It's over folks, the place is under new management and new owners. It's no longer what it was. Read on for more...
This review is from a visit late summer 2016, getting around to posting now.
Sarah M was right...WAS right. It no longer applies. Larry the mechanic and the rest of the lads, Fred the owner, Dean the service manager, Don the shuttle man, they even had a girl apprentice mechanic and all were great.
Been going to this shop for years. Took both my vintage and daily drivers there. Fair upfront costs, I trusted them completely and they were honest and a pleasure to deal with, fixing many an issue other shops couldn't find. The owner (Fred) has been a Mustang repairer specialist and enthusiast for decades.
Slight 'what the hell?' moment it was going in this month. None of the old crew anywhere to be seen. Under new management and owners. Okay, I thought to myself, not a big deal. Was told the old crew had either moved on, retired or what have you. Again, fine. I booked a service in for my Japanese daily driver car. The original owner Fred has apparently been retained as a consultant on an advisory part time occasional basis.
All seemed fine until an engine flush was mentioned, they seemed to be keen to push it. All my vehicles are serviced to the LETTER according to makers schedules like clockwork. The dealers of my cars have told me previously (I also called manufacturer HQs after being hard sold on one by an unrelated place) they never recommend one if your car is done like clockwork, and it can make matters worse. I had an older cars engine block ruined by one done previously, and an unrelated shop I went into (a Chev dealership as was a Chev said it was a big mistake).
I declined the offer for an engine flush to the man booking me in. Then another man chimed in that I should get it. Then the shuttle man appears and chips in his 2c that I should get it.
Seemed to be more energy spent convincing me 'it will be fine' rather than finding out more detail over what was needed on the actual service and taking a min to look up and see the previous records. One look at the records would show servicing to the EXACT KM intervals recommended by the maker. The previous lads never ever mentioned an engine flush to me over YEARS, and neither has either all the Chev or other car dealerships I had been to for my other vehicle servicing.
Something didn't start to smell right. I put it out of my head and left the car with them. In due course I get the call about what needs doing:
1. Wheel balance - okay fine it was wobbling a little.
2. 4 new tyres - hmm yeah okay appreciate the concern, but there's still enough tread on them, they aren't illegal yet.
3. Complete tranny fluid flush (it's a manual) and change as was very dirty and likely had particles in it etc - okay fine but that's beside the point, I asked for them to check out a noisy clutch throw out bearing, not the the fluid, and how the heck could the tranny fluid be done already when it was only done in the last few months after a completely new clutch kit? And 6 months before that on an unrelated issue?
I mentioned that it was only changed out in last few months with new tranny fluid....asked if it was a new kit could that be issue to bed in or something? Man said because its a new clutch kit could be just new bits being worn off. Sounded a stretch but okay.
4. Front brake service needed doing as had squeaky brakes on the F and R brake inspection.
Altogether the estimate was 600 odd bucks. For a service that normally is 250...MAX. I said never mind, just do the oil change and look around and call it a day.
Got the shuttle back in. On paying the same man had a bit of a face on, almost like he was a bit miffed I wasn't gonna go for all the stuff they recommended. Just altogether a shady experience, seemed most of the staff appear to be covered in tattoos and have that slick 'used car salesman' feel about them. I'm no mechanic, but I have owned my vintage car and daily drivers long enough over years to know their quirks and servicing needs, and my vintage make car club, have learned enough to know when im being sold a pig in a poke.
They have lost my business when the business got taken over, I will never be back. Sometimes people have to retire or move on and when that happens it sucks, but one just has to start again & find another trustworthy mechanic.
Avoid this one like the plague. read more
