Subaru Repairs?

[on-reserve.livejournal.com]

I suppose I'm asking a bit after the fact.

My car (Subaru Legacy Outback) broke down last night and I had it towed to the closest place: Teele Square Auto.

To put this in context, I am 29 years-old and I've never had a car break down on me (my own father said, "Wow, you had a good run there!"). Does anyone have any experience with Teele Square Auto? I checked the archives and couldn't find anything about it.

I saw recommendations for ABJ and some dealership in Belmont. In case I get a load of malarkey from these guys in the morning tomorrow -- any other recommendations?

I'm worried that they'll see that I've had my car towed there and figure that they've got me by the you-know-what and can charge me whatever they want. I want to pay less than whatever they want, obviously.

Comments

[heliograph.livejournal.com]

You should be able to ask for quotes before they charge you for anything, unless you told them just to go ahead and fix whatever was wrong with the car. Most car repair places will do the exam and then have you approve the repairs just to avoid aggravation later.

If they ask for something crazy, you can always have it towed somewhere else.

[on-reserve.livejournal.com]

That was sort of my plan. Estimate is some ludicrously high amount = "I'm going to have my car towed somewhere else for a second opinion."

I did see one bit of advice in the archives which is that there are local reviews of mechanics on the Car Talk web site. Teele Sqaure has five positive reviews. Other shops have more positive reviews but at least no one was totally rooked.

[aspasia02.livejournal.com]

Heh, that was going to be what I advised you to check out - the CarTalk archives. I don't have extensive experience with them, but my mechanic (Koko at Foreign and Domestic Auto on Boston Ave) is glowingly recommended on that site, and I know I'll use it when I move and need to find another guy. I've been ripped off by so many dealers...!

Good luck!

[cutieperson]

you might want to call for a second opinion before towing the car elsewhere. granted, they can't look at it to determine which specific things the car needs, but you can use the list the first dealer gives you to get idea of how the prices compare.