Last month I was headed up to the north shore of Mass. from home base in Ct. in my '96 328i convertible on the hottest weekend of the year. Made a stop at Logan to pick up a friend, whose plane was running late. With the top up and the air running, the car stars spewing steam, I get out to see the coolant on the ground. State trooper comes over to say it obviously needs towing, but you can’t bring AAA into airport. While frustrated it took so long for airport tow truck to come, we decided to just go for it. Made it out of the airport, called AAA, who eventually came and took us a couple of blocks away to D&Z Auto Repair in East Boston, who immediately announced they were closing for the day, due to the heat and that I should call them tomorrow. A friend picked us up and we continued on our journey, leaving my old car with Ct. plates in the parking lot of a garage I knew nothing about in E. Boston. I called them the next morning, and they gave me a quote of just under $ 600 to replace the radiator (which I was relieved by), but what was the chance they could find the replacement radiator and fix it on a brutally hot Friday, before they closed for the weekend. Checked in with them a couple of hours later and not only had they replaced the radiator, but that it took them an hour or so less time than they expected and that the charge would be only $ 399. They left the key for me, I picked it up that night, and drove merrily on my way back up to visit with my friends in Rockport with this incredible sense of satisfaction that there still are a few good honest people out there, some of whom happen to be auto mechanics.
Very glad to hear about your good experience. This actually happens quite often but it is not really publicized, auto techs are for some reason deemed thieves or unscrupulous. Which in the vast majority of cases is not true
In my experience independent mechanics are more trustworthy and reliable than dealers or chain shops. I’ve dealt with many independents over the years and rarely had a bad experience.
Yes, these good experiences need to be told. A number of years ago we were visiting my parents and other siblings for Christmas. In a small town nearby, 10 miles from our destination on Friday afternoon one of the rear brakes locked on our Malibu. We were close to the local garage, which was also a GM dealership.
My brother regularly visited this place, and I explained that we needed a car and wanted to leave my car there to be fixed. Since I looked like my brother, they give me a free loaner worth at least as much as my car for the weekend and told me to come back the following week.
My car was fixed for a very reasonable amount and we enjoyed our Christmas vacation.
the world is full of honest, decent people, including honest mechanics. Unfortunately we only seem to hear about the ones that are not.
Thats for the story. It restores my faith in humanity.
I had a friend call me up stuck in a bad part of town at night with a beat-up old Escort that died while on a road trip. I picked him up and the next day we put a new battery in and it started right up - despite my warnings that I firmly believed the alternator was bad, he got back on the road and tried driving the 180 miles the rest of the way to his home. about 90 miles in, the car died again. The local Ford dealer there sent out a tow truck, picked him up, towed him in the 10 miles or so to their dealership, diagnosed the problem, replaced the alternator and recharged the battery for him. He said it took them about 2 hours in total (including the tow time) and he was charged $255 for the tow, diagnosis, AND repair. The MSRP of a Motorcraft alternator for that car is $220.
I ride with a group to a band rehearsal in a town about 15 miles away. We take turns driving. Some years back, one of our group who is now deceased had a really battered Plymouth Volare. I think all the shock absorbers were worn out and there was so much rust that I think the front fender flapped in the breeze. At any rate we had been sailing along about 75-80 mph and came to a traffic signal. The temperature gauge was on hot and the battery gauge was on discharge. My friend asked if we would make it the last mile. I told him that we might if he would keep is speed below 70 mph. I guessed that the fan belt had broken. When we pulled into the parking lot, the steam was rolling out of the engine. He said something to our band director about what we should do about finding someone after 7:00 in the evening and our director said not to worry–he would take care of it. The director called his mechanic at home. When we came out from rehearsal, the car was fixed–a broken fan belt and the bill were laying on the front seat. The charge was very modest.
Thanks for the story and for identifying the garage. They deserve every good thing you say about them.