Quick Lube Places / Mechanic Recomendations

[Ace]

Car oil is the most annoying thing ever! You would think that somebody could build a car that doesn't eventually start leaking oil...

Anyway, Im looking for people to recommend a real good quick lube place I can start going to, i'm sick of going to the following two places:

Place 1 - Filled with a bunch of high school drop outs who are making 10.50 per hour, and try to tell me that such and such a part is broken - that has absolutly nothing to do with the oil change - and miraculously they have some way of fixing it for $119.99, by playing with the fluids.

Place 2 - Every car that pulls in "Badly Needs" a transmission flush and fuel service. ... Ummm can you just change my oil and get me out of here. I'm really not convinced when I hear the staff competing with each other on howmany "upsells" they had that day.

I've only found one shop in Calgary that I like going to as I don't usually get the run around, and that is minuit lube in crowfoot. Unfortunatly the other location on 16th ave seems to be like the places I just described. I find that the crowfoot location is just not very convienent for me any more and I need some more options.

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I had a great mechanic who was licensed worked for 20+ years, and used to teach in the profession. It was great: perfect repairs, good price, and worked out of his Garrage which obviously kept his overhead low. Unfortunatly he moved, and my experiment with other shops has been a bust. Does anybody have a good recommendation on a qualified local Mechanic that has a reasonable hourly rate?

[Aeneas]

I do have a recomendation, however he is in the deep SE, sounds like you are NW. He is a good friend, does good honest work.

[Dion]

I go to my local Ford dealership to get my oil changes. Great service and non of the pushy up sells that quick lube places offer. I make an appointment for first thing in the morning and it's done in 20 minutes.

Can't help you on the mechanic. Although you might want to quiz friends, neighbors, and co workers as to where they get their cars fixed.

[Dan02]

Is saying no to a upsell really that hard

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by Dan02

Is saying no to a upsell really that hard

In the world of auto mechanics; it can be. I know enough about cars to do my own oil changes, and simple things like changing brakes and spark plugs. So I know enough to be able to say no. But there are others out there who may not know if they can indeed make it home without the Framrod fluid getting changed; or if they really can wait until next month to have the fizmotron recombobulated.

I have also had a mechanic upsell me on getting transmission seals replaced, and when I declined they drained half the fluid from the transmission. Now, I can't prove this; but 50 km later I needed 4 litres, and 2000 km after that I was still full. And in the 120,000 km since then I've added 1.5 litres.

What I do- find a dealership downtown that you like, and book an appointment. That way it costs you a few bucks more than a quick place, but you also get free parking for the day.

Another place I have used is the Midas on MacLeod and 42nd. They were surprisingly cheap, and good to deal with. They did also quote me on new tires; but suggested I could use my current ones for another 10,000 km. (ie- not a hard sell.)

[burn_baby_burn]

If you want to keep from getting ripped off. Know your vehicle. I realize not every person is a mechanic. But you can keep track of the maintenance of your vehicle. Your owners manual will have manufacture recommendations for oil changes, coolant changes, transmission fluid changes. If your aware of the interval and you keep records of what maintenance you had done at what milage. You'll know if your vehicle needs it or not. If it needs it, and you decide you don't want to pay for it. Thats fine. But remember, its pay now, or pay a whole lot later when your tranny falls out.

I understand what your saying. The place I normally go to, increased their rates by 50%. So I went somewhere else. No lineup (the place I normally go to has at least a 2 car lineup per bay). They were a bit cheaper. But they tried to sell me on everything, not to mention poor recommendations. I decided to pay the extra from now on at my old place.

[Ace]

Originally Posted by Aeneas

I do have a recomendation, however he is in the deep SE, sounds like you are NW. He is a good friend, does good honest work.

Please send me the recommendation, i'll drive across town for a good mechanic...

Thanks

[Aeneas]

Just confirmed with him, will send PM with details.

[Barnes]

For oil changes I go to the Mr Lube at 130 ave SE when I don't do them myself. You just have to learn to say no. They don't presure you.

For a mechanic, Avenida Auto Centre hands down. Two weeks after a major overhaul of my ZJ, the fuel pump went. (not related). He picked it up at my place and fixed it.

I got home from work to change my clothes and then go to pick up my Jeep and noticed that it was sitting back in my parking spot, clean on the inside and out and fixed. The guy is honest, and treats his clients and employees well. i have recomended him to many people and he calls me everytime to thank me personallyfor the rcomendations.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by Aeneas

Just confirmed with him, will send PM with details.

Care to tell the rest of us?

[FireFly]

Quick Lube Places / Mechanic Recomendations

Hookers and Blow?