Am I getting hosed on car repairs...

[MJM]

So my wife ripped the antenna off our Acura TSX yesturday, and i've called Acura to get the items fixed. There is no damage to the car, radio and everything still works fine, but the cosmetting covering is mangled, leaving the parts to the antenna exposed.

So I thought, big deal I'll buy the part and have it fixed. I call Acura, and they say the part is $117. No problem. However, they go on to say it will be $588 dollars labour as they ahve to remove the roof liner!!!!!!!!!!!

Am I being hosed here? Are there any other viable alternatives? I called a second dealer in Calgary (Acura) and they said it would only be $390 labour. Even than, that's a little high, but easier to swallow. Something scares me that too dealerships in the same city are so far apart.

[Shazam]

Note to self: Never piss off MJM's wife.

[Sliver]

I'm going to go out on a limb and say the MacLeod Trail Acura gave the better quote...am I right?

[Hevishot]

If they have to take out a headliner they might be in the right ballpark. Pain in the butt and Labor Intensive.

[drewboy12]

it takes about 5 minutes to take a door liner off... This is bull ****.

[Hevishot]

Originally Posted by drewboy12

it takes about 5 minutes to take a door liner off... This is bull ****.

Try taking a headliner out with both front and back glass still in the vehicle without causing any damage by bending the frail foamboard they install the trim to. Its not that easy. Shop around try a bodyshop for a better price since their labour prices are alot less than any dealer.

[VANFLAMESFAN]

I would say yes. For sure you are being hosed, but only because my brother is a mechanic and he has told me some pretty bad stories.

Case in point. My engine light went on one day. I took it to his shop, he plugged it in, diagnosed the problem, got the part and installed it. This process took no more than 4 minutes. The installation was 45 seconds. On the order form for the part, it says it requires 1.5 hours of labor. So, if I didn't have a mechanic for a brother, I would have paid let's say 150 bucks on labor. Thankfully, I only had to pay for the part. Mechanics are crooks, plain and simple. But I totally appreciate the one in my family.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by VANFLAMESFAN

my brother is a mechanic

Lucky guy....a good mechanic is one of those cherished friends/family members that everyone wants to have in their arsenal (other's i can think of are a good doctor, good accountant, and i hate to say it...a lawyer).

I have way too many doctors in my family (humans, pets, all kinds)....I wouldn't mind trading one of them in for a good mechanic. Unfortunately, all my friends are useless creative types like myself.

[drewboy12]

I will vouch for East Side Automotive in Airdrie, only honest mechanic I have ever dealt with.

[MJM]

I should have worded my question better. I don't think either Acura is deliberately hosing me, I just meant am I a moron to be paying dealership prices?

They do have to take the roof liner off so I think it is quite labour intensive.

[MJM]

Originally Posted by Sliver

I'm going to go out on a limb and say the MacLeod Trail Acura gave the better quote...am I right?

You are correct. Although to the NW dearlship credit, they called me back and offered to match the price, but it was too late as I already booked myself into Silverhill Acura.

[The Yen Man]

I once saw a bill for an Audi car repair that charged $30 dollars in labour to change a battery on a key fob. Yes, it costs thirty freaking dollars to pop open a piece of plastic and swap out a small battery. So the guy paid $30 for a 2 minute job.

[Jackpot_Smooth]

Dealer shop rate is probably $120/hr. You could try and go without, just your AM radio won't work too well so no hockey games during winter.

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by MJM

I should have worded my question better. I don't think either Acura is deliberately hosing me, I just meant am I a moron to be paying dealership prices?

They do have to take the roof liner off so I think it is quite labour intensive.

I think the NW dealership is trying to hose you. I like Silverhill and always had good experiences with them when we had our Acura.

[Raekwon]

Originally Posted by The Yen Man

I once saw a bill for an Audi car repair that charged $30 dollars in labour to change a battery on a key fob. Yes, it costs thirty freaking dollars to pop open a piece of plastic and swap out a small battery. So the guy paid $30 for a 2 minute job.

Big deal, I once paid a girl $60 for a 1 minute job.

[The Yen Man]

Originally Posted by Raekwon

Big deal, I once paid a girl $60 for a 1 minute job.

Somehow, I think your $60 dollar minute was a lot more worth it though .