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Biggvl wrote:

the main difference is I have a vested interest in getting my car fixed asap and as cheap as I can, the mechanic you take it to usually doesn't!

Whooa, really?, how many rich mechanics do you know? Independent workshop owners have only one thing in mind - fix cars, not get rich. All the mechanics I know are passionate about cars, not money. Maybe you had bad experience?

I've had more than one bad experience myself. At different mechanics/service workshops. I think the main issue is that they won't spend as much time on your car as you would and take less care. I'm like Holden202t. I never take my cars anywhere for work. I have a lae model Subaru STi, I have done all of the servicing and repairs myself. I had an issue under warranty, and i investigated it myself. It pointed to a faulty AFM/MAF. Called the dealer and got the third degree about what mods I had done. Then they told me it wouldn't be covered because I had an aftermarket panel filter. So I fixed the issue myself.

I have also had a perfectly good car dropped off at a mechanic for a service and a health check. Comes back with a miss, and the oil cap left off. I drove it all the wayhome, got out and could smell oil. Opened the bonnet and oil everywhere and no oil cap. Scratches all over my fuse box where they had placed their tools while working on it. The miss turned out to be that they had done a comp test, and dropped a spark plug while removing/refitting them. To me that plug should have been replaced by them when they dropped it, as a loose piece of elctrode could have killed my engine.

Different car annd mechanic again, had them tell me I needed a new turbo on my navara, as it was leaking oil. At first they diagnosed it as a front diff seal. Went back when they had the diff seal in stock, and they ring me to tell me it's not the diff seal, it's the turbo. $2500 later, new turbo and still leaking. Take it back and they charge me to clean out the intake pipe and send me on my way, 2 days later more oil on the front of the turbo. Turns out the leak was because when they did the initial service where they identified the diff leak, they way over filled it with oil (1.5L too much). Oil was coming out of the crank case vent, into the intake pipe and leaking out from the pipe at the turbo.

I know there are good mechanics around, but I am yet to find one that I trust.

not particularly my experience, but I hear a lot of stories of people getting very hefty bills from mechanics after they were quoted 1/3 the price to begin with.... and this is big name dealerships not just your average mechanic on his own making a living.

and I know this is a two edged sword, its hard to quote till the motor is in pieces or whatever to find the actual issue .... but then if the mechanic gives the original quote as the hefty bill price they wont get the work in the first place!

I have a mate who runs an engine reconditioning business, and the amount of times a car or motor comes in with a small issue that turns out to be whole engine fucked type of thing .... then hes got to try and smooth the customer over for the massive increase in the bill ....

but all that said, there are a lot of mechanical shops that do massively overcharge and a lot of places that do not know so shouldn't touch the car in the first place, but they take it on anyways and spend weeks throwing parts at a car without really knowing what the issue is.....

don't get me wrong I'm not saying everyone is like that, and I know a few automotive business people that are good that way!

TdracerTD - word of mouth is the best way to find a great mechanic, but always consider where the information comes from, if you own a Navara, talk to another Navara owner, in other words, find an experienced person that 'will' help with your car.

Holden202T - We have a policy of not giving quotes for any repair, big or small, the best we offer is an estimate. Shit happens often, quote to replace a turbo, no problem, break all the studs getting it off - price change...

Just today I had a Viva with bent valves, suggest a price, pull head, send to machinist - seized cam - fucked head - price change...

I appreciate your understanding, It shits me how often my industry is labelled rip off's.

I really wish they would put some good mechanics stories on ACA

Yeah I agree entirely with the above. There are good mechanics around, and finding them by word of mouth seems to be the best way. And as a customer once you have found a good mechanic is pays not to be an asshole if the unexpected happens. A good mechanic should call you when they find the price needs to change so you can give the OK to go ahead (knowing that in some cases it may not be worth continuing) and when they do its good to hear them out, think about it and tell them what you want to do without being angry or treating them like they're ripping you off.

Then on the other side of the coin, I have heard some horror stories from people who have been ripped off hardcore. One particular chain comes to mind. 6 letters, starts with pro but have now changed their name - presumably because of the bad rep they built. But I dont want to go in to that. Do pick your mechanic from word of mouth! Also dont be surprised if the best mechanics are busy. The best and most trustworthy ones are always getting return business and their customers are recommending them to mates.

Biggvl wrote:TdracerTD - word of mouth is the best way to find a great mechanic, but always consider where the information comes from, if you own a Navara, talk to another Navara owner, in other words, find an experienced person that 'will' help with your car.

Holden202T - We have a policy of not giving quotes for any repair, big or small, the best we offer is an estimate. Shit happens often, quote to replace a turbo, no problem, break all the studs getting it off - price change...

Just today I had a Viva with bent valves, suggest a price, pull head, send to machinist - seized cam - fucked head - price change...

I appreciate your understanding, It shits me how often my industry is labelled rip off's.

I really wish they would put some good mechanics stories on ACA

Well, you sound like you run a respectable business and are up front. I'm going to assume that when an issue crops up as above you contact the customer and advice them of the situation before commencing further work?

Many a work shop would just do the work and the customer is non the wiser until they come in to pick up said vehicle and receive a much larger bill than expected

Unfortunately for every good workshop there is at least a bad one if not more.

I had a bad experience with a tuner/dyno facility and hence the reason I started down the path of learning this shit. Once bitten, twice shy.

yeah that's right theres always two sides to the story and as per usual people focus on bad stuff and not enough praise for the good stuff.

I have over the years found people that I use for stuff, like my engine machinist and the dyno guy etc, I know from experience they are not rips offs and do a good job, but its all a matter of going through it and learning who to trust that gives me the opinions that I have

I agree with everyone, and Bigvl, I really wasn't painting all mechanics in the same light, I know there are good an bad in every profession, I'm just not willing to take the risk that I have picked the wrong one anymore. The excuse that I got for the spark plug incident on my first subaru was that the guy who worked on my car that day had depression issues. Two of the three incidents I had were with mechanics that were recommended to me by people with similar cars. I am very reluctant now to have anyone but me work on my car based on my previous experience. I do have a few that I trust, There is a guy in QLD that I use for wheel alignments who is excellent, fair price and great work.

I never been to a mechanic as such, only tyre shops to get tyres and alignments done.

I only do the work myself, not that I hate mechanics or anything, its just what I have been brought up with and I know I can fix my stuff better than anyone else coz im passionate about them and know them better than the back of my hands.

I use a local mechanic for parts and good chats about car stuff. A lot of good ones out there

Never had nay bad experiences really as I never got work done.