You pretty much get what you pay for these days. With all the pressure to undercut prices, most tire shops can't retain very good people. Sometimes you get lucky, but usually you get a total lunkhead looking at your car, and you just hope it comes back undamaged. Even worse are the guys who are willing to work and enthusiastic, but still know nothing. They are the ones you feel bad for. Especially true in DC area, it seems - where you can't afford to live on a mechanic's salary.

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1985 380SE Blue/Blue - 230,000 miles
2012 Subaru Forester 5-speed
2005 Toyota Sienna
2004 Chrysler Sebring convertible
1999 Toyota Tacoma