A Sea Of Red

Bearing in mind that I work in TV and always have OLD cars, I am looking for some input on garages that you have had good experiences with in the 'burg as far as working on cars. (Yes, I realize that's a run-on) I will not give the name of the one I usually go to, because they used to be great but they are slipping. I have had my wife's Pontiac Transport there 2 or 3 times in the last few weeks. They fixed stuff that wasn't the real issue and now it's broke on the side of the road.
Help!

Reggie Phelps Garage on Rivermont.

Knucklehead wrote:I have had my wife's Pontiac Transport there 2 or 3 times in the last few weeks....and now it's broke on the side of the road.
Help!

There's your problem right there. Both Pontiacs I've owed started going FUBAR at 70-80K miles.

Fumblerooskies wrote:

Knucklehead wrote:I have had my wife's Pontiac Transport there 2 or 3 times in the last few weeks....and now it's broke on the side of the road.
Help!

There's your problem right there. Both Pontiacs I've owed started going FUBAR at 70-80K miles.

This has been good and has 145K

I'm telling you Forest Auto is by far the best. I've gotten quotes before for $500 when it only cost me $35. They are honest and know what they are doing. They have a 3 or 4 bay garage and get you in and out.

Hold My Own wrote:I'm telling you Forest Auto is by far the best. I've gotten quotes before for $500 when it only cost me $35. They are honest and know what they are doing. They have a 3 or 4 bay garage and get you in and out.

I agreed with you for about 3 years.....but i have some stories about them as well. They are good, but they have made some mistakes for me over the years.

I'll back HMO up on Forest Auto. They've always been completely straight with me. For what it's worth, my dad was a mechanic for 27 years, and whenever I had to have service done, he always seemed the most pleased with their assessments and costs. Everywhere else in town I've taken our vehicles has drawn criticism or complaints from him.

i forgot the name of the place, i think it started with an R. it was up on the mountain. around the sunnymeade rd and english tavern rd area. the guy was recomended to me from a friend. he is a good christian guy that was honest with me. i know he was honest cause he didn't make hardly any money, and i was able to fix it myself for cheap. i want to say they have a policy on not doing any work until they contact you and let you know whats wrong and how much it is.
also, i got a student discount there.

Warren's Auto Repair has been my place since I first brought a car here in 2004. He hasn't steered me wrong in that time. I will admit that he broke one of the door handles but that being the buiggest problem says how good he has benn over the years when it comes to fixing my car. (1997 Hyundai Accent GS)

Babcocks downtown behind the YMCA, family owned for generations. Fair honest and two Labs Retrievers to pass the time

I've used Kerr Tire on 221 for almost 20 years now, but now that I own a Tundra, I absolutely love the dealership near school. They even give you a coupon for a free breakfast (in their own restaurant) when you get your oil changed.

toyota owns a restaurant?

Toyota has a restaurant inside the dealership in what used to be a mini-mall (you can also get a free shoe shine and a massage there, according to their advertising).

Picturing JDUB bringing his Tacoma back to the 'burg soon for his weekly free massage, shoe shine, & breakfast.

gotta do whatcha gotta do

El Scorcho wrote:I'll back HMO up on Forest Auto. They've always been completely straight with me. For what it's worth, my dad was a mechanic for 27 years, and whenever I had to have service done, he always seemed the most pleased with their assessments and costs. Everywhere else in town I've taken our vehicles has drawn criticism or complaints from him.

Like I mentioned before about expecting to pay several hundred dollars and pulled out the check book and they let me know it was only 1/10 of what I was prepared to pay.

The car needs a fuel pump the place it's at now says the part is $580 and I found it myself at Advance AP for $260. Ouch. No idea where to go from here.

call some places asking how much they'd charge to replace a fuel pump

thats exactly what they do

50% mark up on parts to cover their "costs" in having NAPA deliver it.

I have a guy who does my work- I buy the part and drop it off at the garage for him

he installs it- I leave with the car.

PAmedic wrote:thats exactly what they do

50% mark up on parts to cover their "costs" in having NAPA deliver it.

I have a guy who does my work- I buy the part and drop it off at the garage for him

he installs it- I leave with the car.

Yes if you know what part to get this is the way to go....you will save lots of money by pricing it yourself and just paying the labor.

Rocketfan wrote:

PAmedic wrote:thats exactly what they do

50% mark up on parts to cover their "costs" in having NAPA deliver it.

I have a guy who does my work- I buy the part and drop it off at the garage for him

he installs it- I leave with the car.

Yes if you know what part to get this is the way to go....you will save lots of money by pricing it yourself and just paying the labor.

Basically did that. Found the same part at 1/2 price and a mechanic from church to put it in at his place. Just got to have it towed again , rats!

To expand on this list, any recommendations on auto body repair/estimates?

ALUmnus wrote:To expand on this list, any recommendations on auto body repair/estimates?

Craft Collision has been good to us. My wife was hit once and hit someone once. Both times they made our rides look as good as new for what I thought was a very fair price. It's right across from Billy Craft Honda.

auto body repair/estimates?

Best price in town is Maaco.

For a quality paint job/body work at a fair price, go see Vito on 460 East at Blue Ridge Auto Body. He's the guy who used to own the body shop beside the back entrance to campus next to Sonic.