honest car repair?

[schpahky.livejournal.com]

I have taken my old car a couple of times to Mike's Auto in Union Square for a repair here and there after several people recommended them to me. This time the exhuast needed replacing, including converter, front pipe and resonator. The total for that repair was about $950 which feels awfully steep to me. Does anyone know if this is the going rate for this kind of thing around here?

If this seems steep, I'd be grateful if someone could please recommend an honest, woman-friendly mechanic in the area who might be comfortable nursing along a peppy, heroic yet aging Mazda. I'm new to the car ownership thing and since it's an old car, every repair will be kind of pricey...I just don't want to get scammed. Thanks.

Comments

[cosinezero.livejournal.com]

Well, if the catalytic converter is dead (could be, on an old car) that price does seem fairly reasonable... I mean, not great, but a cat can be pricey.

[inahandbasket]

agreed.

[schpahky.livejournal.com]

Yeah, they had to do the whole thing. Ugh. Although I am feeling a little better reading the comments here.

[marphod.livejournal.com]

Have you picked up the vehicle yet? Do you have a reciept?

You can check online prices for the parts used. Also probably search for the necessity of thos ebeing new or used parts, etc. Maybe even find out average time-to-replace for them.

Also, compare that against an hourly rate, and see if it is reasonable.

Off the cuff, a catlytic converter is going to be about 150$ for parts, the pipe (depending on the part) 30-100$, resonator looks 80$. Add in a muffler or a few more parts, and that comes to rougly 400-500$. Half parts, half labor, and it doesn't SOUNDS too abnormal. But cars aren't my forte.

[schpahky.livejournal.com]

No, and yes, and it's all itemized and broken down. The parts were at least half of it, so, sigh.

[chenoameg.livejournal.com]

That's about what I've paid to have the exhaust replaced on our car in the past.

[schpahky.livejournal.com]

Cool, thank you.

[bikergeek.livejournal.com]

That's on the expensive side, but not out of line, particularly if the cat needed replacement. Those contain platinum and can be kinda spendy.

[schpahky.livejournal.com]

Yup, the whole shebang. I guess I'm set for a few years now anyway, by which point the car will probably be ready for car heaven....

[bombardiette.livejournal.com]

My ex husband and current boyfriend are both mechanics. That price sounds just right if the catalytic converter was replaced, especially in a foreign car.

[schpahky.livejournal.com]

Thank you.

[tooffdk.livejournal.com]

Hi, I've had REALLY excellent service at the Mobile station in Cambridge, on Memorial Drive. It's on the right-hand-side as soon as you get off the pike and go across the bridge, over the river, to Cambridge. I've referred about 5 people (females) and they've all had good experiences there too.

Memorial Drive Mobil
816 Memorial Drive
Cambridge, MA
617-354-8243

[lavyndergirl1.livejournal.com]

four wheels auto repair (81 -or 83?- albion st. somerville) has done work on my car and my boyfriends car a number of times. They are always WAY less expensive than i expect for car repair... mine is a 1990 station wagon, and his is a 1995 sedan, so they're not exactly new.

you might want to check them out the next time you need work done.