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  Nov. 15, 2010 7:40 p.m. The poster formally known as 96DXCivic SuperDork

  So as I have mentioned, I might be getting a Porsche 944 and I have very limited facilities to work with. So I will need to find a shop to do some work if needed so how do you go about choosing a shop to do the work for you?

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  Nov. 15, 2010 8:57 p.m. triumph5 HalfDork

  Word of mouth, BBB--for what it's worth--and how often do you see them advertise for business? If they're busy, and hardly advertise, chances are they're either really cheap, or they do good work.

  Word of mouth has worked the best for me. Even asking people you barely know helps.

  There's a transmission shop about 40 minutes away, lots closer, but they doubled the size of their shop, are always busy, and never advertise. No, they are not the cheapest, but, they're competetive, and have GREAT word of mouth. While it was a hassle getting the car there, it was worth it.

  Lastly, in your case, go see them and ask to talk to, or simply walk up to, some of their customers. And check the interweb to see if anyone on a discussion board knows of them.

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  Nov. 15, 2010 10:52 p.m. JohnGalt Reader

  The last really good shop i used stayed open 30 min late so i could get my car and go home. I also got to meet and play fetch with their two shop dogs, a Labradoodle and Great Dane, and bs with one of the owners about his RX3 race car all while they checked me out.

  So yeah for me it comes down to how they treat me as a customer.

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  Nov. 16, 2010 4:54 a.m. Luke SuperDork

  Agreed with the above!

  I used to go to this really cool little old-school shop, with just two mechanics. Ancient advertisements, fan belts and bits of exhaust hanging off the walls, AH Sprite stuffed into a corner, clutter everywhere etc. The guys there didn't advertise at all; all their business came from word-of-mouth, and they were always busy. I once hung around with them for a solid hour after closing time, working on my Peugeot, talking about how cool the Sprite would be with a 4AGE. I've since moved away, but they're still holding onto a set of wheels for me.

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  Nov. 16, 2010 6:20 a.m. ZOO Dork

  Interview the shops -- like you would a doctor or lawyer. Call, set up a time with the owner, operator, and have a good conversation with him or her. That should tell you much of what you need to know. Follow up by asking their customers about their experiences.

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  Nov. 16, 2010 6:51 a.m. Twin_Cam SuperDork

  I asked about one here. Then I went there

  Auto Camp, in Camp Hill, PA, for anyone in the south-central PA area.

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  Nov. 16, 2010 7:16 a.m. Streetwiseguy HalfDork

  ZOO wrote:

  Interview the shops -- like you would a doctor or lawyer. Call, set up a time with the owner, operator, and have a good conversation with him or her. That should tell you much of what you need to know. Follow up by asking their customers about their experiences.

  And during that time, a good shop owner will be appraising you. Is this guy likely to be a good client, or will he be second guessing me, trying to find cheap parts, refusing to allow me to repair/maintain his vehicle properly- its a two way street, trust me. I've fired a lot of customers over the years.

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  Nov. 16, 2010 9:13 a.m. red5_02 New Reader

  Twin_Cam wrote:

  I asked about one here. Then I went there

  Auto Camp, in Camp Hill, PA, for anyone in the south-central PA area.

  And they support the Susquehanna region SCCA.

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  Nov. 16, 2010 9:32 a.m. amg_rx7 HalfDork

  Word of mouth - from car enthusiasts.

  Yelp.com can be good as well.

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  Nov. 16, 2010 10:18 a.m. DWNSHFT Reader

  1. Acquire 944
  2. Go to PelicanParts.com and ask for shop recommendations in your area
  3. Join Porsche Club of America
  4. Ask local PCA members for shops
  5. Go to NASAproracing.com, go in the 944 Spec forum and ask there
  6. Win!

  Good luck!

  David

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  Nov. 16, 2010 12:59 p.m. Ranger50 Reader

  My answer is I don't. I AM the repair shop. Doesn't matter on brand or type, I HAVE to fix it all. No, I am not "cheap". I just don't have $50+ per hour to have someone else berkeley up my vehicle, when I can do it for free.

  Brian

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  Nov. 16, 2010 1:34 p.m. Type Q HalfDork

  All the advise so far is great. Since I do a lot of autocrossing locally, I get work done by shops where the owners and/or the mechanics also autocross. Knowing that you will be seeing your customers socially quite often give an extra incentive to do your best work.

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  Nov. 16, 2010 1:53 p.m. Cone_Junky Reader

  Ranger50 wrote:

  My answer is I don't. I AM the repair shop. Doesn't matter on brand or type, I HAVE to fix it all. No, I am not "cheap". I just don't have $50+ per hour to have someone else berkeley up my vehicle, when I can do it for free.

  Brian

  Come to CA, where it's $100-$200 per hour

  I do ALL my own work too. But I am a proffesional tech, so even if I can't do it in my garage, I have access to a shop/lift.

  I know the cartalk guys have a refferral service on thier site.

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  Nov. 16, 2010 2:20 p.m. Ranger50 Reader

  Cone_Junky wrote:

  I do ALL my own work too. But I am a proffesional tech, so even if I can't do it in my garage, I have access to a shop/lift.

  Me too at some point in my life.

  Case in point, done in a carport with very limited tools:

  Yes, internal GM FWD transmission repairs.

  Brian

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  Nov. 16, 2010 2:36 p.m. Paul_VR6 Reader

  Find someone local with a running 'insert the specific rare sports car here' and ask them where they get their work done. Might take running down people on the street but folks are still friendly.. sometimes.

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  Nov. 16, 2010 2:53 p.m. RoosterSauce Reader

  I've found very few repair shops that didn't do at least one of the following:

  1) rip me off

  2) berkeley E36 M3 up

  There is only one time where a shop did such a good job that I paid them extra on top of what they charged me, and that was the shop that did the timing belt on my Audi V8. Otherwise, I hate all mechanics, and therefore hate myself as well.

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  Nov. 16, 2010 3:51 p.m. Mikey52_1 HalfDork

  RoosterSauce said:... I hate all mechanics, and therefore hate myself as well.

  Und how long haff you had zis problem, my boy?

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  Nov. 16, 2010 5:14 p.m. RoosterSauce Reader

  In reply to Mikey52_1:

  I was born this way, and it only gets worse with time.

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  Nov. 16, 2010 7:24 p.m. internetautomart SuperDork

  I ask my customers. (I sell parts to the local repair shops). Though I am equipping my warehouse to be a shop

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  Nov. 16, 2010 8:02 p.m. Big ego SuperDork

  in a pinch, I've used this. http://www.cartalk.com/content/mechx/

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  Nov. 16, 2010 8:17 p.m. The poster formally known as 96DXCivic SuperDork

  I would do the repairs if I had the access to tools or a place to the repairs.

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  Nov. 17, 2010 6:35 a.m. ddavidv SuperDork

  DWNSHFT wrote:

  1. Acquire 944
  2. Go to PelicanParts.com and ask for shop recommendations in your area

Probably go no further than step two. The Pelicanites were always very helpful when I made inquiries there.

I found a great, low cost Subaru shop close to me by noticing all the Subaru-only donor vehicles parked around it. One lift, one mechanic and all he works on is that one brand. Once he figured out I had half a brain for things mechanical he freely shared his knowledge when I'd have issues I couldn't figure out. I've taught him a trick or two as well. I give him the big or un-fun jobs to do so he makes something off me. Everyone wins.