# I Hate Car Shops! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 1, 2003, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-car-shops/152181 "2003-02-01T22:53:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![The\_Tof](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@The\_Tof](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tof)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2003, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-car-shops/152181/21 "2003-02-03T06:28:12Z")
\ It’s called MPH Specialties or something like that-- Frankly its kind of a pain to get to. But it was well worth it in my case. I can’t guarantee that he’ll be the **cheapest** way to go necessarily. I haven’t priced around like that. (Although thats sorta how this thread got started anyway.) But he has done good work, is honest and won’t overcharge you or do unnecessary work. Plus (I thought this was funny) he bargain shops for the parts. If he needs a waterpump… he’ll call all his different parts people and get a price first before buying it. I used to have a receipt around here for the work he did on my car, but for the life of me, I can’t find it. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tof](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@The\_Tof](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tof)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2003, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-car-shops/152181/22 "2003-02-03T06:32:09Z")
\(I should clarify. The shop is definately MPH _something_ I think its MPH Specialties… but that could be wrong. Either way its the only MPH ?? in the phonebook for automechanics. So you shouldn’t have any problem finding him there. Finding the shop on the other hand… hehe… its on a little dirtroad alleyway. Hidden behind another shop 🙂 ) ---
**Author:** ![cornflakes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@cornflakes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cornflakes)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2003, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-car-shops/152181/23 "2003-02-03T16:30:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Joyfulgirl \* > \*\*…You can easily save hundreds of dollars. The downside? > > …#2, he takes his time. Expect to wait at least a month for your car, no matter how little the repair. Because he’s so cheap and good, there could be 50 or more people waiting ahead of you, so waiting 5 months for your car is not unheard-of. \*\* Fast, cheap, good–pick any two. Most commercial shops are either fast and good or fast and cheap. This is the first time I’ve heard of someone being good and cheap. ---
**Author:** ![yme](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/35a633/32.png) [@yme](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yme)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2003, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-car-shops/152181/24 "2003-02-03T21:36:00Z")
Rule of thumb, need work done? Find out if the guys are making commission, if they are. Keep looking. Most Midas guys I know make commission, so evertime you go in there, you’re going need four calipers, rotors, and a master cylinder. Whether you need them or not, there gonna try to hit you up on it. And if you 16, elderly, or know nothing about cars, they can see you coming from a mile away. Straight pay guys are not going to waste time replacing parts if their not going to make a profit. So if all you need are 1 set of front pads and a 1 set of rotors turned, that’s what they’ll give ya. Also, don’t be surprised if either both of these types try to hit you up on something, maybe you really do need new brake lines, or new calipers. As soon as your calipers hit the street, they get pretty shitty real fast in terms of servicing them again. Most of them are iron and simply rust, so bleeder screws are a pain to get off, once they snap, well you can retap it, but it’s not worth the time or effort, so you get a new caliper. - That’s just wear and tear. Don’t forget too, some of the work being done on your car really is worth the money. Your probably thinking $1200.00 for a new tranny? WTF? Well, it’s probably about $700 realistically. But are you willing to put it in your car? Probably not. That’s hard work, even with a lift. Including new mounts, fluids, at setting it up correctly. This all takes skill and a huge amount of time for the mechanic. Yeah, there are a lot of crooked mechanics out there, but a lot of them work hard for the money, and it’s worth it. ---
**Author:** ![petcat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5fc32e/32.png) [@petcat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/petcat)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-car-shops/152181/25 "2003-02-04T00:13:31Z")
If I can reply to YME… I don’t mind paying the money, especially for a difficult, dirty job that I’m not prepared to do. I had accepted that, but to pay and find Obvious Mistakes is insulting. I got it neither good, nor cheap, nor fast. ---
**Author:** ![Tars\_Tarkas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Tars\_Tarkas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tars_Tarkas)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-car-shops/152181/26 "2003-02-04T00:21:18Z")
Was Ratchet busy, **TeleTronOne**? ---
