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

[bluedaisy.livejournal.com]

I'll anti-recommend CitySide Subaru in Belmont. I bought my car from them, but their service department is shady.

I've been pretty happy so far with Village Subaru in Acton, and I was happy with Koko at Foreign and Domestic Auto in Medford, though he did leave a wrench tucked under the wiper blade...

[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.

[ron_newman]

I tagged your post "cars". Click on the tag, and you will find some earlier posts on the subject of car repair. I don't know if they will help, but they might.

[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.

[on-reserve.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I did an LJ search for "auto repair" and "car repair" and only came up with three posts total.

[pearlythebunny.livejournal.com]

I don't know much about Teele Square Auto, but last summer I had transmission problems and had my car towed to Ideal Engine in Davis Square. I was expecting big bucks because it was, after all, the transmission. But they told me that a hose clamp or something had rusted and all the transmission fluid had leaked out. It was a simple and inexpensive repair. So maybe you will get lucky, too. Maybe it will be a simple repair.

[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!

[lyonesse.livejournal.com]

abj has been taking care of my '96 fubaru since i moved here that year. they've been great, and willing to do cheepass repairs (like covering a deep scrape with some plain black paint so it won't rust, rather than "body-shop" work) when that's what i've wanted. so ime, they're good folks, and unlikely to charge you more than they ought. (i am not sure the "i want to pay less than they want to charge me" is really always very fair...)

[csbermack.livejournal.com]

I have used Teele, when I lived near there. I found them to be just fine, although I never had major work done there. I just did tuneups and inspections and such. They are quick with a tire change and always treated me with respect (instead of being patronizing to the idiot lady who knows nothing about cars).

I take my car to Foreign and Domestic Auto, by Tufts. Koko has earned my loyalty with quick, reliable work at good prices. He also tells me when I don't need what I think I need. He's made one mistake and corrected it without charging me for the time needed to trace it - it was a bizarre and serious problem and another mechanic could easily have reamed me hard for it. I'll take my car there as long as I live in the area. My housemate takes his car there, too.

[digitalangel-.livejournal.com]

My boyfriend always brings his car to Teele. He'll call on the day he wants to bring it in, and they usually turn it around in one day, two tops if they have trouble ordering parts. He's never brought it back there for the same thing twice. He says the prices are about average - not cheap, but not outrageous either. I strongly suspect the place that I take my car (Mobil on Fresh Pond Parkway) is screwing me over, so I'll probably go to Teele next time.

[nomacmac.livejournal.com]

I'll second Ideal Engine in Davis Sq, and also anti-recommend the Subaru dealer in Belmont. My Subaru always made a funny noise when it started cold. I complained about it every time I took it to the dealer for routine service. They always told me 'Subaru's just do that', and I believed them, since it always went away once the car warmed up. Ideal Engine properly diagnosed the problem, and encouraged me to bring it back to the dealer and get it fixed under the extended 'power train' warranty ('regular' warranty was expired). Once I knew what the problem was, the dealer couldn't deny it was broken, so they fixed it for free. Ideal was honest enough to encourage me to check the warranty, instead of fixing it and charging me.

[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.

Teel Sq Auto

[kierskenney.livejournal.com]

I've used Teel Sq. Auto for both oil/tire changes and a few major repairs over the past 6 years and found Eli to be fair and relaible. If you'd like to avoid a second tow, I'd say you were in capable hands.

[rethcir.livejournal.com]

Yeah, Koko's the man.