3rd & 4th Generation (1992–1996 & 1997–2001)Toyota Camry Discussion for years: 1992-1996 & 1997-2001
Topics of discussion range from fuel economy, safety, modifications, performance all involving America's favorite family car, the Toyota Camry.
Hello Everyone,
I need to find a good mechanic who resides in Rhode Island and maybe moonlighting. I have high medical costs and I need to find someone who will do great work on my Toyota Camry, but charges a reasonable amount.
I have a mechanic now who owns the business, but I just started going to him. He came with two recommendations from both my husband's side and my side of the family. The problem is he is always busy. It could take three days to a week to get him to look at a problem. I have to leave the car there from 8AM-4:30PM for any problem even simple things. We haven't dealt with any major things yet, so I don't know how long my car could be out of commission. This is my only form of transportation.
I haven't seen too many members from New England on this board. If you have heard anything about a good, mechanic in my area, who is reasonable about price, please let me know. If not, please give me some suggestions about how to find one.
I am not rich and I don't have oodles of money. I have saved up for two years, to get the car and have some work done,( since I knew that I would have to buy a used car.) Still, my budget is tight for the overwhelming numbers of things that need checking and doing.
Thank you for any advice, suggestions help that you may offer.
Mrs_Lop
Tracy,
I loved the South. I traveled there a lot in the mid-'80's for my company. It's probably changed since I was last there, but southern hospitality and manners could not be beat!
I'm at that stage of life where my bones scream at me in the Winter and I just can't tolerate the cold. One of the things I missed most about not having a car was that it kept my exposure to the cold and damp down to a minimum.
I wish I lived closer to the South. I have three daughters who are scattered: California, Florida and another who is serious about making a move to Florida also. My son, though in Rhode Island, has some knowledge about American cars and some general knowledge from working on his Ford Crown Victorias over the years. He is just not interested in Toyotas -never was -never will be. He is into computers and all of their components. Still, he has some general knowledge that helps me. Three of my four grown children were unemployed since 2009. Now, one has found employment at minimum wage, she is over qualified but, a job is a job and she's a good worker. Her husband, at least was employed. They moved two years ago and love Florida. My other daughter has a rare form of floating Cystic Fibrosis, just diagnosed after two years of pain. Her husband is a Lieutenant in the Providence Fire Department. Things aren't looking good as budget cuts and other concessions are being asked of the Firefighters. My California based daughter is still employed but doing the job of three people. Her husband showed up for work one day and the doors were locked. He never did get his last paycheck. With three small children it has been a very difficult time for the family. He finally got another job this April. My son has also been unemployed since 2009, he is now able to get some real experience with computers, as my grandson has just started a business. It is only part-time for now but we remain hopeful. So, my husband and I have tried to help wherever and whenever the need was greatest. We are a people of great faith and that is what has kept us going. Though we are not rich, we have shared what we can. Charity begins at home...
I used to do my maintenance on my 1987 Corolla, I bought it because I wanted the traditional engine and mine was made in Japan model.
The newer engines kind of frighten me. When they do go wrong it is costly to fix.
If you hear of anybody through the mechanics grapevine, let me know. Thanks!
Mrs_Lop - have you ever heard Click & Clack?... they do a radio talk show called "Car Talk". They're car guys who I believe used to be mechanics. Anyway, their website has a mechanic referral page where people can nominate and/or review shops. You can look for one by zip code and check out their reviews. Lacking a referral by a friend or someone on this board, it's better than nothing. Here's a link. You'll find dealerships listed (bleh), but also lots of independent shops.
__________________
1992 Camry LE, V6 (3VZ-FE), ABS brakes, 330k miles, dark emerald pearl, owned since new.
1996 Avalon XLS, ABS brakes, moonroof, white, acquired w/ 139k miles, now at 261k.
2001 Yamaha FZ1, Ivan's jet kit, resprung all around, Ohlins in the rear, Race Tech cartridge emulators in the forks, 45k miles.
The Following User Says Thank You to BMR For This Useful Post:
Mrs_Lop - have you ever heard Click & Clack?... they do a radio talk show called "Car Talk". They're car guys who I believe used to be mechanics. Anyway, their website has a mechanic referral page where people can nominate and/or review shops. You can look for one by zip code and check out their reviews. Lacking a referral by a friend or someone on this board, it's better than nothing. Here's a link. You'll find dealerships listed (bleh), but also lots of independent shops.
Click and Clack are the Magliozzi brothers - they have a repair shop in Cambridge, MA - not too far from RI.
One of them went to MIT but now fixes cars for a living.
It's like the old saw that plumbers make more then surgeons.
The Following User Says Thank You to SilverSoarer For This Useful Post:
Hate to be a downer, but that's pretty normal for a good wrencher. The ones who aren't booked a week or two out...there's usually a reason for that, and it ain't that they're more efficient.
That's one reason I do most of my own work -- I've got a good shop on call for stuff out of my league, but the hassle of having to drop off / pick up just ain't worth it for most things.
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2 W Shore Rd
Warwick, RI 02889 Office Phone:4017325257
owner's name is Toros.
give him a call.
but he mite be busy too.
__________________ IndianaBorn gen7 LE. For sale gen 6: MdxTSXr black shrouds 5K retro OEM key with transmitter 2.4 transm.filter+gasket+WS. 2.4 K&N drop-in+cleaner and oil
Last edited by molson.david; 06-08-2011 at 09:44 PM.
The Following User Says Thank You to molson.david For This Useful Post:
molson.david, Thanks for the heads up. My Timing Belt is looking pretty brittle and yesterday and today the temperatures here are in the mid 90's. I am trying not to panic.
