ALT-2 How to Deal with Auto Mechanics
The best way to deal with automobile mechanics is to avoid them. And how do you avoid them?
You avoid automobile mechanics and independent repair shops by making the right choice when you purchase an automobile.
The automobile mechanic as he is known soon will be history. Todays automobiles do not require anything more then basic service and maintenance work. If you are not an abusive driver and can follow the manufacturers recommended service guide during the life of the car, chances of you getting stuck with a large bill for an engine or transmission are slim.
If you plan on keeping a car for a period of four years or longer, I recommend that you purchase an extended service policy. Purchase only an extended service policy from the manufacture, do not buy any other type of policy. For example, if you buy a new or used Toyota from a Toyota dealer, insist that the service policy is Toyota's. If you bought a Toyota from a Ford dealer, they cannot sell you an extended service policy from Toyota, but they will tell you that the policy they can sell you is just as good. Don't believe it for a minute.
Any dealership will be glad to sell you a service policy whether you purchased a car from them or not. They now will have you as a customer with certified Toyota technicians who know what they are doing, not a Ford technician who does not know how to work on a Toyota, and is not certified by the manufacturer.
In most cases the Ford dealer would sublet your car to the nearest Toyota dealer. The problemhere is that you will have strangers driving your car, using your gas, expect something to be missing from your car, and delays getting your car repaired in a timely fashion. Another issues payment from an off shore warranty company can be another problem in getting your car released. Without payment the other dealer will not release the car.
Independent repair shops are pig pens. Their mechanics are not up to the standards of dealership technicians, and lack training. Most independent repair shops are cash poor. Generally the independent owner does not have a business focus and flies by the seat of his pants to make payroll every week. After running large dealerships for the past thirty years, a Parts Department's biggest collection issue, is always chasing bad checks from independent garages.
If you are an individual who still drives a 60's,70's,80's or 90's car I suggest that you get with the technology of todays cars and avoid the inevitable trap that you will fall into with an independent garage who is licking his chops to lay you away with a major bill. To many people believe what these individuals tell them. You car has a lot of life left, it runs great you don't need a new car, next time your in we will have to replace the timing belt. Keeping one of these type of cars is life support. Your supporting the life of the independent garage who's only fate is dying with every passing year.
