Honest Mechanics - rant

[rb]

Just had my car looked at by the dealer - he said a whols bunch of stuff needed to be replaced and gave me a price list and dealer hours ($90 an hour) ..amongst the recs were changing brakes which were at only 15% .

So i had a hook up at Nissan and got the parts at literally 50% of what the dealer was charging (ie $500 instead of $1000), took them to a mechinic (BLine automotive in Mississauga - shameless Plug) and he did the whole job and billed me for 3.5 hrs whereas the Dealer "trained " mechanic estimated 10 hours. My mechanic also said the brakes were at 50% which is not supprising since they are only 2 years old. Why do dealers have to mark themselves up huge..ok fair enough for the parts but charging 10hrs for labour that a good mechanic can do in 3.5 is ridiculous?....then also suggesting the brakes need to be changed - who are they kidding.

So if you are in Mississauga and looking for a honest mechanic the
one above is great and DON"T take the dealers word for what needs to be fixed.


RB

[bionicbadger]

The only time to take your car to the dealer is for "warranty" purposes. Otherwise dealers suck

[grant]

Why? because they can get away with it.

[Rokkin]

My mechanic also said the brakes were at 50% which is not supprising since they are only 2 years old.

RB

Wow.....I can't remember the last time I got 2 yrs out of my brakes.
Something here doesn't make sens though. I agree that dealer's may be exsessive for everyday wear and tear jobs, but you said they quoted 10 hrs for a list of items. What were the other things?? Did your guy in Mississauga do everything on your list that the dealer recommended in 3.5hrs or just the brakes??

[ccdude]

took my Accord for a tranny service to Classic Honda in Brampton. Great deal $49!
But 30 min after my car was supposed to be finished they called me to the desk and said that my tranny was the last thing I should worry about.
He told me that my car was VERY UNSAFE and the car was ready to drop.
He said I needed
Front and rear stabalizers
Front and rear Brakes + rotors (my brakes are 3 months old)
Upper and lower Ball Joints
Wheel alignment and Wheel balancing ( they said my vehicle shakes at high speeds even though it does not and It never left the parking lot)
Grand Total $1200 pre tax plus the tranny job
He even maid me sign the work order saying that they warned me the car was unsafe and that they are not responsible.

Told them to stuff it and give me my car back

Took it to firestone where I bought my tires to get my free tire rotation and I asked them to check all the above items. Said the Rear stabalizers were Just starting to wear.
Grand total $150 (honda Parts) parts and Labour

I will be buying a new car and guess where I wont be going to buy it.
Can anyone reccomend a good honda dealer near Brampton

Classic Honda F@CK YOU

Firestone on Kennedy Thanks

[rb]

Wow.....I can't remember the last time I got 2 yrs out of my brakes.
Something here doesn't make sens though. I agree that dealer's may be exsessive for everyday wear and tear jobs, but you said they quoted 10 hrs for a list of items. What were the other things?? Did your guy in Mississauga do everything on your list that the dealer recommended in 3.5hrs or just the brakes??

Yep ..thye were charging like 2 hrs for each strut (left and right) , my mechanic did the whole thing in an hour (both sides) , there were some belts as well which they were charging 4 hrs for ..again my mechanic actually did them in 1 hr
In the past I have had been quoted book rates for brakes ..I think were 2 hrs and the mechanic did them in 45 mins.


Oh and the reason they are 50% after 2 years is 1) I don't do much driving and 2) I brake very softly and drive accordingly

[rb]

took my Accord for a tranny service to Classic Honda in Brampton. Great deal $49!
But 30 min after my car was supposed to be finished they called me to the desk and said that my tranny was the last thing I should worry about.
He told me that my car was VERY UNSAFE and the car was ready to drop.
He said I needed
Front and rear stabalizers
Front and rear Brakes + rotors (my brakes are 3 months old)
Upper and lower Ball Joints
Wheel alignment and Wheel balancing ( they said my vehicle shakes at high speeds even though it does not and It never left the parking lot)
Grand Total $1200 pre tax plus the tranny job
He even maid me sign the work order saying that they warned me the car was unsafe and that they are not responsible.

Told them to stuff it and give me my car back

Took it to firestone where I bought my tires to get my free tire rotation and I asked them to check all the above items. Said the Rear stabalizers were Just starting to wear.
Grand total $150 (honda Parts) parts and Labour

I will be buying a new car and guess where I wont be going to buy it.
Can anyone reccomend a good honda dealer near Brampton

Classic Honda F@CK YOU

Firestone on Kennedy Thanks

P.s if you are looking for a good honda mechniac in Brampton , try SI performance - used to take my Honda Accord there - he's a Honda specilst - nice guy and again very honest!

