Good Mechanics in NOVA area

[funnyperson1]

Well I'm tired of getting ripped off by the guy who has been working on our family cars since the late 80's. He used the give us really good prices when we first came to VA but since my dad's business became successful he has been jacking up prices.

Last I went I paid 260 bucks for a basic tune up. (He had first quoted me at 145 on the phone and the week after 200 on the phone, then 250 when I was already in his shop).

I am specifically looking for a good mechanic with fair prices in the Herndon/Reston/Sterling areas. I did a search on these forums and all I could find was stuff about VA Beach and thats a bit far for me to be away from my ex .

A good audio shop would be good too, for now I mostly go to Best Buy, and I know there are better stores out there for car audio.

 

[KPT]

Drive out to Richmond if you want. I just moved up here and I work for cheap. Sorry I don't know of any good shops though, never taken my truck to a shop.

260 seems insane for a tuneup. What got done besides plugs & wires?? Granted plugs are a PITA to change on the OHV but it shouldn't have taken more than an hour or so.

 

[funnyperson1]

Heh, I might actually hook that up if I need work done while I am at Tech, although from here thats a little far to go for a mechanic . Then again I am sure that prices around the Burg are pretty darn cheap considering that neither rednecks nor college students will take **** from mechanics, and that's like 80% of area's population.

Yeah seemed insance to me to, thats why i need a new shop. Ford was offering 200 flat to do it, and I had chosen this guy because he had quoted me at $145 the week before. Then when I called his son said 200. When I got to the shop he said the 145 was only for the labor.

Worst part is that didn't even include a new air filter because I had told him I wanted to put in a K&N.

The way it worked out was 145 for labor, 9 bucks apeice for the plugs, and like 60 bucks for wires.

So yeah...I got JACKED.

Any suggestions on a good NOVA shop?

 

[funnyperson1]

Bump!

 

[dmasini]

You think that's bad? When I tried to get a tune up done on mine places wanted $300+! And that wasn't including an air filter either.

I've stopped searching for cheap in this area and stuck with places that were at least honest with me and did a good job. I've used Brown Lincoln a lot on 29. They do such a great job and they always have coupons around for 10% off this and that. Still not cheap but they've always done right by me. More recently I've gone to a Precision Tune in Manassas. Again, not the cheapest around but very honest with me. They'll even take you out and show you a step-by-step of what they are going to do if you ask and give you all the old parts (every place will do that I think but these guys don't give me any sh*t when I ask for that stuff).

If you find a place that's cheap AND good then please tell me!!

NOVA sucks by the way. I've been here WAY to long!!

 

[funnyperson1]

Yeah 120-145 seems to be the normal labor rate around here. It does suck because people I know from like the Shenandoah area always tell me how they pay like 1/4 of that .

I might just stick to the Koon's Ford dealership in Sterling where my dad gets most of his work done (and has bought both our Explorers from) they did say $200 and I am sure they would have stuck to it. I will definately call around to those places next time I need some work done, thanks for the suggestions.

On second thought maybe I should just let my car be broken until I get back to school .

 

[dmasini]

...On second thought maybe I should just let my car be broken until I get back to school .

hahaha... Now that sounds like a plan!