Car repairs quoted $850+, cost $0

[rowan]

One company quoted me over $AUD1000 ($USD850+) for various steering bits to try to fix a clunking noise whenever I went over a bump, another company realised immediately that a transmission mounting bolt was loose and tightened it for free...

Nice to know there's still some honest workshops around, AND for small fixes they don't charge a cent... that sort of goodwill means customers will definitely be back.

[rowan]

BTW... part of the fix the first company quoted me for was a power steering leak which the second company proved was total BS.

So I would have been out $850, and still had the clunking noise.

[Furious_Male]

Thats the company to do business with. Few and far between out here.

[96ukssob]

fuck, your pretty lucky. body shops are pretty much thieves and the same goes for dealerships.

my BMW would shake a low RPM when I first turn it on and I took it to a dealership here. They quoted me $1100 for some shit that needs to be "tightened and replaced." while I was in Philly, I took my car to another dealership and they said its fine and completely normal.

[rowan]

fuck, your pretty lucky. body shops are pretty much thieves and the same goes for dealerships.

The local Ford dealer wanted $AUD99 (about $USD85) for an hour's labour just to look at the problem. I asked what would happen if they figured out the issue in 2 minutes... too bad, it's "or part thereof." Have to pay for those leggy blonde receptionists and nicely fitted out waiting rooms somehow, I guess...

If they'd missed the loose bolt then they would have just sent the car straight over to the company I went with anyway (which specialises in steering and transmission). The only reason I didn't go there first was because I thought it was suspension related.

I was expecting to be without my car for a day or two, and have to take it easy until I could get an appointment (so the car didn't fall apart), organise transport to and from home, then pay up big bickies for the fix... instead they said "come right in", 20 minutes later (including test drive+diagnosis) it was fixed for $0 and I was on my way back home.

[~Ray]

buy them lunch

[BradM]

I would pay for a pizza or two and send it over there for sure.

[k0nr4d]

No shop here would do anything for free. You basically gotta pay the high prices a couple times until they get to know you, then they get honest and do shit free sometimes.

[After Shock Media]

I fully understand when shops have the minimums, even for diagnostics. At first I thought it kind of sucked but then realized I am sure there are also car hypochondriacs and stuff out there. The shop we visit has a 1 hour minimum and then bills in half hour increments.

Few times they have let us just go for a couple bucks instead of the 1 hour minimum.
Sort of like the Ace hardware down the street. We go in there a lot. Often we can pop in to buy a bolt or need a drill bit and they just give it to us or hand us one and say bring it back when your done. Like to see home depot do that.

[Lord Voldemort]

guess who you'll stick with from now on

[Deej]

Thats how I found my mechanic

[John-ACWM]

Comforting to know there are good people out there and they solved an easy job instead of ripping you off like the first idiots.

[CYF]

Thats the company to do business with. Few and far between out here.

That's a company I'd go to for life

[rowan]

I fully understand when shops have the minimums, even for diagnostics. At first I thought it kind of sucked but then realized I am sure there are also car hypochondriacs and stuff out there. The shop we visit has a 1 hour minimum and then bills in half hour increments.

The dealer service centre still bills me labour for doing a quick (<2 min) visual inspection with the customer before it's driven into the service bay. You'd think they could throw that in, they're already making a couple of hundred bucks from the service... what's next, they bill me for answering my call, or greeting me as I walk in the door?

[GrouchyAdmin]

I like to test the waters. When my local dealership closed, I'd call to speak with the lead of the service department, and would describe this 'strange click' when I depressed the breaks.

The only to say 'You mean the break solenoid that releases the transmission to be shifted? That's normal.' has been the one I've purchased all of my not-yet-avbailable-aftermarket parts from, and would likely take it to were there really an issue. Props, Hubacher.