I have to tell you that over the years (including recent years) the only reason I will go to a "Joe's Clang & Bang" is to get a state inspection done. I have found that if I'm stumped or having difficulty, most likely I end up paying for multiple hours so I can be told they threw half a dozen parts at a problem (more money) and still cannot resolve it. Even though upfront you pay more to go to the dealership, I think on the back end you save money. It's my opinion and I never thought I would recommend going to "stealerships" as your first alternative...but it just seems when I have something done at the dealership...it's fixed...at Joe's...it's not. Once again...just my opinion and experience.

 

Doesn't matter where you go, you need a technician that knows what he's doing. Dealership techs are not always the "cream of the crop". By rights, they should be, but they're not. Some of the best techs I know, don't work at a dealership.

 

No doubt. Just don't seem to have any around where I'm at! I also should mention that I have had good experiences also with the AAMCO's and well established shops like that. Just seems like "Joe's" is more of a gamble than a dealership or AAMCO type shop...you might get a rockstar of a tech at "Joe's", and you might get a guy that breaks things and tries to pawn it off as "due to normal wear"...hoping you've never touched a wrench before and he can BS you...in my experience.