Routine maintenance- shop around or ..?

[Whitworth]

Curious what you choose for your car care, (assuming not DIY). Do you constantly shop around for deals on new tires, oil changes, or any other specials; or do you bring your ride to the same place you've always done for years and years?

I go to the same guy, he knows what he's doing and his rates are fair. Plus in the past I've had too many incompetent shops screw up a vehicle, and get the suspicion that anyone who's constantly offering deals and coupons is probably having issues with no repeat customers.

The wife's car goes to the dealership, as it's under warranty. They do an OK job, but also tend to upsell services.

 

[timbitca]

What I can't do myself I always bring to the same 2-3 places where I've gotten friends with the employees/mechanics. Girlfriends car goes to the dealerhip also since it's under warranty, but that'll be it for that once it expires next year.

 

[Falcon67]

Daily drivers go to the Lincoln/Merc dealer because we know people there and I don't have time to mess with it. Tires come from Discount. That's about it. It costs about $60 to have the oil changed in the Fusion. I might save money on materials but my time is worth something and it's just a total PITA to change oil on anything but the race cars or the lawn mower. That thought includes the PITA to find some storage vessel for the used oil, some container for the used filter and transporting it 20 miles for disposal. I can dump the oil at the drag strip, but I have to wait for a race day and store the oil until then, and they don't have any facility for the filters, so there is still that.

Or, I can drop the car or truck off in the morning and pick it up at lunch.

 

[sberry]

It worth some extra to take it to someone who does what they say they are going to do. I get 75$ for an oil change and service, sometimes 100 depends but it is all looked at the best we can, the tires are rotated and make sure the brakes work, any faulty lights replaced, check the wires, add oil or fluids, check exhaust and hangers and estimate the need for future work. This price is with no upsell, sometimes I charge 25 to tell there is nothing wrong and come back in a couple years.
I recently took over care of a PU, been to 3 shops for regular "oil changes" no one notices there isn't an air filter in the housing. That the back brakes don't work.
The guy trusts me as when I said I checked the air filter it wasn't ********, I actually did it. I didn't replace any other hardware except for 2 wheel cyls. He tips me when I am done, always pays more than the bill.
Another got out for 800$ and he was getting estimates for 2500 for **** that wasn't even the problem. Another tipper and the guy drops it off, says it isn't working and fix it. Doesn't really care to see the details or even a bill, just asks how much he owes. I don't have to call with estimates etc.
I would just as soon charge labor as sell parts, I can charge 25$ for 10 minutes weld time for exhaust bracket to save system etc and not screw the customer, 50 for a broken connection when the rest of it is good.

 

[Stuart in MN]

If you have a person or shop you can trust and they do good work, it's not worth shopping around for some other place just to save a few bucks - it may end up costing you more in the long run.

 

[bigfoot21075]

My wife and I 2 Fords we bought on the same day in 2011. The dealer is 2 miles from home and gives free oil changes and car washes for life. With that, I no longer work on our daily drivers - I only work on my collector car and even then only when i feel like it. It feels like a true luxury as I have always mantained the clunkers we have owned. I am glad we decided to **** it up and get two new cars, it gives me a lot more fun shop time.

 

[Jeepster04]

Ive never paid or had anyone work on my Jeeps. Usually buy oil and filters when its on sale at napa. Take a lot of pride in telling people that. Most people dont really know how to do anything, or just buy new cars every 4-5 years. My DD is 24 years old and I love every second of it.

Even if I had the money to buy new vehicles, I cant trust anyone local to do anything constructive. Local shop left my fiances oil cap off and it wasnt realized for 3,000 miles. Hate to think about how much dust and grit made it into that engine.... That was before we were dating, just knew her.

 

[icthruu74]

The few things that I don't/won't do myself, or the things I can't figure out go to a single local shop. These are guys that I've had check out used cars for my kids and they won't charge me anything "just bring it back to us if it needs work".

Tires and parts I'll shop around for the best price within reason.

 

[brownbagg]

we got a big name tire store that does our fleet work and i have notice, nail in tire, you going get a new tire, i have never had one patch or repaired, new tire $140. oil change, he going preach the syntic, so its an hundred dollars. although they might preach the good services, they are really screwing you. company truck, who cares, personal truck not going any where near that place.

he wanted to sell me four new tires because mine was seven years old. had less than 5000 miles on them, but he wound not rotate because of the date on the tires. something about liability

 

[matt_i]

I've taken my vehicles to "professional mechanics" around 4-5x in my life. 3 of those were to have the A/C evac and recharged after I replaced components in the system.

I would be stuck trying to do ECM/PCM/trans cal reflashes but I've not needed that yet. All the hard codes so far led me to a component which I replaced in open loop mode without further troubleshooting but did the trick. I give great thanks to the wealth of knowledge in internet forums.

Also, for those reasons I try to avoid vehicles with things like nav systems, etc. Keep them simple and basic.

Tires, I buy Michelins. I never buy the warranty. I realize one could get slashed but I'll take my chances. The "better" tires don't seem to have many issues, and I've had them on around 6 vehicles now.

 

[Squankum]

That thought includes the PITA to find some storage vessel for the used oil, some container for the used filter and transporting it 20 miles for disposal.

My drain pan is a storage container. Stand on side, wipe down. Having to pour from drain pan to container is something I haven't done since the ... early 90's?

I only recently "invented" the idea of tossing my used oil filters into a bucket just for them, and when it piles up (ATF filters, too), I take it to the auto parts store that takes them.

As for the distance to your recycling location, well, I feel lucky now. 10 minutes down the road, a d hey, auto parts store, it's not like I'm not going once in a while. (I can't buy everything on amazon... yet.)

