Sunday, January 8, 2012

Finally caught a break


After 19 1/2 years of marriage we finally caught a break.  We FINALLY found an honest mechanic that actually cares about really fixing your vehicle.

Here's our story:

For years we have gone to all the big brand name shops to get our vehicles fixed,ie: Toyota, Chevy, Boubin, Linder (just to name a few).  After almost every oil change we are given a list of "Needed repairs".  Sound familiar?  I'm sure you've been through this too if you have a vehicle older than 2 years. In January of 2011 we were told by Boubin that we needed around $1600 worth of repairs done, that these things couldn't wait.  We believed them, but didn't have the money and this time we waited and hoped nothing would happen. In the early summer of this year I met a new friend who always takes her vehicles to "awesome mechanic". I listened to her stories of getting a great deal, but didn't go at first.  Why, I don't know.  Then after realizing that we really should get the repairs done that were on that list, I finally went to "awesome mechanic".  I showed him the list of repairs that Boubin said we would need done.

He could have agreed with the list and scheduled all the repairs for we didn't know better.  Instead he was honest, went through the list one by one and explained each thing, then would say things like this:

Oh this could wait another year, this doesn't need done at all, not sure why they checked this, this does need done, but you still have another 6 months, etc. through the list.  NOT one thing needed done yet and this was 6 months after we had Boubin check it all out.  The one thing that was super important was our Fuel Intake Gaskets.  Those needed replaced for they were leaking.

Boubin's price to get just this repair done was $987.79

Our "awesome mechanic" said he could do the repair for less than $500 so we agreed that after saving up money that we really needed to get this done since it was now 1 year since Boubin said we needed to do this.

We scheduled the repair and at the same time also needed a passenger side outside mirror replaced that had been smashed out.  Additionally, our inside panel of our passenger door was bent out and getting stuck so we couldn't open the door.  It was because the clips on the inside of the panel were broken and it was next to impossible to open the passenger door.

After bringing our van to "awesome mechanic" he said that all three of those repairs would be $450

He had the van for just over a day because he said the repair of the intake gaskets would take a little while.

While he was working with our van he noticed a break light was out and fixed it, he also noticed our wiper blades were in much need of repair and he replaced them, he also noticed our tires needed rotated and he rotated them and he checked out a few other things that I asked him to check. He also did an oil change (because when you get the intake gaskets redone you have to have an oil change with it)

He still insisted on only $450 for this entire repair, even though he had done at least 3 extra things that had parts and labor.

I was in shock and couldn't believe how nice he was to not only do all these things, but to still charge the lower amount.

We saved at least $550 to $600 by going to him instead of a big brand name shop and "awesome mechanic" went above and beyond in his repair.  When we picked up our van he explained everything he did, opened the engine and showed us everything, continued to explain everything so we understood all that he had worked on.

Even if you live far away from Iowa City, you should consider making the drive here the next time you need a massive repair done to go to our "awesome mechanic", because not only will you get to visit our family, but you will get the repair done by an honest person who is not trying to steal all your money away, and you will save hundreds maybe even thousands of dollars.

If you want his name and number send me a message.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Wow! I am completley impressed here! Honest, fair & reasonable people DO exist...they just aren't that easy to find unfortuantely.

Dave and Tana said...

Nothing like finding a good honest mechanic... we got one here and it sure is a blessing.

The Duke said...

We occasionally find one like that and we remain loyal to them. I'm so glad you have found someone you can trust who will help keep your vehicles running in good repair! Awesome!

Nicole and Brent Prime said...

Nice. It takes us a little bit, but we have been lucky to find a good mechanic too.