- Who To Trust?
- Types Of Repair Shops
- Embrace The Internet
- Shop By Brand
- Check For Certification
- Full Warranty
- Compare Prices
- Take A Test Drive
- Total Peace Of Mind
Moving across country is a bit of a task and a bit of an adventure. If you own a high-end car and you are undertaking a significant relocation, you probably are not going to want to drive your vehicle across country. Rather, you will want to ensure optimum security by using a professional shipping company like A-1 Auto Transport to get your car from point A to point B.
When you are a high-end car owner and you move to a new town, one of the chief things you will need to accomplish upon arrival is to find a trustworthy mechanic for your vehicle. You do not want to trust you prized vehicle to just any old mechanic. You want a technician who is uniquely qualified to work on your car.
Who to Trust?
High-end cars are also termed luxury vehicles. Characteristics of a high-end vehicle include increased comfort, equipment, amenities, and quality. Typically, this results in better performance abilities and lavish interiors. High end vehicles can include such brands as Mercedes, BMW, Audi, Tesla, and Jaguar.
When it comes to high-end cars, there are two basic reasons to take your car into the shop: repairs and maintenance. Routine maintenance is work done in accordance with your vehicle’s service schedule to keep in top working condition. Repairs, on the other hand, constitute work done to fix a problem. While you can take your car to a dealer for maintenance and repairs, you are also free to frequent an independent auto-repair shop. It should be noted that some leased vehicles require that work be done by a dealer.
Types of Repair Shops
Per the Hertz blog article “Under the Hood: A Guide to Finding a Quality Auto Repair Shop”, there are four basic types of repair shops:
- Dealerships – As that they also sell vehicles, dealerships employ factory trained technicians. Their work is typically guaranteed but they tend to have the highest prices.
- Independent Repair Shops- Typically much smaller than dealerships, independent repair shops are usually cheaper and allow you direct access to the shop’s owner and technicians.
- Specialists – These shops are typically independently owned and specialize in specific high-end brands.
- Auto Repair Chains – According to the American Automobile Association (AAA), auto repair chains typically offer a solid level of quality at lower prices.
Embrace the Internet
In the Consumer Reports article “Where to Go for Car Maintenance and Repairs” it stipulates some suggestions for using the Internet to find a new high-end mechanic when you move to a new location. The article suggests visiting Angie’s List, the Mechanics Files at Cartalk.com, and the Consumer Reports car repair estimator.
Of these options, Cartalk.com’s Mechanics Files are free, Angie’s List requires a subscription, and the Consumer Reports car repair estimator is free to online subscribers to Consumer Reports.
Shop by Brand
The Internet has truly streamlined the process for finding a quality high-end mechanic when you move. It used to be you would have to thumb through the phone book to do research. Now with the World Wide Web, research is fairly easy.
When it comes to high-end cars, a lot of mechanic shops specialize in specific brands. Use your Internet detective skills to find shops in your area that specialize in your type of vehicle. It is worth the extra effort to do it right.
Check for Certification
According to the article “Auto Repair Basics” hosted by the Federal Trade Commission’s Consumer Information website, once you have located shops in your area that have quality reviews, you’ll want to check to make sure that the mechanics and shop are certified by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE). Do your homework and make sure that all certifications are current.
Furthermore, you will want to do some research with the Better Business Bureau to see about each shop’s track record. Auto repair shops are ranked 12th among BBB common complaints by consumers, so do your due diligence. Visit www.bbb.org.
Full Warranty
Another thing that will help you to finalize your decision on a new mechanic for your high-end vehicle is an investigation into what kind of warranty each shop offers. A quality shop will guarantee their work. You want to find our what kind of guarantees your prospective mechanic offers prior to getting work done.
Compare Prices
Of course, you want highly skilled mechanics working on your high-end vehicle when you take it in for repairs or maintenance. But price is also a consideration. Once you have narrowed your list of potential shops to a small handful, do some research on their prices. But remember, the lowest price isn’t always the best option. There is such a thing as paying for quality.
Per the article “11 Keys to Finding a Car Mechanic You Can Trust” on the MoneyTalksNews.com website, more expensive doesn’t always mean better. On the other hand, a bargain isn’t always a bargain. In short, don’t skimp on your research.
According to the article “How to Find an Honest and Reliable Mechanic” by Jeremy Anderberg, while inquiring on price, you’ll also want to get an indication of how long the repair or maintenance will take. The length of time you are going to be without your favorite vehicle is always a consideration. And, if you are in a rental car for the length of time your own vehicle is in the shop, that amount has to be figured into the total cost of repair.
Take a Test Drive
When you are shopping for a high-end car, you wouldn’t purchase any vehicle without first taking it for a test drive. You should employ the same high standards when it comes to selecting a high-end mechanic.
Once you have done your core research and have narrowed the list down to one or two top contenders, take your vehicle in for a small repair or maintenance item. An oil change is an excellent option. This way you can witness firsthand the level of care your prospective mechanic instills in each job.
Total Peace of Mind
Chances are that if you own a high-end car, you know that keeping it in tip-top shape involves meeting all the maintenance and repair demands. When you move to a new town, you will have your work cut out for you finding a quality mechanic who is specifically trained to work on your type of vehicle.
However, the work is not daunting. Just as A-1 Auto Transport provides a safe and convenient path to get your luxury car to its new destination, there is also a clear roadmap of what to look for in a high-end shop once you arrive in your new hometown. This includes making sure the shop and mechanics are ASE certified.
The Internet and the phone are your friends. Use these resources to identify potential shops and then give them a small project with which to prove their worth. In the end, you will have the peace of mind knowing you have entrusted your baby to a qualified technician.
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