Hi Terry
I have in the past done some money earning mechanics, a couple of years in a
"back street garage" where I found two things in the main, 1 backstreet in
that garage stood for better service than the big name main agents. and 2 it
doesn't matter what you do for some people it will be wrong. The case I
refer to is the one where the guy comes in and says "Full service please."
So I did every thing listed as the full service for his vehicle, and a
couple of little bits that weren't! He came back and said why had I changed
the Plugs as they were new. The next time he came in I checked, new plugs,
so I left them in, he came back "why haven't you changed the plugs?" Case of
heads you win tails I loose!!!
The other thing I did was look after a few Triumphs, one of the guys was a
marine engineer who regularly got bills for £200 for his MOT every year,
then I started taking it to my regular MOT station, straight pass no rip
off, I did adjust the front wheel bearings first! And for the next two
years, straight passes. So every one even engineers can be ripped off!!
Graham.
----- Original Message -----
From: Terry L. Thompson <tlt@digex.net>
To: <spitfires@autox.team.net>
Sent: Saturday, March 18, 2000 3:22 AM
Subject: Re: LBC prejuduce sure stings
>
> Getting ripped-off by mechanics isn't a Sexist thing. It's a "most
> mechanics are a*sholes" thing. When I first bought my spitfire back in
'96,
> I didn't even know how to change the spark plugs...So I took to my dad's
> mechanic.
>
> Within 3 months, I'd totaled $2000 in bills. In month six, I threw a rod,
> killed the engine and searched for a new mechanic. After I started
> replacing items on the car, I realized....What the hell did I spend $2000
> on? Nothing was ever replaced!...
>
> Well, lets see here...
> -$75 to replace the valve cover gasket.
> -Hmmm..$90 to "re-hang" the muffler...(That was the piece of rubber tire
> they had screwed into the rear tub of my Spitfire with machine
> screws....Man those machine screws weren't the onlything getting screwed)
> -Ah yes...$140 to replace my front brake pads. Must have been the gold
> plated ones I asked for.
> -Oh...here we go...3 months later (took it in for an oil change) $89 to
> replace ANOTHER valve cover gasket (must be a known defect in
> Spitfires..Anyone got a service notice on that?).
> -And this my favorite bill...$280 to replace the timing chain and timing
> chain cover gasket.....And I had to supply them with the gasket and chain.
>
> (I figure I've paid my "stupidity tax" and a few other's share as well.)
>
> This place is still my father's regular mechanic shop.
>
> People are just a-holes in general. They'll screw you any way they can if
> you give them half a chance.
>
> I've also had difficulty looking for body shops. I heard of a member on
the
> Triumph mailing list that had his TR6 painted by his local high
> school/college shop class. I believe it cost him about $200 for the paint
> and some other "supplies". But it was perfect. If any of the students
> flubbed anything, the teacher made them redo it. I seem to remeber it
> taking about 6 months, but $200 for a perfect down to the metal repaint
> isn't too bad.
> Wouldn't hurt to inquire at your local schools to see if they have shop
> classes in need of projects.
>
> I have the added difficulty on my car of it being previously "painted" by
> the PO. In a beautiful mustard yellow (which almost passes for Inca...I
> think he stole it from the trucks that paints the yellow lines on the
> roads). Atleast it would be beautiful if it weren't for all of the runs
and
> paint chipping off (where he sprayed the laquer directly ontop of the
> enamel.....and on the chrome!)
>
> If you think it's difficult to get someone to paint your car for under
> $5000...just for grins, throw in that it has laquor on it and you want it
> back to enamel.
> I'm perfectly willing to pay $2500 for a half decent paintjob. But I get
> laughed out of every shop when I say the magic word "laquer". None of the
> "insurance" shops want to have to sand down all of that metal. Talk about
> time consuming.
>
> You can't even just go out and buy all new major body panels and have them
> painted, because you'll still need someone to weld them all onto your tub
> and align them correctly. You're right back to the $10,000 "restoration"
> shop prices when all is said and done.
>
> I think I'm just going to drive my car the way it is. And when the rust
> holes start to appear, just use a little bondo and grey primer. (It'll
> blend with all the 80's cameros in town) When you see the "sort-of inca
> yellow" spitfire at the car shows with the Panasport rims and primer grey
> spots all over, you can go.."Hey! That's Terry's car!"
>
> Terry L. Thompson
> '76 spit 1500 ("oh...those aren't rust spots..the color is roan")
> Maryland
>
> P.S. I go away for 3 days and there's 280 messages on here! You people
need
> to cut down on the caffeine!
>
> >LBC, after all!
> >
> >So, at least you're a guy going around with the car...
> >
> >Hang in there!
> >
> >Laura
> >
> >Vita brevis est: rapide agite, vigore strigate!
> >
> >
> >
> >
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