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PD Moderator	Message Posted: Jan 30, 2012 2:55:44 PM Ignore PD Report Abuse There's plenty of competition for your auto repair business and that's something to always keep in mind if you're shopping around for the best deal. 1) The most important thing to do is find out what your regular repair shop will charge you, and, how much flexibility is in their price. Is there a frequent customer discount? Some places allow you to pre-pay for oil changes and tire rotations for the entire year and you can gain a significant discount in the process. CarMD.com recommends that you "beware of premium coupons that throw in a lot of extras. If you don't need the work done even the best discount package isn't worth it." Also, ask your regular repair shop if you can sign up to receive information... Visit GasBuddy Blog for full article

Moderator

Message Posted: Jan 30, 2012 2:55:44 PM

Ignore PD Report Abuse

There's plenty of competition for your auto repair business and that's something to always keep in mind if you're shopping around for the best deal.

1) The most important thing to do is find out what your regular repair shop will charge you, and, how much flexibility is in their price. Is there a frequent customer discount? Some places allow you to pre-pay for oil changes and tire rotations for the entire year and you can gain a significant discount in the process. CarMD.com recommends that you "beware of premium coupons that throw in a lot of extras. If you don't need the work done even the best discount package isn't worth it."

Also, ask your regular repair shop if you can sign up to receive information...

