Where Do You Prefer to Get Your Car Serviced?

[Drake]

Just curious to see where Si owners like to take their car when it needs maintenance/repairs. Of course, every driver's dream is to have a best friend who also happens to be an expert mechanic, owns a shop, and always gives you a good deal on whatever you need, but not all of us are that lucky.

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[Gotch]

Under warranty, Dr Honda. Out of warranty, I do it myself. Always follow the MM as well.

 

[Yonder]

All the regular maintenance/mods/repairs will always go through me first. If i dont feel confident in my capabilities then i go to my trusted mechanic.
It just gives me peace of mind knowing EXACTLY what's been done, how it was done, and with that TLC lol Not saying that mechanics dont care but at the end of the day your car, is there job. Everyone here has to admit every so often you decide to cut corners at work for some personal reason. I just dont want my car to be that cut corner one day lol

 

[SCOPESYS]

All the regular maintenance/mods/repairs will always go through me first. If i dont feel confident in my capabilities then i go to my trusted mechanic.
It just gives me peace of mind knowing EXACTLY what's been done, how it was done, and with that TLC lol Not saying that mechanics dont care but at the end of the day your car, is there job. Everyone here has to admit every so often you decide to cut corners at work for some personal reason. I just dont want my car to be that cut corner one day lol

DITTO ..

 

[Kable's2019Si]

I run a small shop and do it myself. As long as the place you go is trustworthy and capable, that's all that matters.

 

[MattyNice]

Oil changes, filters, etc, myself. Have been doing brakes too on daughters’ cars. But I’ve about had enough outside fluid changes as my free time is becoming more valuable than the money saved.

Anyway, I’ve always gone to the Honda dealer (most all my cars have been Honda’s). I’ll pay more for a Honda tech and Honda parts every day of the week.

 

[JJTHESIPLANE]

I work at a dealership that includes a Honda so it is very convenient for me to just drop my car off and go to work and pick it up after. Also having employee discount is a life saver on things I want to buy or services. Haven't had major problems I've had to pay for. So far all of the issues with my car have been covered under warranty (A/C compressor and front passenger strut).

 

[repeet]

I always take my Si to the dealer. Realizing that I'm dealing with a stealership, you have to speak slowly and verify.

 

[SCOPESYS]

I work at a dealership that includes a Honda so it is very convenient for me to just drop my car off and go to work and pick it up after. Also having employee discount is a life saver on things I want to buy or services. Haven't had major problems I've had to pay for. So far all of the issues with my car have been covered under warranty (A/C compressor and front passenger strut).

What issue did you have with the front passenger strut ?? Is it a common problem or were you just unlucky ?

 

[charleswrivers]

The driveway is close. I can control the cost of parts. The labor is cheap. The idiot doing the work is motivated to do it right.

 

[JJTHESIPLANE]

What issue did you have with the front passenger strut ?? Is it a common problem or were you just unlucky ?

I feel like I was unlucky... But that strut had developed a popping noise at low speeds, like over bumps and turning. The parts are on order so I'm waiting for them to let me know when it's here so I can get it installed. I don't think it's a common issue, I haven't really seen any other threads with other members who had the same sound that I had. It had developed early too, but it is louder now. But thank goodness it's going to get replaced soon I hope.

 

[amirza786]

I take it to an independent mechanic shop in San Jose where I have been taking all my cars for the last 11 years. Most honest mechanic I have ever met in my life. Uses only OEM parts, charges me half what the dealers charge. Once my Sienna's brakes were making a squealing noise, I took it to him to change the brakes. He calls me up an hour later and says that the noise is because the last guy who changed them used heavy duty brakes and didn't machine the rotors. I asked him how much brake life was left, he tells at least 6 months. He asks me what I wanted to do, I told him clean everything up, but the brakes back in and I will change them when they are worn. When I get to the shop to pickup my car he I ask him what I owe and he says "nothing, I didn't do anything". I insist that I should at least pay some labor, he won't take my money and keeps saying he didn't do anything. He could have basically changed the brakes without telling me but because he is honest, all his clients love him

 

[charleswrivers]

I take it to an independent mechanic shop in San Jose where I have been taking all my cars for the last 11 years. Most honest mechanic I have ever met in my life. Uses only OEM parts, charges me half what the dealers charge. Once my Sienna's brakes were making a squealing noise, I took it to him to change the brakes. He calls me up an hour later and says that the noise is because the last guy who changed them used heavy duty brakes and didn't machine the rotors. I asked him how much brake life was left, he tells at least 6 months. He asks me what I wanted to do, I told him clean everything up, but the brakes back in and I will change them when they are worn. When I get to the shop to pickup my car he I ask him what I owe and he says "nothing, I didn't do anything". I insist that I should at least pay some labor, he won't take my money and keeps saying he didn't do anything. He could have basically changed the brakes without telling me but because he is honest, all his clients love him

A good honest mechanic controlling billing is worth their weight in gold. They exist... but from my experience only at the very small independent level. At that level, they can control both the work and the billing. There are a lot of very good, honest and skilled individuals that work at larger places/service departments... but they get lost in the organization. Folks should really try out the small businesses. There's diamonds out there. Big places range from peat to coal at best.

It's crazy how much people will shop around for goods and even services... then take their automobiles for expensive work at the most expensive places with regard to labor rate with similar to poorer quality of work.

 

[amirza786]

A good honest mechanic controlling billing is worth their weight in gold. They exist... but from my experience only at the very small independent level. At that level, they can control both the work and the billing. There are a lot of very good, honest and skilled individuals that work at larger places/service departments... but they get lost in the organization. Folks should really try out the small businesses. There's diamonds out there. Big places range from peat to coal at best.

It's crazy how much people will shop around for goods and even services... then take their automobiles for expensive work at the most expensive places with regard to labor rate with similar to poorer quality of work.

Oh yeah, he is worth his weight in gold. He is a 2 man operation, so I have to call him a day in advance to make sure he can take me in. As an example how much cheaper he is than the dealership, When my Sienna was newer (a different Sienna from the previous example) it had 2 years of free oil changes from Toyota, but that only covered routine maintenance. When my brakes needed changing they told my wife $375 for one set of brakes. I told my wife to tell them no, I took it to my mechanic, he charged me $160 which included OEM pads plus rotor rotation.

I've been his customer so long that sometimes he does a job and tells me to pay him next time I come in for maintenance because he is to busy to write up the invoice. That could be 6 to 8 months away. When I come in again I have to remind him to charge me for the last service. One time I asked him what if I die, than I will owe you money. His answer: "It's only money". Great guy. If anyone in the San Jose area is looking for a good shop, just PM me

 

[mikey003]

my shop, and by myself

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