My current new mechanic is within walking distance of less than a 1/4 mile. It's looking like I will have to have him do the work, unless he tells me that he won't give me a package price and prices each job individually. Then I will have to start all over again. He was willing to work with me on my buying the parts and looked over the eBay listing and told me to go ahead and order it. I haven't done that yet - until I get a price on the cost of labor. I think I will just take a short ride today to find out how he will charge and what he will charge me first. If he is reasonable, then I will go ahead. Mechanics liens are pretty common, so if I don't have the money he will have my car! I am cautious because of this.
Mrs_Lop
West Shore Road would be a bit of a hike for me, as it is about 20-30 minutes by car.
JohnGD,
I need to ask him that today - about a package price. He is not charging me for waiting for the parts to come in. I don't know enough about him yet, we are both in a getting to know you stage. He did get my original problem fixed, once he scheduled me.
I just spoke with my mechanic and told him that there was no point in ordering any parts unless I knew in advance how much the labor was going to cost me.
Labor Costs: $308 for everything installed @ ~4.75 hours
That's not a bad price! For the amount of work you're getting done, parts being around $200, I would say go for this guy.
First of all, he's right down the road. He seems rather friendly as he was willing to look at the eBay listing for you and work with YOU, not you work with him.
Second, $65/hour labor is a good price. In the motorcycle shop I work at, we charge $95/hour!
Third, roughly $500 for timing belt, seals, and other parts is a fairly good price. Most dealers charge twice that.
That's not a bad price! For the amount of work you're getting done, parts being around $200, I would say go for this guy.
First of all, he's right down the road. He seems rather friendly as he was willing to look at the eBay listing for you and work with YOU, not you work with him.
Second, $65/hour labor is a good price. In the motorcycle shop I work at, we charge $95/hour!
Third, roughly $500 for timing belt, seals, and other parts is a fairly good price. Most dealers charge twice that.
Chris,
I had no idea. It's been a long time since I had to have things replaced by a mechanic. I'm glad you came through with some information on the pricing. It helps me to keep things in perspective.
I just thought that since Rhode Island's economy has been tanking for the last several years, that maybe the pricing structure here might be down.
Mrs Lop, it seems mechanic work is actually one of those jobs that is always in demand (especially if you are an honest mechanic as others have pointed out) and will always bring a good pay/price despite the economy. The more the economy declines, the more folks start keeping older cars instead of buying new ones, and the more mechanic work / maintenance there is out there to be done.
This mechanic does sound like a good find for you, with the recommendations you have received, the job he already did for you, and especially the patience / kindness he seems to have. I have seen a lot of folks (in all different occupations) that do not have a lot of patience (or any time) for what they deem to be someone "wasting their time" with a lot of questions. Understand I am not at all saying you are wasting his time - a consumer who is not educated on something is much more likely to "get the short end of the stick." This guy gets my kudos for listening to you and being patient with you (like he would want someone to be with his mother).
This reminds me of when I first got a cellphone (about 1999). My wife had one for a few years before I got one (if I broke down on the road I wasn't worried about calling someone). I had about 4 brief questions I wanted to ask the cellphone rep (as I had never had one). We drew the short straw and got a very impatient and rude lady who seemed to not have time for anything but writing up your contract and getting her commission. By the time I got to maybe my third question, she was actually rolling her eyes and exhaling in exasperation. I know it was not right of me, but I am not one to be taken advantage of. After my 4 legitimate questions (and knowing she had to answer me no matter how rudely she might do it) I just started asking anything that came to my mind ---- and I did not stop until I had her literally squirming in her seat and about ready to pop.
As far as what the guy is charging, I don't know what the "hourly rate" is around here, but for the overall job that sounds like a very fair price. I know I could not do it in 5 hours. I don't do them every day (and I have to hunt to find tools I may have put away in haste as it started to rain or get dark from my last repair). I could do it in about twice that time (very particular and like everything perfect - and clean). But even at 10 hours, I could earn twice what my chosen occupation pays (hmmm .... maybe something to do when I can retire in a few years).
Not that I would charge YOU a cent though, Mrs Lop
__________________
Tracy Faulkner
The Following User Says Thank You to ycartf For This Useful Post:
ycartf,Tracy,
Since you have access to the internet, go to either projo.com or look for channel 12 news in Rhode Island. There you will find all the news about what's happening with the Fire Dept here. It looks like the wait to put unions out of business, is finally over and now cities and towns everywhere can use the poor economy to bilk unions of their raises, pensions and benefits. The former mayor raided the pension fund and is now under investigation -he left the City of Providence with millions of dollars of debt.
Oh, but I digress, yes it does make sense that since people are keeping and/or buying older cars and so the mechanics are probably busier.
About this mechanic, when I went in he was fixing an umbrella holder for a woman in a wheelchair. She had on no shoes and kept saying that this is what happens when you get older ...She could not adjust and tighten the umbrella that was affixed to the wheelchair. He fixed it for no charge and she went happily on her way. This random act of kindness really spoke volumes to me. When we went into the office, I told him "That was a very kind thing you did for that woman." He responded by saying that "I hope that when I am old like that someone will be kind to me." I just knew that he was going to work out as my new mechanic. Right now, he is not too busy. But that could change.
I appreciate the thought. Maybe, you could do repair work when you retire or maybe you could open your own place and mentor younger persons and teach repair work.
Thank you for the kind offer. I was telling my husband about you and said that I wish we had somewhere to go and visit in Alabama. He mentioned a place that we could visit in Alabama. He used to do Fire Photography for the Providence Journal Newspaper. He knows just about everything there is to know about New England Fire Departments.
As usual, you put a smile on my face when you reply. Thank you for that!
Mrs_Lop
Last edited by Mrs_Lop; 06-10-2011 at 04:17 PM.
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