ALT-4 Is there such a Thing as a Trustworthy Mechanic
There is such a thing as a trustworthy mechanic. My suggestion is to first look at the small local shops. Call around. Call the big shops too. See what they will charge for the repair you will need. Another suggestion is to take the vehicle to several of the shops if you are able. Some may say that you will need an entire new motor while another may say that you just need a new head gasket and that will save you thousands of dollars on this particular repair. Once you have chosen a facility to do the repairs for you. You should return to that facility for most, if not all of your repairs. This will do a few things for you, first it will build a reputation between you and your mechanic. They will in turn recognize that you are a faithful customer and give you incentives to return to them with other problems. Also they will become more familiar with your individual car or truck and be more knowledgeable about any future problems that may arise.
IE: if they recently changed your belts and alternator and your car suddenly starts loosing power, they will know that those things were changed recently and they can test to see they are functioning properly but they will also know that more likely than not those parts are not at fault and there is another underling problem.
If you do decide to return to the same repair facility always take your car for a estimate first, then call around and get the best price. Once you return to "your" mechanic you should feel free to tell them that you called around and got a better price from someone else, always tell them what they quoted and tell them that you would like them to compete for the business. The price does not necessarily need to be lower than the "other guy" because "your" mechanic is familiar with your car and you should be willing to pay a little extra for that expertise but keep them competitive. Make it known that they still need to earn your business even though you are willing to return to them quite faithfully for your repair needs. This will help you be the best, and most informed consumer you can be.
This will also help to make sure that the mechanic you have entrusted with so many other repairs is not trying to "slip and un-needed" part in here or there, or over charge for the time spent on a repair. You can also check to see that they are adhering to the national standard for repairs using the Mitchell Labor Estimating Guide (http://www.mitchell.com/mitch/start.asp). This will also help you be a more informed consumer.
In the tough times of this recent economy one needs to be smart with their money. Get several quotes, try to return to the same mechanic (one that you trust), talk to people you know and get their opinion. Don't be afraid to tell the mechanic that you think they may be over charging and you would like to have them lower the price, but base it on facts (quotes from other shops, the Mitchell Guide and so on). Be smart, it's your car, and it's your money!
Best of luck.