[SoNgMaN]

dealers charge "By the Book" as does crappy tire and a few other chain type garages.if you can find a mechanic you can trust it'll work out better for the both of you. i've got my mechanics and they are great. no BS no nonsense, and they are very helpful

[carwfloc]

Why is that everytime my sister takes her Accord for "regular factory-scheduled maintenance" at Classic Honda they always find other stuff that's immediately needs to be replaced as well? I'm definitely no mechanic but I get a gut reaction that the "pads need replacing" or "it needs an engine shampoo and all the coolant flushed" BS they lay on her is because she'll just authorize it and never question them about it.

She's probably spent like $1500 in service at Classic Honda last year (she has a four year old accord), and after reading a bunch of other posts on the dishonest crooks at other Honda service shops in the GTA I'm definitely considering making her go to SI Performance if it's honest. Anybody else have any experience with them?

/rant

[B0000rt]

Why is that everytime my sister takes her Accord for "regular factory-scheduled maintenance" at Classic Honda they always find other stuff that's immediately needs to be replaced as well? I'm definitely no mechanic but I get a gut reaction that the "pads need replacing" or "it needs an engine shampoo and all the coolant flushed" BS they lay on her is because she'll just authorize it and never question them about it.

She's probably spent like $1500 in service at Classic Honda last year (she has a four year old accord), and after reading a bunch of other posts on the dishonest crooks at other Honda service shops in the GTA I'm definitely considering making her go to SI Performance if it's honest. Anybody else have any experience with them?

/rant

Engine Shampoo? I believe that's a cosmetic thing, and does not need to be completed.

Even if you're not a car guy, it's pretty easy to check the regular wear and tear things.

You check Transmission fluid, if it's not red anymore, you change it.

You check motor oil, if it's really dark and nasty, you change it.

You check breaks, if the pads are super thin, you change em out (rear drums need not be changed that often).

I don't think a 4 yearold Accord would require $1500 of service, but then again since I do most regular maintence jobs at home, I really don't know how many arms or how many legs dealers charge for those kinda things.

Dealers go by the book. If a light bulb needs to be changed, they'll charge you the lowest time bracket they have, which is probably 1/4 an hour, $90 x .25 = $22.50 to change a frickin lightbulb.

[rb]

Why is that everytime my sister takes her Accord for "regular factory-scheduled maintenance" at Classic Honda they always find other stuff that's immediately needs to be replaced as well? I'm definitely no mechanic but I get a gut reaction that the "pads need replacing" or "it needs an engine shampoo and all the coolant flushed" BS they lay on her is because she'll just authorize it and never question them about it.

She's probably spent like $1500 in service at Classic Honda last year (she has a four year old accord), and after reading a bunch of other posts on the dishonest crooks at other Honda service shops in the GTA I'm definitely considering making her go to SI Performance if it's honest. Anybody else have any experience with them?

/rant

Just go to SI and talk to the guy ....(his names Lou) ....you'll have a pretty good idea what he's all about when you meet him . Al my buddys take their Hondas there, I think they have a website as welll siperformance.com?

[ccdude]

Why is that everytime my sister takes her Accord for "regular factory-scheduled maintenance" at Classic Honda they always find other stuff that's immediately needs to be replaced as well? I'm definitely no mechanic but I get a gut reaction that the "pads need replacing" or "it needs an engine shampoo and all the coolant flushed" BS they lay on her is because she'll just authorize it and never question them about it.

She's probably spent like $1500 in service at Classic Honda last year (she has a four year old accord), and after reading a bunch of other posts on the dishonest crooks at other Honda service shops in the GTA I'm definitely considering making her go to SI Performance if it's honest. Anybody else have any experience with them?

/rant

Classic Honda Strikes again F@cking B@stards! I have a 2000 accord as well maybe they think accord drivers are suckers

[ccdude]

P.s if you are looking for a good honda mechniac in Brampton , try SI performance - used to take my Honda Accord there - he's a Honda specilst - nice guy and again very honest!

Hey

According to http://siperformance.com/html/mntly_specials.html you are entitled to a free oil change for your refferal

PM me your name I will be going next week.

[Rokkin]

You check Transmission fluid, if it's not red anymore, you change it.

.

This might not be as simple enough to do these days. I have a 2002 Accord and the only way to properly change the tranny fluid...and I mean ALL of it, is with the power flushing machines they have at the dealer or the common lube chains. This is quite pricey...I think Jiffy Lube wanted $149.....and $49 just to drain and fill without the power flush. The drain and fill does not get all of the old fluid out so if you go this route you'll have to increase the change intervals. After about a month of driving after having the fluid changed, it was nasty again as it mixed with the residual stuff. I'm considering the power flush although shelling out $149 for a power tranny flush seems a bit excessive to me. Anyone know where they offer this service cheaper? I actually haven't checked the dealer price yet. Honda also doesn't use any tranny fliters like GM and other do. Not sure why....I like filters...better safe than sorry...although it's one more thing to change.

[Spongeboy]

I've got an Acura 1.7EL 2003. Anyone know a good mechanic in the Scarborough/Markham area?

Or if not, maybe a good mechanic for Hondas/Acuras in the GTA? SI sounds awesome, but Brampton is a little far for me