How do you find a good mechanic?

[redpoint5]

I took the company car to Firestone for scheduled maintenance today at 9am. It's now 9pm and it's still there.

[Piotrsko]

Originally Posted by redpoint5

I took the company car to Firestone for scheduled maintenance today at 9am. It's now 9pm and it's still there.

We had that a lot with the Government cars and trucks we leased. Got to the point we started scheduling them to be gone for a week. Saw the bill once, too. OMG were they screwing the Government and no way for us to complain

[mpg_numbers_guy]

Facebook groups for the area, search for people who have asked for mechanic recommendations, and pick the top 2-3 mentioned most frequently with high reviews. Works well for other things besides mechanics, including doctors and restaurants.

Thankfully I can do most work myself but I've still found success this way for the few things I need help with or don't have time to take care of myself.

[freebeard]

justacarguy.blogspot.com/: It's sad, but here's the reality of getting a recommendation for work on your car, based on my experience over the past 3 days.

I was thinking that in the Southern California area, there must be hundreds of shops, garages, and individuals working in their own garage, that were potentially doing such good work that they'd be on the lips of every car guy I emailed or texted.

Nope.

Even the shops that I thought would be mentioned, weren't. '

I found that the makers of muscle car suspension upgrades (Hotchkis, QA1, etc etc) don't have a short list of shops they send new prospects to to get into the upgrade stream heading toward muscle car overhauls and track time enjoyment.

Do I have an extensive list of people I could ask? Nope. But I never had the idea that it would be this difficult to learn where to spend money to get a disc brake upgrade, a subframe connector welded in, a full suspension overhaul/upgrade, plus a shop that can do engine work like header installs, and what ever else comes up.

I emailed companies that to their shame, didn't reply. Hey, I get it, they aren't getting paid to waste time recommending garages or businesses that install their products.

BUT, the lack of comradery and helpfulness to a car guy, who is only asking for a recommended shop? Shocking. I didn't ask for a tow, didn't ask to borrow a truck, didn't ask to drive their sports car.

[Isaac Zachary]

I think I'll just stick with a dealership that's about 200 miles away from my house. They're the only ones who try to make things right even though they've screwed up a couple times. Yes, they are much more expensive than some others, but at least they do things the way I'd like them to be done for the most part.

[me and my metro]

I hope everyone realizes that the money is worth about half of what it was 3 years ago. Fuel, parts and labor have doubled. My wages have not! A double wopper, fries and a drink is now $15.00. Used to be $8.00. The $20 oil change is now about $80 for one of my company trucks.

Most of the good mechanics have gone to work for large companies that have benefits. That is what I did.

[Isaac Zachary]

Originally Posted by me and my metro

I hope everyone realizes that the money is worth about half of what it was 3 years ago. Fuel, parts and labor have doubled. My wages have not! A double wopper, fries and a drink is now $15.00. Used to be $8.00. The $20 oil change is now about $80 for one of my company trucks.

Most of the good mechanics have gone to work for large companies that have benefits. That is what I did.

I had a hard time finding a 12V battery for the 2013 Avalon. When I finally did find one it was over $300!

[redpoint5]

Originally Posted by me and my metro

I hope everyone realizes that the money is worth about half of what it was 3 years ago. Fuel, parts and labor have doubled. My wages have not! A double wopper, fries and a drink is now $15.00. Used to be $8.00. The $20 oil change is now about $80 for one of my company trucks.

Most of the good mechanics have gone to work for large companies that have benefits. That is what I did.

That's why I didn't get my company car back from scheduled maintenance at Firestone despite the fact I brought it in at 9am.

The service manager said the mechanic that was working on my car wants to go home, and it was 3:30. Firestone closes at 6pm. Mechanics can just quit whenever they want and nothing can be done because people don't want to work anymore.

I'm mad about fast food prices too. Temporary problem though, as robots will be making the food soon, and we're already reprogrammed to order our own food through apps and kiosks.

Pretty soon entry level jobs will be robot service tech.

[Isaac Zachary]

Originally Posted by redpoint5

Pretty soon entry level jobs will be robot service tech.

I think there are two things that could happen. It could mean you and I lose our jobs either because robots replaced us or the job market is flooded with people wanting our jobs.

Or it could mean we end up with lot of people without work or income so the government steps in and raises our taxes so they can hand out money to those who no longer have jobs and so the cost of living goes back up again.

I have no idea if either of those scenarios would happen but you just never know.

Or number three. Masses of people die of starvation or become bandits and if most people either don't exist anymore or are theives then there's no one to sell stuff to so the entire economy collapses and we go back to being cavemen.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by Piotrsko

Also how often do you own a vehicle for 20 years and expect to realistically get another 20 from it?

Most likely you have never been in a country like Brazil. Even though adapting parts from some newer (yet not brand-new) model to keep an older one on the road may happen when some stock parts with a decent quality are either too expensive or unavailable at all... Yet seeing 30+ years-old cars or motorcycles still being used as daily commuters here is quite common.