---- Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM> wrote:

> I don't think service departments at car dealers are very skilled at that
> sort of thing, in general.
> It's one of my business sayings even ..
> people just want to know what their choices are. They are often not given
> options ..
> or not even fully informed about what work was done, and what was not done.
>
> Customers can throw a wrench in things too .

After many years of dealing with mechanics and shops, I've learned to ask a shop to tell me what is wrong, and what my options on repair are -- what can we do to get where we need to be.  I expect a parts list and labor costs, with alternatives if there are any -- at least good estimates -- going in.  Finally, I will say something like, if this was your daughter's car, and she drove in traffic and on the highway, which of these options would you use?  For me, that's a sobering thought.  Put a family member in the vehicle.  Sometimes it is not the most expensive repair that get's the nod, either.  Fix it how you'd fix it for a family member seems a reasonable approach, to me.  Of course, I know the proverb about the cobbler's son's shoes, and the physician's family's poor health, too.

BTW, I don't use dealerships in general, except for warranty work.

David McNeely