_

 

[theoldwizard1]

For GOOD tires, I have found you can not beat Sam's Club or Costco, especially on Michelin tire. Same is true for auto batteries.

For oil changes, look for a moderately busy place that use brand name oil and filters.

Personally, I think every "able bodied" driver should learn how to change their own oil.

 

[Ole Slewfoot]

thought includes the PITA to find some storage vessel for the used oil, some container for the used filter and transporting it 20 miles for disposal. I can dump the oil at the drag strip, but I have to wait for a race day and store the oil until then, and they don't have any facility for the filters, so there is still that.

Hm, we just put those out at the curb with the trash and they get recycled. Stupid California.

Besides the trust/ skill thing that keeps coming up, The cars I see regularly, I'm able to spot trends and upcoming needs which the owner may not recognize on their own. Still have quite a few
" my X broke"
" I told you 5 months ago it was getting ready to let go..."

 

[stikman56]

It worth some extra to take it to someone who does what they say they are going to do. I get 75$ for an oil change and service, sometimes 100 depends but it is all looked at the best we can, the tires are rotated and make sure the brakes work, any faulty lights replaced, check the wires, add oil or fluids, check exhaust and hangers and estimate the need for future work. This price is with no upsell, sometimes I charge 25 to tell there is nothing wrong and come back in a couple years.
I recently took over care of a PU, been to 3 shops for regular "oil changes" no one notices there isn't an air filter in the housing. That the back brakes don't work.
The guy trusts me as when I said I checked the air filter it wasn't ********, I actually did it. I didn't replace any other hardware except for 2 wheel cyls. He tips me when I am done, always pays more than the bill.
Another got out for 800$ and he was getting estimates for 2500 for **** that wasn't even the problem. Another tipper and the guy drops it off, says it isn't working and fix it. Doesn't really care to see the details or even a bill, just asks how much he owes. I don't have to call with estimates etc.
I would just as soon charge labor as sell parts, I can charge 25$ for 10 minutes weld time for exhaust bracket to save system etc and not screw the customer, 50 for a broken connection when the rest of it is good.

Honesty goes a long ways, and is always the best way to be. This is proof of just that. I too will tip and be every loyal to a person with integrity, they'll get my business and I'll recommend them to anyone,and I'll tell the whole damn world about the thieves too. This is the reason my Dad was so so successful selling lumber, to the tune of getting nationwide sales awards more than once. His honesty and integrity stood out, I know this for a fact, I delivered roofing to some of the lumber yards he sold to and heard it from the horses mouth. He also sold to the man I bought the land from that we just built this house on. He told me they loved him, couldn't get along with anyone there after my dad retired and eventually stopped buying from them as a result. That's pretty big when you're talking at that level. The company was Weyerhauser.

BTW, anyone ever looking for a construction loan to build a home, and you want the best who get it done, with no BS ,look me up, I'll give you his name and number. Leaps and bounds above the rest. These type of people are rare and they deserve the business.

 

[WhiffySpark]

we got a big name tire store that does our fleet work and i have notice, nail in tire, you going get a new tire, i have never had one patch or repaired, new tire $140. oil change, he going preach the syntic, so its an hundred dollars. although they might preach the good services, they are really screwing you. company truck, who cares, personal truck not going any where near that place.

he wanted to sell me four new tires because mine was seven years old. had less than 5000 miles on them, but he wound not rotate because of the date on the tires. something about liability

I bet they were dry rotted to hell too right? Tires are good for 5 years. You wouldn't use a few year old rubber would you?

 

[Outlander]

Dealers while under warranty, one of two independents I grown to trust over the years (one for over 25 years, the other only 5). Like customers, each are different and I know how to speak to each of them and how they will react.

More importantly, I know what to expect from each so I don't get annoyed when dealer tries to up sell me - it is the nature of the beast. One indy claims he charges more if you bring your parts but did not bat an eye when I asked for help to change lights in wife's Mazda (hate doing stuff like that in driveway at -25*). I assume he figured the few dollars markup wasn't worth it!

 

[jetnow1]

My girlfriend had a Ford Ranger pickup she brought to the Lincoln Mercury Dealer for service. Was always serviced at either the Ford dealer or after she moved the Lincoln dealer. At just under 70,000 miles the engine developed a leak (antifreeze), she brought
it in, the changed the tstat housing etc. Was still leaking, seemed to be from back of engine. The mechanic reached around the back and his finger went right thru the block.
The service manager went to bat for her with Ford, she was able to get a replacement
engine for only the labor cost to replace it even though she was 10,000 miles past the warrantee. Using the dealership for service meant all service was documented.

 

[slow]

I would love to find a shop that i can trust to do my work for me, but I have been disappointed wherever I go.

Supercharged GTO, not going to the dealership or non performance shop for work. No performance shops are right here that I trust, so I do it myself.

2006 Duramax powered H3, the dealership would be so confused on this one, I need to take it in for an electrical recall, but 50% of the truck has been rewired and I really do not want them messing with it.

Wife's edge, took it to the ford dealer, they returned it with oil dripping on the ground, from the filter and all over the radiator cover. Have a little respect please.



Ryan

 

[n8n]

If you have a person or shop you can trust and they do good work, it's not worth shopping around for some other place just to save a few bucks - it may end up costing you more in the long run.

What he said.

I have a list of 2-3 shops that I'll take my vehicles to. Doesn't really make sense to go outside the circle unless all my usual guys recommend that I do so. They know I'm not taking any work from them; if I don't take it to them they know I'm doing it myself, and I don't haggle over an estimate unless it's outrageous.