**Author:** ![desdinova](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8baadc/32.png) [@desdinova](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/desdinova)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-car-shops/152181/27 "2003-02-04T01:07:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by petcat \* > \*\*If I can reply to YME… I don’t mind paying the money, especially for a difficult, dirty job that I’m not prepared to do. I had accepted that, but to pay and find Obvious Mistakes is insulting. I got it neither good, nor cheap, nor fast. \*\* Sure, there are plenty of mechanics that offer none of the above 😉 They’re total dicks, and they’re certainly pit-worthy. I don’t want to detract from anyone’s rants here 😃 But, next time, ask your friends, or co-workers, or really anyone that’s lived wherever you’re at for a little while. I like to think that after a few years, everyone can find at least one good auto-mechanic. And if you take someone’s advice, let the mechanics know who referred you, cuz nothing warms the cockles of a small businessman’s heart like knowing his customers are referring their friends… I appreciate it when my clients do, and I do the same for all of the folk’s whose hard work I appreciate. By the same token, whenever I get shitty service I make sure all of my friends, as well as casual aquaintences, know it within 24 hours… I call it “pro-active capitalism.” ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-car-shops/152181/28 "2003-02-04T02:19:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by yme \* > \*\*Rule of thumb, need work done? Find out if the guys are making commission, if they are. Keep looking. > > Yeah, there are a lot of crooked mechanics out there, but a lot of them work hard for the money, and it’s worth it. \*\* FWIW I being in the business I have exposure to more mechanics than most people. Some of the most honest technicians I have met are on commission, and some of the biggest crooks have been on salary. The person is the deciding factor not the pay plan. Some people are scum. Yes we do work hard for the money. When a mechanic does a good job for you, go back to him. Don’t go to Sears for an oil change special cause it will save you $5. Go back to the guy that took care of you and maybe worked late, or cut you some slack on the bill. ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-car-shops/152181/29 "2003-02-04T05:38:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Anonymous Coward \* > \*\*About the OP and Mazda brake jobs. > I used quality OEM parts, not Mazda parts and it’s the squeekiest damn break job I have ever heard. Within 2 weeks I got a very loud squeek every time I stopped, right at the end of the stop. I can only imagine a least one pad is a little loose and is vibrating in the caliper. Research on the web suggests this is not an uncommon complaint with newer pads and certain types of rotors. \*\* You are correct that this is a vibration issue. Two solutions exist. One is an aerosol product which is sprayed on the back of pads and allowed to cure prior to installation, and the other is a gel-type substance squeezed onto the back of brake pads prior to installation. Both are readily available at auto parts stores, and will stop the noise. Make sure you remove all residue from the caliper that might remain from the last brake job and you’ll be in good shape. ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-car-shops/152181/30 "2003-02-04T06:12:04Z")
Anyone know of an honest mechanic in northern VA? ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-car-shops/152181/31 "2003-02-04T18:52:46Z")
Yeah, **Opal** , I live with one. 🙂 She’s not really in the business anymore though. We’ve had a good experience with Goodyear mechanics, specifically the ones at Glebe Road & Carlin Springs here in Arlington. It’s a company-owned shop, not a franchise. If you don’t want to come all the way to Arlington, check out the one at 2421 Centreville Rd in Herndon. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-car-shops/152181/32 "2003-02-04T19:05:50Z")
Good experience = service employee not trying to sell us stuff we don’t need. Like when we took our car in for brake service last spring. The mechanic looked it over and found that an entire brake job wasn’t needed. Service employee gave us an estimate on only the parts that were wearing out and we had the work done, plus two new tires on the front. Total cost, including tires, was in the neighborhood of $200. ---
**Author:** ![Luden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/77aa72/32.png) [@Luden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Luden)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2003, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-car-shops/152181/33 "2003-02-05T18:54:20Z")
One of the best things you can do, is to take someone who is knowledgable about cars to the repair shop. Being in the auto repair business, I’ve seen some outrageous estimates and shoddy repair work. Most people don’t know much about cars, so some people will take advantage of that fact. Additional repairs needed after tear down of parts is always a possibility, but you should be able to get a reasonable explanation for the necessity of the repairs. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-car-shops/152181.md?page=1)