A tale from real life.....

My 124 came down with the 'ignition key will not turn' problem in Sugarland, Texas. I did not even bother to call the dealer there, so I cannot comment on their prices, but there was a shop that said they could do it the next day for about $800.

But I called around and found a guy about 10 miles away who first asked me how soon I needed it fixed. I told him no real hurry so he said if I could get it to his shop he could do it in a week or so for $450.

The first shop was going to just slot it in, pick up at the parts at the dealer and turn it back to me ASAP. The other guy would order the parts over the internet and use my car as a filler for when he had nothing else going on like when he was waiting for a part to be delivered or something.

All in all I was not only paying for labor, tools, expertise, overhead but also for service. If I had really needed the car the $800 would have been OK, but it worked out well for me and for the other guy who also did a first class job.

When I was a kid I was talking to the Ice Man and he gave me an icepick that said 'Pick on the Ice and not the Ice Man' on the side of it. It's like that with Mechanics, too. I have never met one that was not willing to work with me on a problem, but I have to be realistic in my dealings with them.

And when you find a good one you can trust you will be dollars ahead in the long run.