This article
discusses
car auto repair shop center garage.
Consumers lose billions of dollars each year on unneeded or poorly done
auto repairs. The most important step that you can take to save money on
these repairs is to find a skilled, honest mechanic. Before you need
repairs, look for a mechanic who:
1. is certified and well established;
2. has done good work for someone you know; and
3. communicates well about repair options and costs.
Automobile repair costs are soaring at a rate unusual
even for these times. Car owners can do better than just hold the line,
if they adopt a vigilant attitude every time they deal with a garage.
Behind the dramatic spiral in car repair costs: The cause is more than
the increased prices for parts, often given as an excuse by repair
personnel. Flattened car sales, for one thing, have placed pressure on
dealers to widen shop margins. More complicated cars are not helping
either. Many shops do not know how to fix plastic parts or solid-state
electronics. They subcontract the work, then add on their own profit.
Some of the increase, perversely, is a result of pressure the insurance
industry is placing on car manufacturers to make accident repairs
cheaper. And the insurers are getting such things as two-part doors,
which can be repaired in sections, avoiding the charge for a whole new
door.
See
auto repair
for more information.
In turn, repair centers and garages are bucking the pressure. They claim
that the expensive new equipment they must buy (such as frame
straightness or tools to handle front wheel drives) is boosting their
capital costs. Besides, they say, more mechanics are unionized these
days and bargain hard for exorbitant rates. Dealers also claim that
warranty and recall repairs are forcing them to do a lot of costly work
for nothing.
Target: Labor costs. Shops placed one-third of the tag on labor 15 years
ago. It is now usually two-thirds of the bill. But despite unionization,
mechanics' rates have not risen that fast. Nationwide, the average
service-shop labor rate is $18.63 per hour. Yet dealers in major cities
charge $40 per hour. Even small-town dealers charge $25.
Trick: Shops use flat-rate manuals to figure labor charges. The costs
are based on expected time for particular repairs. But the job is often
done in much less time by the lowest rated mechanic in the shop. Trap:
No bill adjustment.
Suggestion: Writing out the specific repair needs ahead of time and
giving the list to the service manager (keep a copy for yourself) can
help control bill padding. But one longtime Midwestern car dealer says:
I don't know of a really honest repair shop in the country today.
To Car Auto Repair Shop Center Garage -
Top
Best: Search out a respected garage run by an independent mechanic or
repair organization. ]Joseph Innes, car-use director for the National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), says a survey revealed
that high-powered dealer service-managers tend to pad bills and miss
customer needs. Independents have a better reputation with the public.
Problem: A new car's warranty may be voided if maintenance and key
repairs are not done by the dealer. But it can pay to consult an
independent and have him write out exactly what the car needs. His $25
charge may save hundreds of dollars.
Become a bug on preventive automobile maintenance. There are a growing
number of specials around. Example: The promise by Firestone to keep
your car's steering aligned, free of charge, through 50,000 miles of new
tire use.
Start by buying a car with a good record of repair frequency. Some
foreign sub compacts were low on average repairs a few years ago, but in
a few cases new models are lemons. Ask for the actual maintenance record
when you buy a used car. Rental agencies provide them. Dealers and
individuals who really wish to sell a car can often do better than they
pretend.
Learn to repair: Adult-education courses are now offered at many high
schools and junior colleges. A car owner can at least learn preventive
maintenance.
Divide your outlays: Some shops, such as those run by Sears,].c. Penney,
and K Mart, often do routine maintenance quickly, without bill padding.
Using them for routine repairs and maintenance leaves only the
complicated repairs for the dealer. But don't let that warranty expire.
Avoid extended warranty contracts: The latest studies show that they are
very expensive. They have hidden limits. Labor costs may not be covered
adequately. A plan may require you to pay first and be reimbursed later,
and it may not cover repairs if you move.
Garage personnel: They are tough, and they respect toughness. Look for
points of leverage. Examples:
Business relationships: Perhaps your firm's fleet cars are purchased
from, or repaired by, the dealer.
Higher-level protest: Dealers deny it, but direct protests to the
carmaker often work.
Protests should start at ground level, however. Contact the local Better
Business Bureau, consumer fraud offices, action-line columnists for the
media, and local or regional officials with the NHTSA, Federal Trade
Commission, and Department of]ustice. Repair garages that wish to stay
in business will bow quickly to such pressure.
After The Collision: Repair Or Replace? Determine the
clean, adjusted-for-mileage value of the car according to a recognized
wholesale guide (such as the Automotive Market Report, or AMR,
Automotive Action Publishing Co., Pittsburgh, PA).
Divide the repair estimates (made by at least two reliable garages) by
the adjusted wholesale value. Result: The replacement percentage.
Example: Average repair estimate: $1,600. Clean, adjusted-for-mileage
value according to AMR, $3,212. Replacement percentage= 49.8%
($1,6007$3,212).
If replacement percentage runs 25% or less, repair the unit. 40% or
more, replace the unit. Between 25% and 40%, make a repair-or-replace
decision.
Also take into account:
Economic cost of extensive downtime for major repairs. (Remember, parts
for current model-year cars are usually in short supply early in the
model year.) Include cost of a rental car, availability of a pool car
(least expensive alternative), or cost of reimbursing the driver or
using his personal car.
Visible repairs diminish resale values. Small dents can be hammered out
without affecting resale value. But large damaged areas should be
replaced to make the repair less visible at resale.
Possible bad effects on morale of the driver of an extensively repaired
vehicle.
While searching the internet for
best
car auto
repair shop center garage
be sure to add to your search string the name of your state and city so
that you get
local best car auto repair shop
center garage. For your convenient here is a list of US states and biggest
cities: in Alabama, in Alaska, in Arizona, in Arkansas, in California, in Colorado,
Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, in Florida, Georgia, Hawaii,
Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine,
Maryland, Massachusetts, in Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri,
Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, in New Jersey, New Mexico, in New York,
North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode
Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont,
Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming. in New York, in Los
Angeles, in Chicago, in Houston, in Philadelphia, in Phoenix, in San Antonio, San Diego,
in Dallas, in San Jose, Detroit, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, in San Francisco,
in Columbus, Ohio, Austin, Memphis, Baltimore, Fort Worth, Charlotte, El Paso,
Milwaukee, Seattle, Boston, Denver, Louisville- Jefferson County,
Washington, Nashville-Davidson, in Las Vegas, Portland, Oklahoma City, Tucson,
Albuquerque, Long Beach, Atlanta, Fresno, Sacramento, New Orleans,
Cleveland, Kansas City, UK, Virginia Beach, Omaha, Oakland, Miami, Tulsa,
Honolulu, Minneapolis, Colorado Springs, Arlington.
Source: Consumer Information Center
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