audi had been on a high speed jaunt by a thrill-seeking employee.

The 43-year-old, of Witton-le-Wear, near Bishop Auckland, said he booked the £90,000 Audi Q7 V12, in for the routine service at Teesside Audi, in Stockton, but could not believe his eyes when the car’s tracking device revealed an employee had gone more than twice the speed limit on the 50mph road.

VIDEO: The incident had echoes of this scene from 80s cult movie, Ferris Bueller's Day Off

He said: “My concern was that if my car was being driven round at that speed, was I going to get some sort of ticket and at that speed it’s an instant ban.”

Mr Elliott, who co-owns a building firm in Newton Aycliffe, added: “Taking it to a main dealer to have that sort of thing put on your door is not what you want when you pay good money to get a reputable dealer.

“They look the part but to find out your car gets treated like that does not give you confidence in them.”

Mr Elliott confronted the garage who apologised and told him the employee responsible had been put on a final warning and would be covering the cost of the service himself.

They also fixed a dent Mr Elliott later found in his car door for free and was offered a further free service as a good will gesture, but have denied a further problem with one of the Audi’s alloy wheels is connected.

A spokesman for Teesside Audi said: “We wish to sincerely apologise to Mr Elliott for this unfortunate incident and can confirm the member of staff concerned has been disciplined as a result of the information which was brought to our attention.

“Our company policies are very clear with regard to the duty of care for both customer and company vehicles, however we can confirm this was an isolated incident and the appropriate actions have now been taken.

The Northern Echo: The online tracking system which shows Richard Elliott's Audi being driven at 106mph in a 50mph limit
The online tracking system which shows Richard Elliott's Audi being driven at 106mph in a 50mph limit

“Following the incident we have since carried out repair work to the door of the vehicle, the service costs were carried out free of charge and a future service was also offered free of charge as a gesture of goodwill for the inconvenience caused.

“The additional work requested by Mr Elliott was separate to this incident.

“Again we unreservedly apologise to Mr Elliott for this unfortunate incident.”