Favourite Nanaimo Mechanic
Anyone have a preference of auto shop/mechanic in or around Nanaimo?
Specifically, if anyone has interest/specializes in VW's, I'd like to know.. but any shop recommendations will do!
Thanks! This will be a great resource for others as well, I'm sure!
I don't know anyone who specializes in VW but i use Neil at Harewood Auto in the Harewood Mall. HE has always done a great job on my cars and generally tries to keep cost in mind :P Tell him Christian sent you there!! I dunno if it will get you a discount....but it might get me one!!
You cannot just write off that final scene, take heed of the dream.
-Pink Floyd, The Final Cut
When I first moved here, I took my car to Harewood auto, got my out of province inspection and they tried to sell me brakes for my 92 daytona for over $300!! I laughed at them then went to midas and got brakes for $150. I also have met some people that have lived in Nanaimo for over 15 years and they say DON'T use harewood auto.Originally Posted by celticparadox
Also I've had a bad experience with Bears Auto repairs that I want to share. Last spring, my car wouldn't hold a charge. I'd go to bed and wake up and the car would be completely dead. Took it to a few places and they all said it was my battery.
6 (no joke, 6 but they were all except for one under warranty) batteries later I decided to take it to bears. I told them my story, showed them my receipts from the other places and told them it obviously wasn't the battery.
After keeping my car for a couple days they call me to tell me it's the battery again!! So I exchange my battery (was still under warranty) and what happens a couple days later, DEAD!!! I take it back to bears again and they keep my car for a week, then call me and tell me its my voltage regulator chip. I get that fixed and what happens a month later?? DEAD again! I take it back there yet again and they keep it for another week and tell me that it's my voltage regulator chip again and I need a new alternator (even though the existing alternator was only 2 years old) and that because I had recieved a used voltage regulator chip I needed to pay for it again ($250).
I get my car back and guess what? A month goes by AND MY CAR IS DEAD AGAIN!! I take it back AGAIN to bears but this time I'm furious and I demand they find out whats wrong and fix it for free. They keep my car for 2 weeks, then call me and tell me it's my body computer and the only one in the country is in ontario and is brand new and I would have to cover $200 of the cost. So I go ahead and do that and yet again, yes AGAIN two weeks later my car is DEAD.
I take it back for the umpteenth time, confidence in them totally shattered, leave my car with them again and two days later they call me and say there something with the lights when my car is off that is frying the battery cells, and he (Bear) would rewire everything to my ignition so that nothing will work until the key is actually turned.
So over $1000 to them for a car thats worth about 3 and they didn't even fix the problem or offer any kind of compensation for the obvious unneeded work that they did. After all this the people that I mentioned earlier told me about Northend Automotive and that's what my mom and I have been using ever since and have had nothing but good experiences
Last edited by Derrick; 06-02-2006 at 03:33 PM.
Fitz if you find one let me know..I am so sick of paying through the nose at Harbourview VW and getting lousy service!
.....repair shops to-day have joined the feeding frenzy of high priced parts (sensors and relays) of modern vehicles.....simply get a repair manual and do it yourself. I wouldn't let anybody work on my car, ever....it is really quite easy....stick with a rear wheel drive vehicle and you can't go wrong........chevy's rule!
Well Neil at Harewood has only started there recently. Before that he was at Speedy and left there to manage Harewood. They did a job on my car that was quoted as 850 - 900 by Crappy Tire for 700 buck.
You cannot just write off that final scene, take heed of the dream.
-Pink Floyd, The Final Cut
islandgal: I've heard some stories about Harborview - but then again, service at -any- dealer is always pricey!
stanley: I do most of the work on my own vehicles, just last time I had a CV joint done on my jetta, I was stuck in Courtenay on my way to Pt. McNeill... and had to take my car to a shop there - he specialized in VW's - and honestly, for the price I paid, if I could find similar service/price, I wouldn't hesitate to get it done again! I have endeavored in doing my own body work on the Jetta though, and its looking a lot better!
I do enough wrenching on my old CJ5! THAT - I never take to a shop, always fix it myself! It's just so much easier than the Jetta. Simple old rig.. lots of room to work in the engine bay, even with the v8. No finicky bits, no hesitation in cutting, beating or otherwise tearing off any parts... and the parts are CHEAP and PLENTIFUL.... I love my old jeep! Think I'm going to start driving it for the summer, starting next week sometime. (only downside: gas.. whoa does this thing like gas....)
Favourite Nanaimo Machanic
.......right on man, that's pretty cool fitz..... the V dub is an awesome machine allright, it's like you say though. You gotta find the man to fix it right. Happy motoring, even in your jeep. I'd drive a caddy to-day if I had one, cause' no-one is going to hold me ransom on the gas. I'll just put it in my budget and drive in a much saver car. I can't imagine one of those dumb cars they are selling to-day that only have 3 lug nuts holding the wheels on. Imagine what would happen to you inside it when a pick-up truck wacks ya'. Off to the morgue you go...........wild eh!
Last edited by stanley strazza; 06-02-2006 at 06:13 PM. Reason: spelling
Fitz, I had something done to my VW Passat when I was in Courtenay too
and they were wonderful and reasonable. I wonder if it was the same guy. This was a few years back now, but he was in the area opposite the Canadian Superstore near Ryan Rd I believe? Little area between Courtenay and Comox just before you go up the hill towards CR.
Carol
I think there's a VW mechanic on Maki Road. I've never used them so I can't recommend them but you should definitely check them out.
I also need to give mad props to Neil from Harewood Auto. My car's in there right now actually. He's honest, gives very fair quotes and is reliable.
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