I think there was a thread while back on this.

Looking for reliable and trustworthy mechanic, for oil changes and minor stuff on car as it ages (tune ups and such)

We all know most mechanics love to give run arounds and bull****.

If anyone knows someone honest that doesn't charge an arm and a leg, and not a bull****ter.


And.... GO!

Well Thanks Lattimer! 😂

I'm a fan of Tony's Auto Repair on Decatur.

I always go to the dealership.

That seems like the worst option. Or at least the most expensive. You can find an independent shop. One where you can talk to the guy actually doing the repairs. If they have a "service manager" usually your critical info gets lost in translation.

I always use the dealership as well. Yes, it's likely the most expensive way, but at least I know they use the right parts and do the work correctly. Safety matters when it comes to your car, pay a few more dollars and get the work done right.

It depends on what you're getting done. If you have an ordinary car and getting ordinary work done, like new brakes, etc, you should be able to find a shop via google and yelp reviews. Some things, like the weird clutches on my car, require a lot of special tools to change. Most small shops aren't going to buy those, and a dealer might be the best place to go.

Basic stuff, oil changes, brakes, tire pressure warning light reset, and possibly a tube up.
2011 Lexus IS.

You can probably google how to reset the tire warning yourself. The rest is not rocket surgery and a shop that gets good reviews should be able to do it. Join a lexus forum or two and ask around too.

For this kind of stuff, I just go to a Walmart auto center, it's all simple stuff, and they only do that kind of stuff not hardcore mechanical work. So they aren't going to "find" anything else wrong on your car that "needs to be fixed" and "take care of it for you" to the tune of another $300-$500 if you know what I'm saying.

For 29.99 they do oil change, check + fill all fluids (wiper fluid, power steering, etc), vacuum your car carpets, check and fill tire pressure, a couple other things too I think. (If you want strictly an oil change without the extras its 10$ less)

If you bump in another 10 bucks they also clean your fuel injection system. (not even really sure what that means)

But yeah, for small stuff like this Walmart has always been my go to.

I have nothing but bad experiences using "real mechanics"

Just be aware that Walmart pays about as low as anyone does to do mechanic work, and have some of the stupidest people ever to hold a wrench working there. You might get lucky and only the smarter ones will work on your car on any given day, but on another day...

Ted Weins on Sunset near Eastern.

They've worked on a Volvo, a MB, and a Mustang for me. They do not seem to oversell anything, do not "find" extras, minimize your out of pocket and are willing to explain items. ..... consistently for the last 8 years.

There are some things they can't/won't due on a Volvo or Mercedes, but most items they do quickly.

The vehicles run well enough, which is my standard for judging work.

I used Ted Weins on on Blue Diamond a few months ago for an alignment. Three days before that I was at Valvoline and had my oil changed. Ted Weins calls me and says that my oil is dirty and I need an oil change. I tell them wow really I am in the area let me come by and look at it. I walk in ask for the manager with my Valvoline receipt in hand and they say oh I am sorry we confused your car with someone else.

Brakemasters is good for basic stuff.

Much would depend on the vehicle in question...as well as the dealership, since some are good and some are not. A good service writer that has the ability to wave the magic wand over the bill or get a loaner approved where a vehicle is out of warranty is worth their weight in gold.

I'll take the Miata to a small local performance shop but the Jags go to one specific dealership that, if they ever lost the service writer I prefer, would not be the shop of choice.

Pretty sure are they just dumping in a fuel injection cleaner like this to your gas tank.

Ask, neighbors or coworkers. If there's someone that seems they like they aren't idiots and they have a track record with a certain mechanic they like that's how I have always found mechanics.

Sorry not in Vegas but my mechanic I found through a neighbors recommendation 10 years ago as a bonus owns a good Thai restaurant he told me about that I really like. I believe he also owns a sort of shady looking Thai massage place which he doesn't talk about, however he might be laundering massage place money through mechanic and restaurant and therefore giving good deals on those services.

I guess what I'm saying is ask the guys at Chada Thai for a good mechanic recommendation.

I believe they do something similar to that + more, but even for just that it's still a reasonable price, a bottle of that sort of stuff alone is 8-12 bucks.

Agreed.

I just walk out into the garage... I do all my own work. It's the only way.

Maybe you start booking appointments for people in this thread (half joking) ^^^^

Vegas is very tough to find a decent mechanic

I offered to do gobbos brakes... because the last time we got together we had a $850+ Kabuto sushi bill... but its not like I don't have anything else to do in my life.

Schu can't even be bothered to rock out at Pixies with me and Jstarda9.

Just giving you a hard time dude, but the show was awesome and you were missed!