1979-1993 & 94 Conv [Subscribe to Daily Digest] |
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Well, after overpaying for repairs for 10 years i found this site and realized i have a choice! I'm learning how to do many repairs and maintenance on my own, but there are still going to be MANY times when i encounter jobs i can't do on my own due to tools, workspace, etc.
I think my former mechanic does excellent work, but he is pretty determined to only use orignal stamped Saab OEM parts, which i pay list for, and thus my realization that i've been overpaying. My family has been using him for 15+ years so we have a pretty long term relationship.
Are most mechanics willing to only do the labor part of a job and let the vehicle owner supply the parts? Is this an unusual request, and if so, what percent of mechanics out there would not be willing to only do the labor aspect of the job. Would the mechanic still be willing to diagnose the car when i have a problem if he was only getting the labor portion of the repair and not making money on the parts (he usually wouldn't charge to look at the car if i suspected a problem and didn't end up needing any work done)?
I know my best bet is to ask the mechanic, but i'd like to know how reasonable/unreasonable request this is before i approach him.
I also would have another problem in that the last time he looked at the car was due to a failed inspection, i needed a catalytic converter and L+R axles. Using OEM parts, the bill was $1600 ($1000 for cat and $600 for axles). That is when i learned about this site and found an aftermarket cat for ~$125. I asked him about it and he was telling me this crap about them not being as good nor lasting as long (even though i pointed out to him that the car is 16 years old and i could go thru 4 aftermkt cat's before i'd be better off with the OEM). He looked into locating an aftermkt cat and found an one for $210 (part only) which he would install but "wouldn't guarantee it." I ended up taking to a more local mechanic who did all the above work for $500 and the cat is guaranteed for 50,000 miles. The axles ran me 1/2 as much using aftermarket parts at the "new" mechanic. So the last time we spoke was when i picked up the car and told him i was going to "think" about doing the repairs.
Sorry so long winded, but i'm not totally thrilled with the labor that the new mechanic does (needed to go back after the cat job b/c the seal leaked and got louder and louder, as well i found a pair of vice grips accidentally left under the hood after work was done).
Thanks for any insight as well as personal experiences with mechanic's feeling on customer's supplying parts for repairs.
posted by 67.83.6...
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