My mechanic Laureano at Westdale Auto next door to this place recommended me to this guy. Probably due to proximity and that he uses the guy's spring compression tool every once in a while when he needs it.
I don't think he knows about his business practices though. The slightly aging balding guy seems friendly. Smiles. He has a saying that the best he can do is make the customer at least a little happy. I guess he is trying to say he can't please everyone but isn't using the same phrase.
What he did was quote me a price but told me I was getting a Flowmaster. He didn't check price. After getting the car up on the lift and cutting off the bolt on end of the exhaust pipe, he called to check availability. He then quoted me a much higher price. I told him I couldn't afford it and he said I could get a Magnaflow. He said it was not as good as first to get me to pay for the more expensive Flowmaster but then after I told him I didn't have that money her said the Magnaflow was okay.
To me my Magnaflow seems louder and not as powerful with more backpressure restriction than if I would have gotten a Flowmaster.
He even got me a smaller muffler claiming the one the manufacturer said I should have gotten wouldn't fit under the car! BS!!! It was cheaper and he got me the smaller one to increase his profit margin. Had he told me I would have told him I wouldn't mind paying the extra $10-$15 to get the longer one by 4" because it would be quieter.
For people in the future, get your muffler guy to tell you the model number and to check with the manufacturer as to what should be on your vehicle.
I was stuck because my car was in an accident and I had no option but to get a muffler on my car, so I just had to swallow the lower quality incorrectly sized muffler.
Generally it's about right, close enough, but I don't want close enough. I want exact as to what the makers of the muffler recommends.
So ask model numbers. It's key to getting your money's worth and not getting cheated out of what you really want.
He did the job right though. Welding looked right. Welded the hangers on right, etc. Just not happy with the way he trapped me and misled me by not letting me know exactly what he was doing. Shady that way. But at least he didn't rip me out of hundreds of dollars.
But as pinching pennies go, he's not the one to go to. He's only average as best. I would shop around next time more too instead of trusting just one referral.
He's generally fine. His demeanor is okay. His shop humms of working. It's quality work, your muffler won't fall off, but I expect more. I just feel tricked and used is all.
Edit December 2010: Also, I would say you should take the review below by johana c. with a grain of salt. No picture, no friends, and only one review. To praise with 5 stars. Fishy. Js. read more