Car Mechanic Recommendations?

[chris_s]

I don’t have personal experience with them, but International Auto Repair is extremely well rated on Consumer Checkbook and very close to Shirlington.

International Auto Repair
3800 S Four Mile Run Dr #F
Arlington, VA 22206
703-671-4385

[Dirt]

What kind of car is it?

[Arlingtonrider]

Funny – i just went to Currys and they told me the same thing (1995 car). I had the cracked lines replaced, but not all the work you mentioned. Where did you take yours? In general, I’ve been very happy with Currys.

[AlexBikeCommute]

Car repairs and good mechanic recommendations are tricky… but, we recently had to get a few things done to our car, and after using Angie’s List we decided on Greg’s Automotive, both because of the great reviews and also because it’s less than a mile from our house. Our experience was very positive, however, I do caution that I’ve only used them once.

Greg’s Automotive (near Del Ray)
http://www.gregsautomotiveservice.com
3507 Mount Vernon Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22305
(703) 549-8999

[SpokeGrenadeSR]

@Dirt 19686 wrote:

What kind of car is it?

2001 ford escape xlt with 178,000 miles on it haha.
this was their assessment..well, what i could copy down from the phone convo we had when he said it all.

Brake hoses are severely cracked
Brake master cylinder leaking
Front left brake caliper is frozen/sticking
Rotors in the front are rusted out
Parking/Emergency brake cable on the right is frozen as well
Rear brake drums are bad, especially the right one.
Left front, inner and outer tie rods
Rear shocks/struts are leaking
Air bag light’s on
Rear axle differential is leaking

Brake repairs only $2,500
-Hoses alone are $650
Inner tie rods $400

…and they said there seems to be more problems elsewhere

Kathy, it was Wiygul Automotive in Herndon (I work there occasionally).

Thank you Kathy, Alex, and Chris, I’ll definitely look all of them up. A friend of mine also recommended Circle Auto Repair in Fairfax.

[rcannon100]

Baird Automotive in Clarendon. Guy is fantastic. And the guy is a cyclist.

I have repeatedly been told by garages and by my dealership, “you need this expensive thing done.” Go to Baird. Baird says nope, you just need X done. And he does the work for a fraction of the cost. He does not do unnecessary, rack up the bills, work. His work is quality. He will keep at it until it is right (I had a problem with my AC that took a couple of tries, but he was persistent…. and fixed it without replacing the whole system which was the standard recommendation). Been going to him for years. Baird is also near the metro / Custis making it easy to drop the car.

[Dirt]

@Arlingtonrider 19689 wrote:

Funny – i just went to Currys and they told me the same thing (1995 car). I had the cracked lines replaced, but not all the work you mentioned. Where did you take yours? In general, I’ve been very happy with Currys.

I had good luck with Curry’s for a few years then they went COMPLETELY OFF THE DEEP END! We haven’t taken my wife’s car there in 4 years and we’re still finding stuff they did wrong… things that we’re having to pay to get fixed elsewhere. I wouldn’t suggest anyone take their car there unless I really disliked them or their car.

Wow! I thought I was over being mad about Curry’s. I guess I’m not. I obviously am not drinking enough hard liquor. Have to fix that.

Love,

Dirt.

[Arlingtonrider]

It might depend on the manager and mechanics at the location you go to, although it doesn’t speak well for the company as a whole if you had that experience. I almost always get a follow up call from Currys afterwards asking how the service was. They’ve done very well by me at the Four Mile Run location, but they have had some personnel changes recently.

[SteveTheTech]

Oh no it is one of these questions again.

It is true that at some point in the lives of many automobiles they require expensive repairs. However who you choose to service it makes a huge difference in how the car acts afterwards. Yes going to an aftermarket facility like Midas or Currys can yeild great results at a significantly discounted rate but there are tools and proceedures these shops do not have access and they might just interpret the information incorrectly and make false recommendatation…even if there intentions are sound. The dealership is not always a perfect situation either, the labor rates are a fair amount higher and parts are also a bit more expensive. With that you get a few perks but to some that does not offset the cost.
Now I feel I must qualify that statement with a little bit of my background. I have been a luxury dealer tech for almost a decade now, prior to that I worked in an independant shop for several years. I started out way at the bottom…literally in the pit of a Jiffy Lube in southern Massachusetts. I’ve seen a lot and learned a lot over the years, and I still don’t have the magic answer to this question. I’ve seen good and bad happen in all facilities.

Finding a truly honest competent auto repair technician is getting harder and harder these days with advancement in computer controlled systems and lower cost OE parts the life span and replacement requirements vary wildly not just from brand to brand but model to model. This is really a place where trusting the person selling you things is not enough. You really need to do your own homework, the internet makes tracing common concerns and seeing what others are doing as far as repairs for almost every type of concern go.

As far as a non dealer recommendation. I have a great friend who is the manager of several of the VA area Goodyear stores and spent the first few years in the DC area working in their McLean store. I would feel comfortable recommending them to just about anyone.

@SpokeGrenadeSR 19681 wrote:

Hey everyone,

I dropped my car at a mechanic yesterday to have them look at my right rear brake, they looked around and said I need a whole new brake system and then some after naming off a bunch of leaking/rusting/fusing parts. As I was leaving I said I’d have to donate the car or something because it’s not worth it to replace everything, and one of the mechanics offered my $1000 for it.
SO!
I don’t know if they inflated the issues to get an easy-to-flip car, or if my “Brake lines are severely cracked” and I could have no brakes at any moment.

