Finding a GOOD Mechanic

Post Reply New Topic

Unlike a lot of you, I grew up working on automobiles. Not professionally, just as a sort of hobby. My mates and I were too poor to afford repair shops, so it was "bring the car, bring the parts and bring lots of beer." I've tinkered with more than I care to count. But now I'm older and frankly the work my '82 Mercedes diesel needs repairs beyond my ability. The problem is that all the repair shops I have gone to think I'm a bloody idiot. They want to charge me as much as five times what a bit actually costs. Now I've gone and purchased the bits, and I get the answer, "oh we don't allow customers to bring their own bits." I love older cars, and hate the idea of being squeezed like this. They have the attitude of "well, serves you right for driving something that ancient."

ARRRGGGHHHHHH

In my own case, a shop once wanted $700.00 just to tear my motor down and tell me what it would cost to fix it and put it all back together ... but I just told them to replace a fouled spark plug ...

... and then after going off and spending about $7.00 for an anti-foul adapter, I was good to go!

Some people practice the art, some just make money doing mechanical stuff and I do not know anyone who can do both and still cover the overhead without compromising one or the other ...

... and all of that today just leaves some of us out of the loop.

Maybe you can find a racer somewhere who wrenches his own stuff and would be glad to help you out in exchange for set of tires or something.

99% of professional auto mechanics are incorrigible thieves.

I used to have on of those guys in the good 1% when I drove air-cooled Volkswagens but I've never managed to find one for my Jeep. The best thing to do is to get the problem diagnosed by one mechanic and have the repairs done by another at your specific direction. I also have the complete service manual for my vehicle which makes it easier for me to estimate reasonable labor costs for any given procedure.

Good luck!

I do my own stuff.

Ive never had a problem i couldn't fix... yet...
Ive actually applied for a technician/mechanic apprenticeship for Toyota... I really hope i get this... i will find out in the next 2 weeks after my interview **gag**...

If it happens i promise ill be realistic with my prices

My present Daily Driver is a Mercedes diesel, and while it is utterly reliable, it's a bit tricky to work on. I am planning on getting a Volvo 1800 as my next auto. They're reliable and easy to work on, I'm aiming to get an early carburetted model and be done with fuel injection once and for all.