PhilipMSPT

iTrader: (5)

A TALE OF TWO MECHANICS


I go to one guy, and he says that my tie rod has seized and I need to replace the rack & pinion. Estimate cost = $1600. He even recommended that I get it towed if I choose to go to another location.

I go to another mechanic. Tie rod bolt is seized, yes. But I don't need to get it changed until I need an alignment. Tie rod part, labor, and alignment cost = $280.





Now, this is more than a dealership vs. independent mechanic issue. ANY mechanic has the potential to make mistakes. And ANY mechanic can also screw you over.


How well do you trust your mechanic?

How did you gain their trust?


DISCUSS.

doge

I go to a specialist shop with my CLS63, I do not trust the dealership.

tex2670

I chose my mechanic, frankly, because the shop is close to my office. But they are professional, the shop is clean, they seem pretty knowledgeable, and they always have some high-end cars there. They NEVER come up with some "additional work" I need; in fact, when I had my 60,000 mile service done, they asked "How long do you plan on keeping the car?" before starting, so I wouldn't spend a lot just to get rid of the car soon.

I suppose they could be robbing me blind, and just really good at it. But my gut tells me otherwise.

Hoovey689

iTrader: (16)

Work at a dealer so I get my choice of techs at employee rate. Works for me

FrankReynoldsCPA

I don't have a mechanic yet in Vegas. Car still has manufacturer warranty... So Ford I guess.

I had a mechanic back home who treated us well for years and then inexplicably f%%%% us over.

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Nospinzone

Amazingly my wife's car was in the shop last week for exactly the same thing, changed the tie rods and the rack and pinion steering mechanism (although my price was $1350). I knew the rack and pinion was gone, but I really don't know about the tie rods. However, I trust this mechanic implicitly.

I've been using him for years. I used to do all kinds of repairs on cars many years ago, so I know if I'm getting BS. This guy is always straight up with what needs to be done, and charges very reasonable rates.

Also he is very resourceful. One time when the active suspension failed on my Infiniti Q45a due to the fluid lines rusting out, you couldn't get replacement parts anywhere, including from Nissan as they had discontinued active suspension in 1996 and this was in 2008. He bought industrial grade hydraulic tubing and used that to replace the lines. So this was a case where a dealer could not have repaired it at any price and he did the job for a couple hundred bucks. Unbelievable!

As to how I gained his trust .................. I didn't bounce any checks!

Whitigir

I don't really have a mechanic. But I tend to trust Manufacturers more

bagwell

I have the personal cell of an Acura master tech - when his shift is over at the dealer they allow him to work on vehicles at the shop...so far I've just used for minor mx stuff (like braided ss brake lines, brake fluid swap), since my car is still under warranty...but he's a nice guy and I trust him.

KevinGS

I have a 280,000 mile 2001 GS, being supported & serviced by a Lexus/Acura/Honda tech named Chris who has a small shop here in Maryland http://www.eliteimportz.com/. I trust him 200%. He's completely honest, and I recommend him to everyone in the area. I feel very fortunate to have his shop 20 miles from my house.

jsanders

Unfortunately, I dont visit my mechanic enough to form a relationship and build trust. That's cause I own two Toyotas and a Lexus.

mmarshall

Some shops won't take personal checks.......or, if they do, require several backup IDs, not just your drivers' license.

Harbinger

I trust myself to do most things. Anything that I can't or don't want to do goes to one of two independent shops or the dealer. Other than getting my brakes upgraded I have never had an issue with any of them. I love how the independent guys let me walk into the bay and talk to the techs and inspect their work, and they have never tried to upsell me anything. How did I earn their trust? - I come back and I recommend them to people. It was amusing when I walked down to the bay to check on the status of my brake install and see my father's wife's vehicle sitting on the lift next to mine.

In a perfect world noone would touch my vehicles other than me, but my time at the moment is too valuable to do routine things, like cutting the grass or changing my oil, when I can pay someone with a proven track record that I trust a reasonable fee to do it for me. I save the fun tasks, like swapping an engine, as my time well spent in the garage.