Best Auto Buys Summer Edition

THE GLEANER, FRIDAY, JUNE 18, 2021 | www.jamaica-gleaner.com | B11 T HE GLC exudes even more hallmark SUV presence without being overly imposing. A symbol of modern luxury. New highlights include the front end with standard-fit LED high- performance headlamps and new-look tailpipe trims at the rear. Definition redefined. will have a better sense when certain repairs are reasonably due. #4 – CAREFULLY ASSESS THE PROBLEM SO YOU CAN COMMUNICATE IT CLEARLY You don’t want a mechanic to waste time figuring out what is wrong with your car, noted auto repair author Lauren Fix. Specificity can be your best friend when you are trying to get a fast diagnosis and cure, she said. Ask yourself questions such as, “What is the speed when the problem occurs?” and “Do I only hear the troubling sound when I’m turning a certain direction, or when I’m idling?” #5 – CONSIDER THE SHADY MECHANIC’S PERSPECTIVE How does the shady mechanic think? Well, as you might guess, technicians are often (and probably in the vast majority of situations) more a reflection on the ethics and integrity of the shop than they are rogue con men. Take the perspective of Joe, a seasoned mechanic with four decades experience who spoke with ABC’s ‘20/20’ about his experience in the past bilking car owners out of their money. Joe told the news outlet that the primary reason mechanics will swindle people with fixes that their cars don’t need is because many shops have tiny profit margins. Often, the business owner or manager will push the technicians to recommend repairs that are purely intended to drive up the bill. In that kind of setting, mechanics feel compelled to give bad advice in order to keep their jobs. Joe said that he himself had once intentionally misguided people. While he felt terrible to count himself among the shady mechanic population, he explained the conundrum: “[W]hen your boss tells you, ‘Either you do it here or the door’s right there’, what are you going to do?” Here are a fewof the tactics and lingo used by technicians in corrupted organisations: • Pouring on gravy work – Would you like some gravy with that? If you’re talking about car repair, the answer is no. Gravy work refers to billing a longer period of time than is needed to complete the task. The specific example he gives of this kind of gouging is when a shop charges you for 2.5 hours of labour to turn the rotors and replace the pads – the better part of which is, you guessed it, gravy. • Flushing your wallet – A wallet flush is when you try to ‘flush’ out as much money as you can from a customer via the recommendation of additional services – a typical occurrence with a discount oil change. Part of the reason it’s called a ‘flush’ is that you are attempting to get the car owner to agree to numerous fluid flushes: coolant, power steering, transmission, etc. • Charging for nothing – An auto repair shop will often bill people for services it does not complete. For example, if an air filter is complicated to replace (as it is in some models), mechanics will sometimes not do it but charge for it anyway. The owner cannot verify the work because the air filter isn’t easily accessible. • Exploiting the idiot light – The check engine light, not so politely called the ‘idiot light’ at some shops, is a facilitator of many costly parts replacements. Scammer mechanics love the check engine light because it is always associated with an OBD-II (on-board diagnostics II) error code. “Guys kind of have the phrase where every code deserves a part,” said Joe. #6 – GAUGE THE SERVICE WRITER The service writer, who produces the estimates and bills, should seem competent and well informed onmaintenance and repair issues. That person is your primary point of contact and should not leave you feeling uneasy or confused. When you see a tight-lipped, stand-offish service writer, head for the hills. #7 – EXPECT AN ESTIMATE You should not allow anyone to start working on your car without giving you an estimate for howmuch the work is expected to cost. Most estimates are given over the phone, so even though a written estimate carries more legal weight, it may not be feasible to obtain. Estimates are estimates, so it is possible that a bill will be slightly higher, but you should not see anything that is grossly in excess of that stated amount. #8 – GO OVER THE BILL AT THE SHOP Think back to Roger and Sue. Make sure you check the bill carefully, and discuss anything you don’t understand, while you’re still at the shop. The shop should review your invoice with you before you pay. #9 – DISPUTE THE BILL IF IT DOESN’T MAKE SENSE If the bill seems problematic, get the old parts from the shop if you can. Dispute the charges and ask to discuss it with the owner. Conclusion: local + independent = better What is themost important of the above tips? Number two of course: choose independence. “The one-on-one relationship between driver and mechanic that smaller repair shops foster can really help consumers have confidence in both the work that’s performed and in the vehicle itself,” said Edmunds.com . Taken from https://independentmotors.net/ RIPPED CONTINUED FROM B4 SUMMER AUTO BEST BUYS FEATURE