Visit GasBuddy Blog for full article

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WanderDan All-Star Author Dayton Posts:585 Points:142,710 Joined:Nov 2012	Message Posted: Apr 25, 2013 11:33:22 PM Ignore WanderDan Report Abuse no longer news when this old
panteraone Rookie Author Texas Posts:22 Points:235,240 Joined:Jun 2012	Message Posted: Apr 25, 2013 10:58:39 PM Ignore panteraone Report Abuse take care of your maintenance on you car. its a lot cheaper in the long run
Donatelo Champion Author Dayton Posts:1,121 Points:292,685 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Apr 24, 2013 10:19:43 AM Ignore Donatelo Report Abuse do repairs that you can do. insist on watching work being done and insist on getting old removed parts back.
99dakota Champion Author Providence Posts:8,107 Points:2,172,025 Joined:Oct 2006	Message Posted: Apr 24, 2013 6:41:30 AM Ignore 99dakota Report Abuse Do the repair yourself.
priver Veteran Author Alberta Posts:403 Points:34,185 Joined:Apr 2013	Message Posted: Apr 22, 2013 8:43:17 PM Ignore priver Report Abuse take the bus.
DeeLA Champion Author Los Angeles Posts:4,807 Points:1,363,380 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Apr 22, 2013 3:48:53 PM Ignore DeeLA Report Abuse Good Ideas. Thanks.
WanderDan All-Star Author Dayton Posts:585 Points:142,710 Joined:Nov 2012	Message Posted: Apr 18, 2013 9:20:00 AM Ignore WanderDan Report Abuse old news
priver Veteran Author Alberta Posts:403 Points:34,185 Joined:Apr 2013	Message Posted: Apr 18, 2013 9:05:31 AM Ignore priver Report Abuse only way to save, Take the BUS!!
priver Veteran Author Alberta Posts:403 Points:34,185 Joined:Apr 2013	Message Posted: Apr 7, 2013 11:40:50 PM Ignore priver Report Abuse that is why theyre called "stealerships"
99dakota Champion Author Providence Posts:8,107 Points:2,172,025 Joined:Oct 2006	Message Posted: Apr 6, 2013 10:39:01 PM Ignore 99dakota Report Abuse do them yourself
kiosk12y Champion Author Tulsa Posts:3,614 Points:680,460 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Apr 5, 2013 7:19:58 AM Ignore kiosk12y Report Abuse keep oil changed...
unicornIL Veteran Author Chicago Posts:446 Points:384,945 Joined:Jan 2012	Message Posted: Apr 3, 2013 9:03:35 PM Ignore unicornIL Report Abuse customer loyalty does pay off with some shops
TopTierFuel Rookie Author Boston Posts:9 Points:62,430 Joined:Jul 2012	Message Posted: Apr 3, 2013 9:20:09 AM Ignore TopTierFuel Report Abuse There is only one way to save on repairs. Do proper preventive maintenance instead of ignoring the symptoms or your mechanics advice. Whether you do the work yourself, go to the neighborhood mechanic, the dealer or whatever it will cost you whatever it costs. But do not turn a small job into a bigger one. Replace front pads $135 before you need rotors $325 and up Get an alignment $65 before you wear out tires $300 and up Repair exhaust rattle $50 before exhaust falls down $$$$$ Get oil changes $35 each before serious problems come up $$$$$ The list goes on and on. One more thing. Find someone you trust and get all the work possible done there. If they do not do alignments, inspections or whatever only then go somewhere else for those things. If you get your tires at shop A, oil changes at shop B, repairs at shop C and shop D. You will lose out in the end.
SmartShopper520 Veteran Author Ontario Posts:498 Points:72,145 Joined:Feb 2013	Message Posted: Apr 3, 2013 8:52:32 AM Ignore SmartShopper520 Report Abuse Canadian Rookie gb grandma is leary of our Chevy dealership and, I am presently looking for an honest auto technician whom will treat us fairly.
Tommyguns45 Sophomore Author Illinois Posts:214 Points:132,045 Joined:Feb 2012	Message Posted: Apr 3, 2013 8:49:12 AM Ignore Tommyguns45 Report Abuse One way is demand a oil change for only $10 long as you own the car and a free drive thru car wash during week days. My wife gets that at the Danville Toyota which has their own car wash. Saves allot of money on oil changes and washes. Thr Dealership is actually in Tilton. They moved here since Tilton has no city real estate tax as Danville does.
Vette1967 Champion Author Albany Posts:5,962 Points:1,275,025 Joined:Jun 2009	Message Posted: Apr 3, 2013 1:27:06 AM Ignore Vette1967 Report Abuse One way is to ride a bike.
wmiller8 Rookie Author Nashville Posts:71 Points:68,020 Joined:Oct 2011	Message Posted: Apr 1, 2013 5:10:22 PM Ignore wmiller8 Report Abuse Ask for a company vehicle in order to lower your personal expenses.
DADDYBGG Champion Author Oklahoma City Posts:2,839 Points:638,640 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: Mar 31, 2013 6:20:40 PM Ignore DADDYBGG Report Abuse dont drive
gwhizz13 Veteran Author Abbotsford Posts:343 Points:41,870 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Mar 31, 2013 4:51:08 PM Ignore gwhizz13 Report Abuse Yes I have a trustworthy mechanic, I don't trust them at the dealership!
WanderDan All-Star Author Dayton Posts:585 Points:142,710 Joined:Nov 2012	Message Posted: Mar 31, 2013 4:25:00 PM Ignore WanderDan Report Abuse find a mechanic you trust or do what you can yourself
xbAG Veteran Author California Posts:387 Points:211,240 Joined:Jan 2012	Message Posted: Mar 29, 2013 6:05:08 PM Ignore xbAG Report Abuse My adult son (46) does the minor stuff, oil change etc. He tells me if I need to go to a shop.
pawnkingfour All-Star Author Georgia Posts:556 Points:140,565 Joined:Dec 2011	Message Posted: Mar 27, 2013 10:03:27 PM Ignore pawnkingfour Report Abuse Car dealer repair shop will charge you an "arm and a leg".
WanderDan All-Star Author Dayton Posts:585 Points:142,710 Joined:Nov 2012	Message Posted: Mar 27, 2013 8:16:30 PM Ignore WanderDan Report Abuse trust no dealerships.. their job is to rob you when you buy their car, fix their car and sell them your car
jrfan6767 Veteran Author Kansas Posts:393 Points:40,795 Joined:Mar 2013	Message Posted: Mar 27, 2013 9:00:31 AM Ignore jrfan6767 Report Abuse you can save yourself a lot of money by learning to do things yourself
99dakota Champion Author Providence Posts:8,107 Points:2,172,025 Joined:Oct 2006	Message Posted: Mar 27, 2013 5:22:15 AM Ignore 99dakota Report Abuse The most effective way to save is by learning how to do the repairs by yourself.
