Comments on: Consumers Need Better Representation at the Mechanic

By: Gian Trotta

Gian Trotta — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 18:34:47 +0000

Ely, I’ve had good luck with Bob Wisniewski over at Hastings Car Care Center over on Saw Mill River Road (914) 478-3010

My car was leaking antifreeze from back of engine block, which I thought would have entailed a $800 head gasket replacement. Instead, Bob took the time to Id the problem as a heater hose in the back, so I got off relatively cheaply.

Plus we can hang out while you get your car done:0

All best
Gian

By: Ely Rosenstock

Ely Rosenstock — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 16:47:18 +0000

Thanks Gian. I’ll know to check in the future.

By: Gian Trotta

Gian Trotta — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 14:48:48 +0000

Ely, I’m so sorry! You know if were were at ebizQ, we could have taken a look at it over in the parking garage.

Customers should always check to make sure that gas caps and dipsticks have been replaced after every oil change. Another thing to watch for is to make sure that the oil filter has been tightened all the way. I once lost three quarts in two hours this way an if I hadn’t pulled over and noticed, I might have blown the engine.

By: Barry

Barry — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 20:29:13 +0000

I hate hate hate going to the mechanic. Someone should sell “car repair insurance” – take the average annual cost of ownership for my car, and just charge me monthly for it. Then let me bring in the car whenever there’s a problem and fix it for no cost. I’d be much happier paying for that than ever dealing and haggling with mechanics again.

By: Andy

Andy — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 17:25:51 +0000

What can I say… Get rid of a car. Imagine how much money you will save. Then you can use this money to rent a car whenever you need one. Furthermore, if you are lucky and you live in an area with community cars, such as Zip, then you are all set. You did say you mostly use public transport. Also, you can bike pretty much everywhere.

As far as the mechanics are concerned, I don’t think I had a good experience with them… ever. I think there is some genetic thing or perhaps breathing all those fumes. The worse one was the Toyota dealer in Sunnyvale. I took a Camry with a check engine light there and they figured out there was something wrong. $800 and a week later, the check engine light came back. $500 and a week later the check engine light was on again. I then took it to another place, they fixed the original problem for $200 and said that Toyota dealer was full of … well, you know. That said, this guy did other weird things, so he is not super great either.

I guess the whole thing is like voting. You vote for less of an evil instead of for somebody you care about. Same with mechanics. You go to a less bad mechanic.

Ditch the car…