Comments on: Shop Around for Car Repairs (44/365)

By: Slccom

Slccom — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 03:09:37 +0000

For brakes and mufflers and shocks and struts, we do go with national chains because of the anytime anywhere warantee. My father taught me to look for a stand-alone mechanic who relies on repeat business, and don’t go to somewhere like a Sears or Walmart.

I found that asking at auto parts places like Autozone and Checkers can often steer you to good local mechanics.

By: Icarus

Icarus — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 15:35:03 +0000

good advice but I still don’t think i’m gonna have a mechanic on my speed dial. having his business card in my wallet is probably good enough

By: Tracy

Tracy — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 15:05:48 +0000

This is good advice, but I think it’s titled wrong. It’s not really shopping around for car repairs, it’s ‘Find one or two mechanics/shops you really trust and build a relationship with them.’

By: kc

kc — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 13:27:54 +0000

Tom, you’re right… I misread it. My bad.

By: Tom

Tom — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 12:31:45 +0000

@kc – 4 closed complaints in 3 years, you mean?

By: Raya

Raya — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 09:52:10 +0000

I think this is really good and PRACTICAL advice. (And I don’t usually like posts about cars.)

Trent is absolutely right that when your car breaks, you’re in a rush to get it fixed. Your schedule is broken, you panic, and you just want to get this the hell over with.

Which is just begging to make a really stupid thing and throw money at a (usually) overpriced service.

Trent’s ideas here are really something anyone can do and save a bunch of money… and trouble. And stress.

By: kc

kc — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 22:44:29 +0000

re the picture: I Googled “minus muffler 121 n. prairie avenue better business bureau;” the business has been the subject of 4 complaints to the BBB in the last year. Stellar!

By: Andrew

Andrew — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 22:12:08 +0000

I still remember with regret the $300 I paid for a 40-mile tow 10 years ago. From the middle of nowhere back to home on New Year’s Day; I would have just had the car towed to the nearest motel except that I had 2 dogs and a birdcage full of parakeets with me.

Fortunately, once I was home I had the time and the sense to shop around for the best price to repair the busted transmission which had caused the problem.

By: Liz

Liz — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 21:39:06 +0000

recommend enough!!
Enough!!
Gak, I wish I could edit!!!

By: Liz

Liz — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 21:38:03 +0000

Personally, I cannot recommend AAA (or the equivalent, if you get it “free” through your can insurance or part of a package when you bought your car). When we broke down at 2:30 p.m. on a Saturday afternoon somewhere in Minnesota while moving my brother from western South Dakota to Pennsylvania, we just called AAA. They towed our full-to-the-gills van to an approved garage for our car (turned out to be a dealership). And 2 mechanics stayed late to fix the vehicle so that we didn’t have to spend the weekend somewhere in Minnesota. Especially welcome when 2 of us had to be back at work.
I have had a AAA membership for more than 10 years. And the approximately $1000 that I have paid over that time in membership fees has more than paid for itself in peace of mind. And quite frankly, free towing, since I have the package that will tow you up to 100 miles free of charge. (it will also bring you enough gas to get to the nearest station if you happen to run out.) Except for the Minnesota adventure, all 3 of my other breakdowns have occurred within that 100 mile radius of the mechanic that I trust at home.

By: lurker carl

lurker carl — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 20:28:17 +0000

An excellent reason to retain the services of a trustworthy mechanic to perform routine maintenance like oil changes and timing belt replacements. You will already be a regular customer of a reliable shop that you know will repair your vehicle at a fair price. And a good mechanic will know troublesome issues that your particular make of vehicle may have as it ages.