Trusting Your Mechanic
Thread Starter
Pole Position
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 396
Likes: 1
From: Wisconsin
Trusting Your Mechanic
Our third generation RX 350 takes a lot of money to purchase.
So........
If you take your RX back to a Lexus dealer for service, a Toyota dealer, or your neighbors best friend, how do you measure a honest and reliable mechanic that's up to date on repairing a RX???
Hopefully...... not by a couple oil changes.
Sometimes at a dealership, I'll take the time to read the framed award certificates on the walls.
How do you judge?
Cheers!
So........
If you take your RX back to a Lexus dealer for service, a Toyota dealer, or your neighbors best friend, how do you measure a honest and reliable mechanic that's up to date on repairing a RX???
Hopefully...... not by a couple oil changes.
Sometimes at a dealership, I'll take the time to read the framed award certificates on the walls.
How do you judge?
Cheers!
Rookie
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 51
Likes: 1
From: la
hi GRPFAN,
since i know very little about cars, i only take my Lexuses to the dealer. so far, i've been able to afford the repairs. which something i considered when i purchased my cars which is why i don't drive a BMW.
i think you're on the right track. friends, neighbors, co-workers, etc., can give you great references. it's worked in the past for me with other cars i've owned and i pray it works for me again in the event i can no longer afford to have my cars services by Lexus.
good luck to you!
since i know very little about cars, i only take my Lexuses to the dealer. so far, i've been able to afford the repairs. which something i considered when i purchased my cars which is why i don't drive a BMW.
i think you're on the right track. friends, neighbors, co-workers, etc., can give you great references. it's worked in the past for me with other cars i've owned and i pray it works for me again in the event i can no longer afford to have my cars services by Lexus.
good luck to you!
Driver
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 109
Likes: 1
From: tx
To check out a shop, I would bring my car in for a relatively small job, say AC recharge or CV joint, or valve cover gasket.
As mentioned, an oil change may not be a good indicator of a competent mechanic.
If the shop did good quality work for reasonable price, I would come back for the next repair (big or small)
If the shop that I trust suddenly charges more than I think reasonable, or the work quality goes down, I would start looking for the next shop.
There are many repair shops in my area, so there's no problem finding a replacement.
As mentioned, an oil change may not be a good indicator of a competent mechanic.
If the shop did good quality work for reasonable price, I would come back for the next repair (big or small)
If the shop that I trust suddenly charges more than I think reasonable, or the work quality goes down, I would start looking for the next shop.
There are many repair shops in my area, so there's no problem finding a replacement.
Driver
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 182
Likes: 0
From: VA
I look for a shop or mechanic who allows the customer to go into the service area anytime to observe the mechanic working on your vehicle. I haven't had any issues with the shops that have open door policies not to mention that I can learn a lot from the mechanic working on my car.
Lead Lap
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 781
Likes: 101
From: PA
I start with simple oil cahnges and tire rotations as mentioned above. After that I might take one of my other vehicles to see how they fair at state inspection time.
Case in point - fould this local guy about 4 1/2 years ago close to my house when we moved in. Took my MINI to him for an oil change and tire rotation. Next up was the wife's previous Jetta for a state inspection. Jetta dealer told her the year prior she would need brake pads and rotors on the front and pads on the rear to pass the next year. Got a call from the local guy after he was done. I asked him why he didn't replace the brakes. He said "because they didn't need replacing. They're almost like new". I went there, he showed me the measurements and even put it back up on the rack and did it again. Sure enough, they were close to new specs. He got my business when I got the ES. I mean these cars are a Toyota product. Not everything on them is special or we wouldn't be able to take them to even a Toyota dealer.
Having said that, the local guy did tell me when I had the Es that if/when I needed tranny fluid changed to take it to the dealer since there is a different tool then he carries in order to do it right. So he recommended the dealer when appropriate and otherwise will recommend the dealer. That's about as honest as I can hope for.
Case in point - fould this local guy about 4 1/2 years ago close to my house when we moved in. Took my MINI to him for an oil change and tire rotation. Next up was the wife's previous Jetta for a state inspection. Jetta dealer told her the year prior she would need brake pads and rotors on the front and pads on the rear to pass the next year. Got a call from the local guy after he was done. I asked him why he didn't replace the brakes. He said "because they didn't need replacing. They're almost like new". I went there, he showed me the measurements and even put it back up on the rack and did it again. Sure enough, they were close to new specs. He got my business when I got the ES. I mean these cars are a Toyota product. Not everything on them is special or we wouldn't be able to take them to even a Toyota dealer.
Having said that, the local guy did tell me when I had the Es that if/when I needed tranny fluid changed to take it to the dealer since there is a different tool then he carries in order to do it right. So he recommended the dealer when appropriate and otherwise will recommend the dealer. That's about as honest as I can hope for.
No, I don't play soccer!
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 6,652
Likes: 177
From: NJ
I take my RX to the dealer for service. They were recommended by another Lexus owner. Believe me, I was extremely skeptical after being treated like a neurotic female by several dealers when I had the Ford lemon. But I have not had a single issue in 13 years. My SA won't let me get any repairs done unless they're absolutely necessary and only lets two techs work on my RX. I believe she still has an RX herself as well as one of the techs. She definitely has my best interest in mind. Recently I brought in the 450h for the 15K service plus oil change and the nav update. I was only a month shy of a year since I had the oil done but she still questioned me to make sure. And forget the nav update, she wouldn't let me do it saying it wasn't worth it. I was set up in a loaner since the service was supposed to take a few hours. I didn't really need it though. It took less than two. She had two techs work on my RX and shaved $100 off the bill. I'm so spoiled I won't go anywhere else 
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