need a good mechanic (Moon Area)

[srl135]

Since moving here in September 2011 from Houston, I havent found what I'd consider a good mechanic. A place you actually dont dread taking your car into, be it for an oil change, tire rotation, or real engine work. Every place seems to be a chain that has crazy high pricing, not realistic or fair pricing.

My DD may be on its last leg due to a leaking head gasket and oil pan gasket among other things that may not be foreseen yet. The car drives fine, stops fine, good engine and transmission but the oil leak is getting worse and worse, the car smokes at stoplights from oil dripping on exhaust. Mr. Tire quoted me over $1000 to fix the head gasket and possibly another $300-$500 for oil pan gasket (Firestone was similar pricing). Considering the car cost me $3000 to start with; id rather not drop a ton into it. Perhaps that truly is what it costs, but I have no experience messing with engine heads so I'd like to get an estimate from a down to earth shop that has good reviews.

So anyone have any go to general mechanic shops that are easy to deal with and give realistic quotes?

Thanks in advance!

[Dan B.]

Where are you living now??

[Terminated]

What is the car in question?

[srl135]

I live in Moon, and the car in question is a '98 Toyota Avalon with 217k on the engine.

[Slow01GT]

For general repair stuff I use 1st Try out in robinson.

[Terminated]

For general repair stuff I use 1st Try out in robinson.

Yeah Jeff will take care of ya, he is very easy to work with and his prices are competitive to any of the big chain places.

[ModularMike]

http://1st-try.com He is nice and close to you too. My car is there as well, and I would trust him with anything I owned.

[Mark Aubele]

This is why I work on my own shit.

[srl135]

Forgot to mention I just moved into a new house last week so I don't really care to get oil all over the garage while I'm still unpacking crap. I'll give that place a shout. Be nice to learn if I already had another car and didn't have to depend on this one.

[Dan B.]

This is why I work on my own shit.

Highlighted the key term............:biglaugh:

[mustang50lx]

1000 bucks for V6 Toyota head gaskets seems cheap to me. With 217K on it I would be car shopping.

[srl135]

I was hoping the car would run to at least 250k but seeing as how I bought it for 3k, spent 950 on brakes, and wheel bearing/suspension work, and now this has come up.. part of me says - "time to buy a new ride" the other part of me says - "its paid for, the longer it runs, the close i get to another cobra"

Damn the bad luck

[Terminated]

hmm, yeah, to invest $1000-1500 into this one, you can buy plenty of beaters for that kinda money.

[srl135]

This was my beater.. then it ended up as my only. Quite unfortunate.

[Slow01GT]

You could sell it and buy another beater for 1k but who knows the problems that come with it. If you spend a grand to fix the current car at least you know what you got

[bgblockelcamino]

thanks for the referral was nice talking to you. let me know what you decide

[srl135]

LOL love the sig!!

Yea, i need to talk to the inlaws.. they still own my wifes old car, its nothing fancy but it is a 97 escort with less than 70k on the clock and a new transmission. Plus the know all the history on it as it was hers in high school and college. If we can strike a deal then we might go that route since everything on this car has 217k.

I appreciate your help today, it definately put things in perspective. Will be in touch with you regarding future work though on whatever im driving.

[juice_man_86]

I sold my 97 Escort last year..it had 247k on it...and ran great...it was a 5 speed