Step aside ye reviewers of oil changes, brake jobs, and tail lights out. I had my entire engine replaced! (so, please forgive the length of this). You're probably thinking I have some old Bronco or something I'm bringing back to life. Nope. 2014 Lexus IS350F Sport. I ended up in a 'puddle' back in our early October flooding. Apparently, this engine is designed such that it will suck up a swimming pool worth of water in seconds if it's 4 inches deep! Called Geico, thought about towing it to Lexus, but their location is inconvenient, and I had experience with McKay's 10 or 15 years prior. They seemed to do a good job in a timely way and are only about a mile from the house.
So, realizing my Lexus was never going to be the same anyway, might as well get whatever done close to the house. Funny, though it locked up near IAH, when I said McKay's, the tow driver knew exactly who I was talking about and where they are located.
On my cab ride home, called McKay's to let them know what was coming. Talked to Eric, and within 30 seconds knew I made the right call. The Geico adjuster would not come out for a week or more because of how many cars had claims. I visited McKay's after a few days just to see what they thought. Again, got to hand it to Eric. I sort of wanted Geico to total the car, but Eric said new engine and thorough cleaning and you'll be fine. That's exactly what Geico ended up doing. I kept telling Eric it'll never run the same again, and he kept saying it was no big deal (really, a new engine?!?).
This is key, the new engine finally gets in, Eric keeps me posted with texts, voice mails, etc. Once they have the engine, I think they got it in the car in just a couple of hours!! There's this mechanic, Paul, who I think is almost slightly bored if he's not totally rebuilding an engine, or some other big challenge. Meet this guy for 5 seconds and you will know your car is going to operate better than when you handed it to him and better even than the manufactures were going for.
And, there's a little twist. I have forever been disappointed that my cars don't sound like the 1979 Trans Am I had back when. Since I can't sell a flooded car without a loss, I need to keep the Lexus another 5-7 years, so I told Eric, let's put in a performance exhaust system. I knew nothing about them, but he got pretty excited and had ideas. Of course, Paul looked at it (up on the rack) and quietly, quickly, told me what he could do, what I needed, and, how easy it would be. I thought it was a big deal. Nope, cat-back this, axle-back that, 3 ¼ inch pipe, h pipe, x pipe, mid-pipe, no worries, we got it, let me get started.
Eric did some research, called a manufacturer and ordered a new system. Manufacturer said it would fit my car, but it didn't. And if Paul can't make it fit, it doesn't fit. Good thing is they found all this out on the same day the system arrived. So, ordered from a different manufacturer, got it in, and again, same day it came in, they had it finished. Sounded great, perfect, for about two weeks. Started to rattle. Both Eric and Paul warned me that as a new exhaust system is broken in, it'll settle and rattle and need adjustments. Just bring it by. So I did. They immediately knew it was a manufacturer's defect. OK, third try, Eric just went straight to Borla, more expensive, high quality, and HE ATE THE DIFFERENCE IN PRICE! Seriously?! What auto shop does that? (Hope that doesn't get you into trouble with Mr. McKay). Once again, they get the Borla system in and, I swear, in no time at all Paul's once again got it all installed and ready.
Bottom line - it sounds fantastic, it runs fantastic, they kept me informed, it was a pretty extreme job and they did it fast and took responsibility beyond what others would. I don't know what else to say or what else an auto shop could do to make it any better or easier. These guys just dialed it in. Without them, I just don't get the cart back better than it was before. A genuine thank you. read more
