Who do you trust to service/repair your auto?
Posted by admin on May 31, 2010No..I’m not looking for specific names of auto repair shops. But more interested what criteria you use to decide on the mechanic you bring your car to for service and why. thx.
1) Only go the dealer for repair?
2) Choose mechanic within relative short distance from home?
3) Ask friend/family to refer one?
4) Do thorough evaluation — pros/cons of one shop over another?
ME!
I live in the country and the only service facility within 50 miles is the local Co-op garage in our village. Their mechanic is olde school and an excellent fabricator but he usually too busy repairing farm equipment and he takes a month and a half for vacation at this time of the year.
So, I end up doing most of my own work. Jacked up the old Sunfire yesterday and performed a complete rear brake replacement including one backing plate. I also have a 50 year old Jaguar Sports Car and a few other assorted vehicles that I do most of my own work on. I have two newer vehicles that have to be driven or towed that 50 miles to the dealers though because they have warranties.
My next project is a complete rear end rebuild on the Jaguar but the majority of that will be ’sent out’ and performed elsewhere as I do not have the specialized tools.
My wife hates it when I work on her car because I "do the job right" ( read as takes twice as long). LOL.
SO;
1) Only go the dealer for repair? – seldom unless it’s warranty. Dealer shop rates tend to be higher than independent shops and 1/4 of the work is performed by apprentices – YIKES!
2) Choose mechanic within relative short distance from home? – that is always best. Keep the work in your community
3) Ask friend/family to refer one? – absolutely !
4) Do thorough evaluation – if possible get references – have them do a few simple procedures first.
word of mouth advertising is the best referral a shop can have
stay away from those that advertise heavily, the same goes for insurance
stay with ones that are certified by ASE http://www.ase.com/
References :
master auto tech
i personally like small businesses, local shops. i feel like they screw you less over. i hate going to a dealer. i feel like they lie to me and take advantage of me because i am a woman. i work for a small engine repair shop so i can relate to the other local car shops. they are nicer to me and treat me w/ more respect.
i constantly have car problems (neon) but it was taken to big places like goodyear (family friend works there). so far, the starting problem has no been fixed.
References :
ME!
I live in the country and the only service facility within 50 miles is the local Co-op garage in our village. Their mechanic is olde school and an excellent fabricator but he usually too busy repairing farm equipment and he takes a month and a half for vacation at this time of the year.
So, I end up doing most of my own work. Jacked up the old Sunfire yesterday and performed a complete rear brake replacement including one backing plate. I also have a 50 year old Jaguar Sports Car and a few other assorted vehicles that I do most of my own work on. I have two newer vehicles that have to be driven or towed that 50 miles to the dealers though because they have warranties.
My next project is a complete rear end rebuild on the Jaguar but the majority of that will be ’sent out’ and performed elsewhere as I do not have the specialized tools.
My wife hates it when I work on her car because I "do the job right" ( read as takes twice as long). LOL.
SO;
1) Only go the dealer for repair? – seldom unless it’s warranty. Dealer shop rates tend to be higher than independent shops and 1/4 of the work is performed by apprentices – YIKES!
2) Choose mechanic within relative short distance from home? – that is always best. Keep the work in your community
3) Ask friend/family to refer one? – absolutely !
4) Do thorough evaluation – if possible get references – have them do a few simple procedures first.
References :
WOM Word Of Mouth
A Shop That does Good Quality work, Fair Prices per hr flat rate, ASE Mechanics on hand (at less one). They will let you know whats recommended and show you why on your vehicle, not just tell you
Newer vehicles been serviced there not just the obvious vehicles that is 10-15 yrs old. of course they are more of them on the road than newer ones. this shows that the shop may have up to date knowledge, & equipment, ect….. ya know.
CONS : 1 Too many broken vehicles around looking like a junk yard
2 nasty lobby area, no restrooms if you needed to wait.
3 They want to charge too much for a diagnoses of repair
( it Should only take 1 hr at the most to find the problem ) and in reality you will be paying more for the part and the labor to replace it so they will make the money on that job anyway in some cases.
References :
Certified Tech 2008 grad