Snap Poll: Dealership or Indie Shop, and how to spot a good one

"Klaus Schmoll" (klausschmoll) 04/17/2014 at 18:51 • Filed to: None

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Let's do a snap poll. Who here gets their car serviced at the dealership, and who trusts an independent shop?

While I really like this whole dealership experience (Coffee, wi-fi, hot chicks as receptionists, car wash, etc...) they tend to make you pay for it. Indie shops may or may not offer any of this but they usually are much cheaper. I also think that within their limited range of service, they work even harder to get your business.

As I don't like car payments sucking on my paychecks, I drive old cars which are fine being serviced by an off-brand shop. It's just that after moving house I had to find a new one I could trust. Seems like I found one. We talked about preventative maintenance and he turned down a few of my requests as being a waste of money.

That's how I would a define a good mechanic, but what's your definition, and where do you take your cars with a job you can't do yourselves?

Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy > Klaus Schmoll 04/17/2014 at 18:55

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I'd say a bit of both, New car? Dealership, older car, independent.

Trunk Impaired 318 > Klaus Schmoll 04/17/2014 at 18:57

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Independent and only when its not something I can do by myself or with another person. With owning 5 used BMWs, an AW11 and a 68 Mustang dealerships aren't much of an option anyway

Laird Andrew Neby Bradleigh > Klaus Schmoll 04/17/2014 at 18:58

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For the few things I need someone to work on my car I use an indie shop.. I have one I trust.. BUT... If my local dealership had a cute kitty like that I'd use them :)

Garrett Davis > Klaus Schmoll 04/17/2014 at 19:02

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It's really hard to find a good shop, but when you do, you'll know it right away. I took my BMW into Poway Import Auto Experts here in San Diego, and they really take car of their customers.

First time I take it in, he does what I needed fixed, and just adds in that he replaced a breather valve for free because he saw it was wearing out. $45 part installed for free, not a huge deal, but is nice. A few months later, I have replaced my fuel pump myself, but the car is having problems starting cold, so I call Eli up (the owner), and tell him I want to take it in to replace the fuel filter because I figured it got clogged up, and I didn't have time to replace it myself.

I tell him whats going on with it, and that I'll be dropping it off that afternoon, and he proceeds to tell me exactly what the actual problem is, and that I would be wasting my money by having him do it, and that I should just do it myself because its an easy fix. Then he gave me his contacts for cheap OEM parts, as well as a recommendation to the guy who owns that shop to cut me a good deal.

So he refused me as a customer, told me exactly how to fix the problem myself, and even gave me the inside line on his parts guy. Now that is some damn good customer service. I recommend his shop to anyone in northern San Diego county, because he really does take car of his customers. In fact, I'm going to leave a good Yelp review right now, even though they already have a superb rating.

Thanks, Eli!

Übel > Klaus Schmoll 04/17/2014 at 19:06

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Generally speaking,I go for shops with a weird project car or two hanging out in one of the bays. I feel much better knowing that the people working on my car are themselves enthusiasts.

Klaus Schmoll > Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy 04/17/2014 at 19:07

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We had a an EU?? law that said that manufacturers have to respect the warranty even if the car was serviced independently. So that is out of the question over here.

BJ > Klaus Schmoll 04/17/2014 at 19:09

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I've been using VW dealerships for the past 7 years because they're convenient and, if I'm not happy, there are others to choose from. My current dealer garage (VW Centre-Ville in Montreal) is great - competent and polite desk staff, fast turn-arounds, walking distance from the office, and honest. They helped me get the rear hatch repainted under warranty last year, and everything went smoothly.

I'd need a damned good reason to go through the trouble of finding a new garage.

zeontestpilot > Klaus Schmoll 04/17/2014 at 19:13

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I moved last December , I asked multiple people where a trustworthy mechanic was. I go there all the time except for anything tire related. That's under warranty at a different place

jkm7680 > Klaus Schmoll 04/17/2014 at 19:18

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I'd say trust that Cat. He seems to know what he is doing.

wiffleballtony > Klaus Schmoll 04/17/2014 at 19:34

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Both in all honesty. I do dealerships if they have specials or for a milestone service.

GRawesome > Klaus Schmoll 04/17/2014 at 20:50

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I'm a firm believer in Independent. The hard part is finding a reputable one though, after much trial and tribulation I finally found a good honest mechanic. I now recommend them to my family and friends. I've sent so much business their way, they only charge me about half the time I go in there.