maroonandwhite Sophomore Author Mississippi Posts:117 Points:271,095 Joined:May 2012	Message Posted: Mar 26, 2013 2:26:10 AM Ignore maroonandwhite Report Abuse Get several bids on the job.
mabrams184 Champion Author Lexington Posts:2,100 Points:533,060 Joined:Aug 2011	Message Posted: Mar 20, 2013 4:30:02 PM Ignore mabrams184 Report Abuse Yep, yep.
BDNNOD Sophomore Author Seattle Posts:119 Points:44,740 Joined:Mar 2013	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2013 6:52:07 PM Ignore BDNNOD Report Abuse I LIKE USING THE OLD-BOYS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. THEY STAY UP ON THE NEW MODELS BY HIRING THE YOUNG MECHANICS RIGHT OUT OF SCHOOL, AND KEEP THE LOCAL ECONOMY IN CHECK WITH BETTER PRICES AND MORE JOBS FOR THE LOCALS.
WanderDan All-Star Author Dayton Posts:585 Points:142,710 Joined:Nov 2012	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2013 6:15:34 PM Ignore WanderDan Report Abuse best way is to find an honest mechanic.. that can be tricky..
davisadm All-Star Author Los Angeles Posts:562 Points:408,650 Joined:Dec 2011	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2013 11:01:14 AM Ignore davisadm Report Abuse None of my cars have been in a shop except for warranty work. I do all maintenance / repairs myself
MiataPrincess All-Star Author Des Moines Posts:609 Points:98,875 Joined:Feb 2013	Message Posted: Mar 15, 2013 9:56:31 AM Ignore MiataPrincess Report Abuse there is a mechanic in the family..yea
akitaone Champion Author Tampa Posts:1,342 Points:88,995 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Mar 14, 2013 10:08:42 PM Ignore akitaone Report Abuse uh huh sure
lesandliz Sophomore Author New Orleans Posts:190 Points:351,375 Joined:Aug 2011	Message Posted: Mar 14, 2013 8:22:01 PM Ignore lesandliz Report Abuse Easy I do my own repairs...
WanderDan All-Star Author Dayton Posts:585 Points:142,710 Joined:Nov 2012	Message Posted: Mar 14, 2013 2:59:43 AM Ignore WanderDan Report Abuse old
Gas4Gore Champion Author Detroit Posts:2,411 Points:421,925 Joined:Jan 2010	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2013 11:23:36 PM Ignore Gas4Gore Report Abuse Goodie.
WanderDan All-Star Author Dayton Posts:585 Points:142,710 Joined:Nov 2012	Message Posted: Mar 12, 2013 11:06:05 PM Ignore WanderDan Report Abuse old
bthor76 Rookie Author New Orleans Posts:64 Points:10,025 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2013 7:39:39 PM Ignore bthor76 Report Abuse I do most of my own repairs on both my small truck (Diesel F250) and my larger truck (Cat Diesel F650) but there some things on that large diesel that I just don't know enough about so I get a qualified shop to do that work. Are they screwing me? I don't think so but overcharged a bit...I think so. It goes with the territory for commercial vehicles. I use two different shops to spread my repair dollar.
WanderDan All-Star Author Dayton Posts:585 Points:142,710 Joined:Nov 2012	Message Posted: Mar 4, 2013 11:59:56 PM Ignore WanderDan Report Abuse good
Donatelo Champion Author Dayton Posts:1,121 Points:292,685 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Mar 4, 2013 4:03:58 PM Ignore Donatelo Report Abuse One way is to have them save all the old parts removed, and show you where the needed repairs are, and ask for cash discounts.
WanderDan All-Star Author Dayton Posts:585 Points:142,710 Joined:Nov 2012	Message Posted: Mar 3, 2013 11:15:58 PM Ignore WanderDan Report Abuse an honest mechanic is almost as rare as an honest politician lol
minookaband Rookie Author Illinois Posts:94 Points:18,470 Joined:Dec 2012	Message Posted: Mar 3, 2013 4:54:32 PM Ignore minookaband Report Abuse be careful not to buy something you DO NOT NEED!
swampman Rookie Author Ontario Posts:79 Points:506,155 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Mar 3, 2013 3:16:35 PM Ignore swampman Report Abuse What I can not do myself, the mechanic that I have been going to for the last 20 years gets the job.
phpearso Sophomore Author Indiana Posts:109 Points:135,270 Joined:Mar 2004	Message Posted: Mar 2, 2013 2:15:43 AM Ignore phpearso Report Abuse Yeah, I have been ripped off before so I do a lot of my own work, or find an honest mechanic by word of mouth.
umbluegray Veteran Author Memphis Posts:294 Points:111,295 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Feb 28, 2013 11:51:47 PM Ignore umbluegray Report Abuse My LED odometer went out on my instrument cluster (2003 Buick Regal). Found a video on YouTube explaining step-by-step how to fix the problem. Solder 4 150-ohm resistors on circuit board. This past weekend I spent $18 on resistors, solder and a new soldering iron. Fixed it in under 2 hours. Out of curiosity I called a local Buick dealership for quotes. Service Department: $550-600 Parts Department: $375 Radio Shack: $18
Donatelo Champion Author Dayton Posts:1,121 Points:292,685 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Feb 27, 2013 6:53:42 PM Ignore Donatelo Report Abuse and tell them you want your old peplaced parts back in a bag. i insist from now on they do this. or they could charge you for a part they did not replace. it is awful we have to watch out for things like that.
csh7586 Champion Author Wilmington Posts:4,782 Points:847,970 Joined:Dec 2010	Message Posted: Feb 26, 2013 7:22:52 PM Ignore csh7586 Report Abuse routine maintenance by me. major servicing at a trusted mechanic.
RLSearsIN All-Star Author Indiana Posts:830 Points:96,590 Joined:Feb 2012	Message Posted: Feb 28, 2012 3:43:45 PM Ignore RLSearsIN Report Abuse It only makes sense to keep up on the maintenance to prevent engine problems as much as possible.
Duke69 Champion Author Raleigh Posts:7,970 Points:1,914,275 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: Feb 23, 2012 2:40:32 AM Ignore Duke69 Report Abuse Don't drive
Grizzy227 Champion Author Pennsylvania Posts:1,796 Points:485,125 Joined:Nov 2010	Message Posted: Feb 22, 2012 9:34:19 AM Ignore Grizzy227 Report Abuse I handle minor repairs to my cars.
chrisg55 Rookie Author Indiana Posts:46 Points:10,770 Joined:Feb 2012	Message Posted: Feb 16, 2012 10:59:21 PM Ignore chrisg55 Report Abuse Good Ideas