Six Must-Ask Questions Before Selecting a Repair Shop

How many of you enjoy getting your vehicle serviced? Ok,  I thought that's how you would answer. Since most vehicles are so highly-technical, there isn't much most of can do today beyond a basic oil change or a tire change. To help steer you in the right direction, we've put together several questions to consider, when choosing the right shop for you and your vehicle. 1) Is the vehicle under the factory (manufacturer) warranty? a ) If the answer is yes, it is strongly recommended you return to the dealer for the repair. If its a recall, it should be taken to the dealer, since the work will be performed for free. b) Most new-car dealers are just as competitive with pricing as independent shops or service chains. 2) Reputation a) What are friends and family saying? b) Do you have referrals?   c) Have they received any service repair awards? d) If it is a new-car dealer that is servicing your vehicle, ask about their customer satisfaction scores. 3) Mechanics Qualifications a) What type of training has the mechanic had? A highly skilled technician is required for most of today's advanced vehicles?  b) Is the mechanic ASE (Automotive Service Excellence) Certified? This is the gold standard for the industry. c) Are the technicians skilled to work on your vehicle?

Automaker to Make House Calls

Typically, when we think of someone making a house call, we think of a service repairman. However, there is one automaker going the extra mile - keeping customers out of their shops. Tesla automotive, the maker of the high-end $100,000 plus electric sports car, is launching a maintenance plan where mechanics travel to owners' homes or offices to perform repairs and tuneups.

Tesla isn't the first automaker to travel down this road before, offering a mobile service. Chrysler, Mercedes, Lexus and others have offered this service before, too. While this sounds like a novel idea, from all indications the service won't be cheap.

Tesla will charge vehicle owners $1 for every mile its technicians travel, from showroom to garage, with a minimum charge of $100 per trip. We guess if you can afford to pay over $100,000 for a vehicle, you shouldn't moan about paying the service repair travel expense. If you're near a dealer, your expense will be less than those far away from a Tesla dealer. Just wondering: Could this be the next phase of improving the service customer experience? Let's see where Tesla ranks in the industry-wide customer service survey next year before we judge.