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Grex > Cars > #2: Shaky/superior auto service | |
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ragnar
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Shaky/superior auto service
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Sep 4 10:58 UTC 1991 |
Now this is always a good way to get mucho respondo...
Warn us now about the service stations around town where you've gotten
less than outstainding service. Where have you (and your car) been well
treated?
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| 57 responses total. |
danr
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response 1 of 57:
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Sep 4 11:31 UTC 1991 |
I've recently had the worst auto service experience of my life with
Varsity Ford. See item 4 for more details.
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hexagon
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response 2 of 57:
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Sep 4 16:17 UTC 1991 |
Hey. ;-) Also see item 4.
Sorry. I just joined this conference and did a 'r n'
It gave me the first and last item. I didn't see this one until now.
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ragnar
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response 3 of 57:
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Sep 5 02:15 UTC 1991 |
Damn, not even an hour old and you boys come screw up my brand new conference!
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danr
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response 4 of 57:
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Sep 5 16:36 UTC 1991 |
Huh? I just didn't want to enter a humungous response here.
As far as *good* service experiences, I have had good luck at the
Firestones and Goodyears in town.
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ragnar
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response 5 of 57:
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Sep 6 02:30 UTC 1991 |
Ah, yes, but how much did you pay? Was it worth it for a fairly assured
good experience?
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danr
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response 6 of 57:
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Sep 6 11:50 UTC 1991 |
I think the prices they charged were fair. For example, once you get
on their mailing list, Goodyear sends you coupons. My wife just paid
$15 for an oil change at Goodyear.
It pays to shop around a little, too. I just had struts, a tie rod
and the belts replaced on my Taurus. Goodyear wanted about $700 for
everything. Firestone charged less than $600.
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tcc
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response 7 of 57:
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Sep 20 05:11 UTC 1991 |
For any of you around this part of town or east ...
Vinsetta Garage, north of 14 mile on Woodward. Been treated the BEST ever,
had the most reasonable explanations of my car troubles, the cheapest &
best service of my car ever. If you ever have the chance to get your car
serviced there, be sure to talk to Jack or Melanie (co-owners) and tell'em
I sent you.
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zigzag
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response 8 of 57:
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Oct 19 18:41 UTC 1991 |
This response has been erased.
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zigzag
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response 9 of 57:
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Oct 19 18:56 UTC 1991 |
<argh>... The easiest way to get any repair job done inexpensively and
quickly is to display some level of knowledge about the repairs. Most mech-
anics know that the average person who brings something into their garage
knows next to nothing about what needs to be repaired or replaced or how
to go about doing it, and therefore *some* mechanics will charge for things
that were never wrong in the first place, and most will charge higher than
the actual fee they are entitled to. Activley displaying this knowledge
not only may scare off any potential attempts to rip you off, but it can
also *lower* fees out of respect, as compared ot the guy-off-the-street.
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ragnar
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response 10 of 57:
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Oct 20 12:15 UTC 1991 |
Of course, they always know that you came to them because for some reason
you can't actuallly do the work yourself and need it done soon. You may
know your way around the car, but it's the dead of winter and you've got
no sheltered place to work on it. Or it's just too big of a job (like my
old head gasket job story). Really I don't think many mechs out there
seriously try to inflate prices, but they do know what their services are
worth to the suddenly car-less, and charge accordingly.
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zigzag
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response 11 of 57:
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Oct 24 21:55 UTC 1991 |
Well, I've known a few monk friends of mine who have charged for little
things that didn't really need to be done... like replacing parts that
could just as easily be repaired...
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steve
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response 12 of 57:
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Oct 24 23:54 UTC 1991 |
For tires, I've used Discount Tires for years and years now. They've
always, and I mean always been fast, inexpensive and helpful. A few weeks
ago I got a flat. They sell their tire insurance for something like $4 a
tire, so I limped over there. They fixed the problem but found that a
different tire was badly worn; so badly that he didn't want me to ride
on it. When I said that I didn't really want to get new tires instantly,
he found another used tire and stuck it on, free. We just got another
four tires there last week.
K & N Auto was good at the repair work we asked them to do, the one
time we went there. I'm learning about cars from a friend, so haven't
needed their services again. But the next major thing I can't do, I'll
likely send on to them.
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mythago
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response 13 of 57:
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Oct 25 15:03 UTC 1991 |
I've had equally good luck (and service) from Discout Tires.
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klaus
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response 14 of 57:
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Oct 26 10:36 UTC 1991 |
One set of tires I got from Discount was bad. Were suppose to have come
out of Dunlop molds, but were really lousy dynamically. It was as though
the balance point was constantly changing relative to wheel rpm. After
about 50,000 miles they started to delaminate and I replaced them with
another set from Discount. BIG improvement! (I am still loyal to them.)
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fes
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response 15 of 57:
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Nov 1 20:18 UTC 1991 |
I buy used tires from Discount (the big name places like Firestone and
Goodyear won't sell them) since they're good enough for my used truck.
I have had no problems with their service except that it can be a bit slow
when there's a crowd.
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love
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response 16 of 57:
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Mar 22 19:52 UTC 1992 |
LOVE!
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mistik
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response 17 of 57:
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Mar 22 21:28 UTC 1992 |
A friend of mine needs new muffler, pipe, and eventually converter.
One place in Ypsi estimated $150 for just the mufler and the pipe.
What's the best place to get it done well and cheap. I think she would
not mind just buying the parts and pay for labor.
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n8kpl
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response 18 of 57:
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Mar 23 14:35 UTC 1992 |
Being in the same situation, I did a bit of calling. At S&G Auto Parts we
can get the parts for the Tercel (Everything behind the cat) for $106 + tax +
a few more dollars for gaskets if they are needed. Ann Arbor Muffler on
Jackson with do it (parts and installation) for $134 (they are having a 15%
sale right now or it would be about $155). I think we will be going to
Ann Arbor Muffler (unless I can somehow perform the miracle of actually finding
the warranty papers from Tuffy).
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mistik
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response 19 of 57:
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Mar 23 18:04 UTC 1992 |
This sounds pretty reasonable, did you check Murray's prices for parts?
They say they can order pretty much everything, even if they don't have
it in stock.
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glenda
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response 20 of 57:
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Mar 23 21:44 UTC 1992 |
Didn't check Murray's. Our mechanic friend says that they are ok for regular
maintainance stuff like oil and filters, but not to use them for actual parts.
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mistik
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response 21 of 57:
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Mar 23 21:47 UTC 1992 |
I would trust his judgement. They know a lot what the general public does not.
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klaus
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response 22 of 57:
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Mar 24 12:56 UTC 1992 |
Try A&L for these parts. They'er the ones many of the muffler shops buy
from and they DO carry parts for foreign cars.
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ragnar
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response 23 of 57:
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Apr 25 12:36 UTC 1992 |
I've had fine experiences with Meineke before. As for a catlytic convertor,
unless you need to go through AET testing, there's no such thing as a new
convertor. Jodi's is broken internally right now, and I'm just going to
run a screw through the side to hold the guts down, just so they don't slide
to one end and constrict airflow. Of course, you could be seriously
concerened about emissions, but I guess I just wouldn't understand.>concerened
about emissions, but I guess I just wouldn't understand.
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mistik
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response 24 of 57:
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Apr 25 16:57 UTC 1992 |
It would work with most cars, however, newer chryslers are reportedly
running everything with feedback from the air after the converter.
That means, if the converter is broke, your timimg and everything will be
screwed, which is the case with mine, it needs a new oxygen sensor.
(every 57,500 miles)
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