Thanks, Larry, for the kind words. I hope when I take a counter view that you understand I amm just trying to give a glimpse of the other side of the story.
I suppose that being in a college town in the rural south might make things different, but, there are 3-4 German car specialists in Gainesville and I know the owners and techs at all of them. They are all good people and would never knowingly abuse a car or a customer. You ought to hear technicians talk about customers (bg).
As president of the local ASA (Automotive Service Association), I know most of the local shop owners. While many shops are under equipted and under trained, I know of only one shop within 50 miles that has been dishonest.
I am a very active member of the iATN (International Automotive Technicians Network)
www.iatn.net . I have met honest caring techs and shop owners from all over the country. To tell you the truth though, most of them are not in big cities.