Does anyone have a mechanic in the arlington/alexandria/DC area that they could recommend to me? I live in Shirlington specifically so the closer the better.

Thank you!!

It doesn’t sound like your Ford is aging all that well. Have you had it regularly service over the course of its’ life until now?
Have they warned you these items were aging and will require replacement?

@Dirt 19710 wrote:

I had good luck with Curry’s for a few years then they went COMPLETELY OFF THE DEEP END! We haven’t taken my wife’s car there in 4 years and we’re still finding stuff they did wrong… things that we’re having to pay to get fixed elsewhere. I wouldn’t suggest anyone take their car there unless I really disliked them or their car.

Wow! I thought I was over being mad about Curry’s. I guess I’m not. I obviously am not drinking enough hard liquor. Have to fix that.

…

I see issues like this a few times a week on average these things happen and end up causing more headaches for everyone involved. It almost doesn’t matter where you go what is a true test of a service facility is how they treat you when something doesn’t go right. A national chain at least has an 800 number you can call and complain to, the same goes for dealers. Make sure you have a warranty in writing for any service or repair performed and always keep your copy of the repair order.

If you are ever in doubt before making an investment in your vehicle get a second opinion. When it comes to brakes, tires, and steering however waiting is almost never a good option. Please consider the items that keep you stuck to the road, going straight, and stopping not only effect the safety of everyone in your car but the people in the other cars and bike lanes you pass on a regular basis.

I’d start buy looking online at model specific forums for the exact problem you are dealing with, if it is indeed a known concern you may want to speak to the dealer. Having them perform an oil change will typically cover an inspection that should go front to back on basic items….if the car is in as rough a condition as they claim talk to the advisor and have them give you an opinion. I know I have had to break some very bad news to some owners about the decreased life expectancy of what was at one point a very safe and reliable vehicle.

[eminva]

@SteveTheTech 19741 wrote:

Oh no it is one of these questions again.

I don’t really have anything to add here, but Steve, I am going to be in the market for a new car in a couple of years and I think I need to start buttering you up because you could obviously be a great help in the selection process. . . . .

Liz

[SpokeGrenadeSR]

@SteveTheTech 19741 wrote:

It doesn’t sound like your Ford is aging all that well. Have you had it regularly service over the course of its’ life until now?
Have they warned you these items were aging and will require replacement?

the truck is usually in NY and my family has a mechanic that they trust there and have been dealing with for many years. we do the regular maintenance thing and often have no issues with the mechanic. the truck is more than a decade old and spent 75% it’s life/miles driving over two mountain ranges twice a day. the jury is still out for me though with regards to the ‘family mechanic’ because one of his guys had looked at the rear brake in January when I said it was grinding (exactly the same thing i asked these wiygul guys to do), and they didn’t mention any of these issues. it’s not like we expect it to live for more than a year or two more though. and i won’t need a car as i tour this summer and then finish my last year of school. so it wouldnt be a noticeable loss to be honest.

also, i ended up taking it to baird this afternoon. that guy is definitely built like a cyclist, probably didnt even have to tell me and i wouldve known.

[dbb]

I got the name of Automotive Express (mechanic’s name is Ed Glattnick) from a friend. They are in a different part of the building at 3800 South Four Mile Run in Shirlington (that building is home to several shops). Phone is 703-671-7381.

They replaced the tensioner on the timing belt (or something like that) of my 1994 pickup. They were open, reasonably priced, and explained what they were doing. I was quite satisfied and will now take my cars to them.

[JeffC]

It is a bit farther away than you listed but my wife and I have been taking our two Hondas to Tysons Auto Specialties for several years now. They get great reviews on Google and Yelp.

http://maps.google.com/maps/place?hl=en&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.,cf.osb&biw=1152&bih=712&wrapid=tlif133725916449310&safe=active&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=tysons+automotive+specialties&fb=1&gl=us&hq=tysons+automotive+specialties&cid=11461793132211398385&ei=pfS0T9ePMYym8gTE1JD7Dw&sa=X&oi=local_result&ct=placepage-link&resnum=1&ved=0CGMQ4gkwAA

Wow, how can a 2001 car have 170000 miles. How much biking do you really do? My 1999 Honda has 82000 miles. Last year we put 3000 miles on it while doing 2100 on my two bikes.

[SteveTheTech]

@eminva 19746 wrote:

I don’t really have anything to add here, but Steve, I am going to be in the market for a new car in a couple of years and I think I need to start buttering you up because you could obviously be a great help in the selection process. . . . .

Liz

Shoot me an email, I enjoy helping people find the right car for their needs. I also really don’t care for/distrust most salemen so if I can help make one of them work for their money it is completely worth it to me.

nicostevethetech@gmail.com

@SpokeGrenadeSR 19785 wrote:

the truck is usually in NY and my family has a mechanic that they trust there and have been dealing with for many years. we do the regular maintenance thing and often have no issues with the mechanic. the truck is more than a decade old and spent 75% it’s life/miles driving over two mountain ranges twice a day….

So it sounds like you have for the most part taken almost as much value from that car as it has to offer. It may well be on barrowed time. I got my start working on cars up north and their life expectancy (especially on domestics) is considerably shorter than we typically see here in the mid Atlantic.
If you are just trying to kick the can down the road for a year or two max than you should be able to find someone to keep it going for you. Not running like new but running safely for a reasonable investment.

[Author]

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