Before the internet came around, and TSN in particular, there often was little you could do but ask your friends and family when you were faced with a large repair bill. Often that wouldn't be accurate, as they had a totally different car and it may have been 10 years ago they had the same repair done, etc.. I felt I was taken for a ride on several repairs on my Honda because I was just a young kid who didn't know any better..

Now, with my Saab, I check with folks here before any major repair (though major to me I think is a bit higher than to most of my friends and family - but they drive average cars). If as was mentioned earlier, the dealer uses brand new turbos, price couldn't be too far off - the main problem with the dealer is you pay full dealer list price for the parts, and I have even heard that some mark it up above that. In most cases, especially a turbo, a quality rebuilt unit can cost half as much money, and be just as good. A few hundred bucks labor to replace sounds ok to me (my independent shop charges $78/hour for labor)..so really you only paid the premium for the part.

It was also already mentioned, that they are required to contact you for authorization if the bill exceeds the original estimate by 10%. This I KNOW is true in WA, not sure about OR. But if it does hold true in OR, you can by all means refuse to pay the bill! If they try and weasel their way out of the law and say they never gave you a quote and it costs what it costs, I'd take 'em to court. Or, pay the bill on your credit card, and then dispute the bill with your credit card company saying that you never authorized it (which you obviously didn't).

I don't mind dealers charging an arm and a leg for parts - that's their right, and the reason I avoid them. But proceeding with a repair nearly double the original estimate without contacting the owner is unforgiveable, and probably illegal! You'll have to decide whether it's worth your time to fight against them, but I sure would for that kind of cash, even if I wouldn't enjoy doing it on principle as well.

Good luck...at least you don't pay sales tax in OR!

Aaron Gilbert
1987 9000T 259k miles

• Am I another woman, taken for a ride?, Saabrina, Tue, 26 Jun 2001 00:20:59
  • The best defense against this:, JimW, Tue, 26 Jun 2001 10:56:38
  • If it helps any, Ari , Tue, 26 Jun 2001 08:28:47
    • Re: If it helps any, Jim Kane, Tue, 26 Jun 2001 10:24:46
  • HIgh prices prey on all in auto repair...knowledge is power., Aaron Gilbert, Tue, 26 Jun 2001 01:32:46 <-- Viewing This Message
    • Re: HIgh prices prey on all in auto repair...knowledge is power., Justin VanAbrahams , Tue, 26 Jun 2001 06:44:58
  • Re: Am I another woman, taken for a ride?, Saabrina, Tue, 26 Jun 2001 00:39:06
    • Re: Am I another woman, taken for a ride?, Anders, Tue, 26 Jun 2001 01:18:19
  • Re: Am I another woman, taken for a ride?, Anders, Tue, 26 Jun 2001 00:33:42
    • Conclusion: What they said, what I did......., Saabrina, Tue, 26 Jun 2001 12:33:33
      • Thank god for computers, Ari , Wed, 27 Jun 2001 12:43:35
      • Re: Conclusion: What they said, what I did......., Anders, Tue, 26 Jun 2001 21:58:23
      • Excellent, good work!, Aaron Gilbert, Tue, 26 Jun 2001 15:19:11
        • RE: COmputer error or commission?, Ben Millard, Wed, 27 Jun 2001 15:31:49
        • Great job! I'm very happy for you!! n/m, John, Tue, 26 Jun 2001 20:50:19
      • Good for you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! n/m, Shahn, Tue, 26 Jun 2001 13:38:24

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