What type of mechanic works on your car?

[Captain Ice]

Just a curiosity as my car is at the mechanic's (again )

What type of mechanic do you normally use? Why?

I normally use a local dealership because I've dealt with them for years and know I can trust them to get it right the first time.

 

[Chaos Descending]

I also use the dealership. They are experts on those model of cars and have the most experience.

 

[backstept]

if I lived closer I'd take my car to my Uncle's shop, but I normally go to the dealership
I've also taken previous vehicles to a local shop

 

[John Clark]

It depends on the type of work that needs doing. Any of the basic maintenance I do myself. For most of the other stuff, the local garage

 

[zephramc]

I try to do as much as I can myself. Whatever I don't do I use an independent mechanic. I've been using the same mechanic for at least 10 years.

 

[K'Ehleyr]

My wonderful mechanic Patrick ~ who is independant so I've put shadetree, although to me that sounds a bit shady which he definately is not.
He looked after Marmite (my panda) for me for 5 years after I met him in a parts shop. I was buying replacement lightbulbs and had no idea which ones. He was behind me in the queue, he went and looked at my car, got the right bulbs and changed them for me there and then taking nothing but a grateful thanks.
Every time he took Marmite for an MOT he would fix loads of other little things as well for nothing. Incredibly good value, trustworthy and has had many recommendations from me as the perfect "car guy"

 

[Mallory]

I've used the same local independent for 15 years now for most things and a national chain for stuff like tires and batteries.

 

[Lookingglassman]

The local guys are far cheaper and do better work than my Ford dealership.

 

[Brent]

It depends what needs done

An Oil change, I'll take it to a chain.

If it needs something big, I'll take it to the Dealership to find out what's wrong exactly, but then I'll take it somewhere else where I can get a better deal. For example, I needed a catalytic converter recently, the dealership was going to charge me $1500 to replace it. I took it to Midas and they did it for half that.

Regular maintenance, like tuneup etc.. I'll take it to the dealership. I know the guys here at the dealership, and they treat me right, except on the big stuff they are way overpriced.

 

[nevermore]

Usually Meineke because of the lifetime parts warranties, though I've used independent mechanics as well in the past to mixed results. I've never taken a car to a dealership for servicing.

 

[Warp Coil]

I will take my car to the dealership to regular maintenance so long as I'm paying off the loan. The way I see it, I don't want anything to go wrong with the car and have to fork over a huge mechanic bill while I still have a monthly car payment. If the dealership knows that they are doing, they should keep my car in tip-top shape. So far it's worked out just great. They also give me free oil changes for life since I purchased the car from them. Not a bad perk.

 

[cardinal biggles]

I use an independent mechanic who's a friend of the family.

 

[Captain Ice]

[For Warp Coil]

I've got a friend who has a deal like that. When he bought the car, it was his first time buying a car from a dealer (and first time buying a new car), so he asked me to come along as a coach. I was very impressed with that dealership, and will probably buy my next car from them.

 

[Holdfast]

Dealership.

Partly through laziness/inertia, and partly because I have a rare enough car that I trust them to maintain it better than going elsewhere. They also tend to do a very good job, and if there's any snag, it's fixed immediately with no quibbles. Good customer service, really.

The exception to using them is very straightforward stuff like getting new tyres fitted, because I can get them done elsewhere for half the price.

 

[Zulu Romeo]

Mostly through a dealership too.

On the other hand, my dad, who has the same make of car as myself, is on especially good terms with the dealership in his home town, owned by a famous (well, famous here) brand name. I've been to that particular place myself, and the service I've received there far outstrips the places closer to my home.

 

[SilentP]

I got to an independant garage, though does it count as an independant one if your cousin works there and your uncle before he passes away? Great service from them in general, they do some things for no charge, and go out of their way to make sure they fix up the car in any way that's needed, not just the bare minimum.

When Eepkay (first car) finally kicked the bucket, they had it taken to the scrapyard for me. Not before I took one of the hubcaps as a reminder

 

[John Picard]

I do everything myself (even rebuilt the engine); however, when the transmission went out in my truck, I had a local, independent shop rebuild it. They were agreeable to my upgrade desires and did a fantastic job, even telling me to bring it back at 30,000 miles to flush the fluid, change the filter, and adjust the bands.

 

[Robert Maxwell]

There are some things I know how to do that I will do myself. Then there are other things I know how to do but don't have the time, tools, or inclination. Simple things, I give to my friend in Indiana, if it can wait until I make it back there.

Otherwise, there's a performance shop right across from my job. They always give us a good deal, and they use top-of-the-line parts, since most of their customers either race or go off-roading. I just give them my car in the morning and it's ready to go at quitting time. Extremely convenient.

 

[Joshua Howard]

If I need work done, I rely on a neighborhood family-run mechanic. They are great folks, and I wouldn't take my business anywhere else.

 

[JuanBolio]

When I had a car, I mostly did the work on it myself. When something was beyond my ability to repair, I took it to a locally owned and operated shop.

When I had a car...