The Trustworthy Mechanic Thread

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  • Shaka
    Senior Member
    • Dec 2008
    • 10453
    #1

    The Trustworthy Mechanic Thread

    Car upkeep is a huge deal but finding a competent and honest mechanic is tough. Post your experiences good or bad as well as recommendations.


    I'll start.

    A few months ago my truck started to vibrate a bit when it hit 55 mph. My tires were worn out so I replaced them. Problem not fixed. Alignment didn't do anything either. I took it back to the place I bought the tires and they did a front end evaluation. Their mechanic decided I needed a new rack and pinion with a replacement cost of $860. I got nervous and decided to take the truck to the guys who did a wonderful job fixing my RV a few months ago. It took them about two minutes to determine that my problem wasn't the rack and pinion but was simply a buggered up U-joint. They replaced both U-joints that day with a total cost of $120. Problem solved.

    So if you're near northern Utah County take your vehicle to Lung Automotive in Lehi. Had I taken my RV to them in the first place they would have saved me around $1500. I didn't come across this shop by accident as it was recommended to me by several people. Also the owner, Vince Lung, has one of the better car collections in Utah.
    Tags: None
    • kccougar
      9262
      • Nov 2008
      • 7020
      #2
      Originally posted by Shaka View Post
      Car upkeep is a huge deal but finding a competent and honest mechanic is tough. Post your experiences good or bad as well as recommendations.


      I'll start.

      A few months ago my truck started to vibrate a bit when it hit 55 mph. My tires were worn out so I replaced them. Problem not fixed. Alignment didn't do anything either. I took it back to the place I bought the tires and they did a front end evaluation. Their mechanic decided I needed a new rack and pinion with a replacement cost of $860. I got nervous and decided to take the truck to the guys who did a wonderful job fixing my RV a few months ago. It took them about two minutes to determine that my problem wasn't the rack and pinion but was simply a buggered up U-joint. They replaced both U-joints that day with a total cost of $120. Problem solved.

      So if you're near northern Utah County take your vehicle to Lung Automotive in Lehi. Had I taken my RV to them in the first place they would have saved me around $1500. I didn't come across this shop by accident as it was recommended to me by several people. Also the owner, Vince Lung, has one of the better car collections in Utah.
      Great to know, Thanks. I had an awesome BMW mechanic, but he closed shop in SLC and moved to Hawaii.
      "It's devastating, because we lost to a team that's not even in the Pac-12. To lose to Utah State is horrible." - John White IV

        Comment

        • DrumNFeather
          Invisible Swordsman
          • Nov 2008
          • 8854
          #3
          If you are in Lehi...

          Auto Repair in Lehi, Utah | Garrin's Automotive
          http://www.garrinsauto.com/
          Garrin's Automotive provides reliable auto repair in Lehi, Utah. We quickly diagnose issues and offer practical repairs that help you save money in the long run.
          "They're good. They've always been good" - David Shaw.

          Well, because he thought it was good sport. Because some men aren't looking for anything logical, like money. They can't be bought, bullied, reasoned, or negotiated with. Some men just want to watch the world burn.

            Comment

            • UtahDan
              *
              • Nov 2008
              • 14496
              #4
              Originally posted by DrumNFeather View Post
              If you are in Lehi...

              http://www.garrinsauto.com/
              Seconded. This is our cousin's husband and a stand up guy based on our experiences with him.

                Comment

                • Scott R Nelson
                  UofU/BYU mixed marriage
                  • Apr 2010
                  • 1508
                  #5
                  I had a great motorcycle mechanic to work on my Ducatis. The second time I caught the local dealer lying to me about something, I decided I wasn't going back there ever again, even to look at their bikes. (The owner was later jailed for arson when the place burned up.) I had heard of an independent mechanic that specialize in Ducatis and it was so refreshing to stop in there where they were willing to discuss any issues that I had, didn't try to sell me anything more expensive, and even offered hints on ways to save money. They were way more knowledgeable than the mechanics at the dealers. I was a repeat customer there until I moved away. I could have learned to do some of the work myself, but enjoyed taking the bikes there enough that I was always happy to give them my business.

                  For cars, I had quite a few places in Pleasanton on my list of "won't ever go back there". When a shop lies to you about something, it's best to avoid them.

                  I finally found a place in neighboring Dublin that I could trust, even though they were a bit more expensive. I stuck with them until the owner sold the shop to someone else, then after one visit I didn't feel like I needed to keep going back. They didn't do anything wrong, but hadn't proven themselves. At that point I only had cars that I had purchased new, so stuck with the dealers for those.

                  I sent my daughter to a mechanic that I hadn't actually used - where I used to buy gas - and he seemed trustworthy. I would go there if I didn't live 100 miles away.

                  Currently, I have some experience with the local Ford and VW dealers. I'm okay with the Ford dealer, but will NEVER visit the VW dealer again. They're expensive and left grease and scratches all over the inside of my wife's car, then we couldn't get anybody there to talk to us about it.

                  I still have to find a local mechanic that I can trust.

                    Comment

                    • Devildog
                      Motor Boatin' SOB
                      • Oct 2010
                      • 1239
                      #6
                      The most dependable, fair, and honest (American brand) motorcycle mechanic I have found in SLC calls his shop Dirty Rat Motorcycles.

                      The mechanic/owner has a long devil beard, tattoos all over his arms down to his knuckles, and he rides a bike (heavily modified Harley Fat Boy) that looks like it came out of Mad Max.

                      The shop always has a few 1%ers and other assorted hard-core bikers hangin' around.

                      This guy has dyno tuned my bike twice, each time after adding performance upgrades.

                      He was fair and reasonable on the prices, fast, and really knows his business.

                      Judging by the clientele.... He would have to, mistakes or screwing of the customers would probably result in a stabbing or assault.
                      "We should remember that one man is much the same as another, and that he is best who is trained in the severest school."
                      -Thucydides

                      "Study strategy over the years and achieve the spirit of the warrior. Today is victory over yourself of yesterday; tomorrow is your victory over lesser men."
                      -Miyamoto Musashi

                      Si vis pacem, para bellum

                        Comment

                        • falafel
                          loves to talk on things
                          • Mar 2009
                          • 38010
                          #7
                          Sounds like the Utah charter of the SoA.
                          Ain't it like most people, I'm no different. We love to talk on things we don't know about.

                          Dig your own grave, and save!

                          "The only one of us who is so significant that Jeff owes us something simply because he decided to grace us with his presence is falafel." -- All-American

                          "I know that you are one of the cool and 'edgy' BYU fans" -- Wally

                          GIVE 'EM HELL, BRIGHAM!

                            Comment

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