[V8] Reputable independent mechanic in the greater Framingham/Leicester Mass area? nac

[Roger Woodbury]

Shane, with all due respect, I'll leave it.  

In point of fact I did not post the question here because she "was getting
ripped off by the dealer".  I don't in fact know what was done to the car,
but was asking if there are any reputable independent shops in the part of
Massachusetts that she lives in because I wanted to relay through my
daughter some options that she might have to be able to economically
continue to drive the Camry.  I have absolutely NO dog in the fight of any
sort.

As far as independent shops not doing exhaust work, I would strenuously
disagree with you, it being entirely dependent on WHERE the shop is located
and what the availability of muffler shop is in that area.  Within ten miles
of where I live there are probably twenty independent mechanic shops of
various quality and ONE Midas shop. As far as I know EVERYONE will do
whatever they can do to make a living, simply because there is insufficient
population here to be very picky over.  In Portland, with the metropolitican
area population nearing a quarter of a million, I am sure it is different.

Where this young woman lives and works is a major metro area.  There are a
LOT of options available, and the franchised dealer is the most expensive
regardless of where it is located.  ALL franchised dealers are at the top of
the pricing schedule because they have to be to afford the pretty logo out
in front.

I never implied that being a young female kept her from being able to think.
She merely follows the kind of training that she received from her father
and mother, which is march in lockstep to the franchised dealer where, as
she said, "they know the car." 

Yet she complained about the cost of repairing the cat, and my intent was to
offer some alternatives.  That she might or might not visit a hot rod club
is irrelevant; that she might darken the doors of Midas, is irrelevant.  All
that this was about was offering her ONE alternative to the franchised
dealer from someone who has some knowledge of that particular territory.

My daughter could have just told her to look up "Auto Mechanics" in the
yellow pages, but that would have been rather rude, and so would have
"consult the BBB"....I posed the question to this list because I know that
in most corners of the country, and even in places outside of this country,
there are listers who know of independent mechanics for whom they would make
a referral.  

Perhaps there aren't any in central Massachusetts, but it was worth the time
to type the question, although not time enough to answer a post that
suggests that my inquiry was "BS".

Roger

-----Original Message-----
From: too many quattros [mailto:thequattroking at yahoo.com] 
Sent: Thursday, December 10, 2009 11:31 AM
To: Roger Woodbury; V8 Audi Fans; 200q List
Subject: Re: [V8] Reputable independent mechanic in the greater
Framingham/Leicester Mass area? nac

roger, 

this is somewhat BS IMO.  my wife, was a young woman who drover old american
crap and hardly knew what a dipstick was.  yet she found and bought a 4ksq
after her american crap died.  WE still have the car today.  10 years after
being married.

my point is, female, young, whatever, does not prevent her from being
logical.  so, me personally, yeah i would go find the local hot rod club and
ask for a reference.  this gal is likely not going to do that.

so, why not check out the BBB AND yelp for an independent exhaust shop (or
other review page like citysearch, etc).  its likely this young woman is
already on yelp.  i would be surprised if she has not heard of yelp or the
BBB.  

you posted here because she is getting ripped by the dealer.  fair enough.
but why pay even half what the dealer wants when you can get the SAME job
for 1/4 what the deal wants?

as a former mechanic who made his living getting bloody knuckes working on
cars, i can tell you that most repair shops do very little exhaust work.
they farm their exhaust work out to exhaust shops (even the local MBZ dealer
does for 80% of their exhaust jobs).  ergo, skip the the repair joint, go to
the exhaust shop.  they exist for a reason.

2002 camry or 2010/11 lambo reventon convertible, cutting out an old cat and
welding in a new one is not a big deal.  just find one that is honest (makes
me ask how she is sure she needs a new cat?).  for the record, i HAVE worked
on a number of camrys.  i have pulled engines and put new trans in.  there
is nothing special about them.  45 mins with a torch/mig will fix it all.

imo, tell your daughter to tell the step sis to spend 10 mins on the web and
do her homework.  otherwise pay for it.  afterall, its a cat replacement,
not a $50K engine, trans and suspension build.

take it or leave it,

 


Shayne

PARTING:
1972 mercedes benz 280 se 4.5
1986 audi 4000 cs quattro
1990 audi coupe quattro
1995 audi S6



> 
> The biggest reason why this won't work is that the car's owner is a young
> woman who knows zip point zip about the car, or so I guess.
> 
> If this were my daughter she would have found an alternative, but I think
> her step sister is probably a "helpless female" with a steering wheel.
> 
> In fairness, I don't really know the young woman at all, having met her
only
> once about six or seven years ago, very briefly.  But her clinging to the
> dealer tells me enough.  She has told my daughter that she continues to go
> to the dealer "because they know the car".  It's a 2002 Camry.  I imagine
> that there may be one or two mechanics and service writers in that
suburban
> Boston dealership who were even licensed when the car was built, let alone
> "know her car".

>Roger
> 

> why not just go to a reputable local independent exhaust shop?  i have
> replaced a few of them myself.  i have paid about $75-$125 for the ones i
> have replaced.  i have a friend that owns an independent local exhaust
shop.
> he charges between $175-250 for most converter replacements.  IMO forget
the
> mechanics and go to a QUALITY exhaust shop.  best way to find one?  ask
the
> hot rod car clubs in the area.
> 
> 
> 
> fyi, this is where i buy my cats
> 
> http://www.discountconverter.com
> 

> 
> 
>> 
>> My daughter's step sister has just been nailed by a Toyota dealer for the
>> replacement of a catalytic converter on a 2002 Toyota Camry. The gouging
> was
>> $1,000.
>> 
>> She should not be taking that car to a dealer at this point, and I was
>> wondering if anyone knew a REPUTABLE independent mechanic in the greater
>> Framingham, Massachusetts area.
>> 
>> TIA,
>> 
>> Roger




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