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Anyone have any suggestions for a good mechanic or reputable garage in the Kalamazoo area?

I've always been satisfied with Motor Zone on Stadium Dr.

Not sure what everyone else's experiences have been, but they've always been fair to me.

Otto Kihm downtown is always reasonable as well, IMO.

CAR REPAIR ?

Find your self a Certified Mechanic who does "side jobs", many do, and pay him cash.
Usually a friend of a friend, or a friend who has done business with someone they trust, and has saved a lot of money.

Works for me, and many of my friends.

Under no circumstances, based on my experience, take your vehicle to Pep Boys.

If you have a Mazda, Honda, or Toyota, Halli's Auto Repair on West Main M43 can't be beat. Spendy, but this place does things right and your repair will be perfect.

Other than that, I think dealerships get a bad rap. Again, you pay a little more but they have good parts and mechanics, and they warrant their work. Probably not the place to take an older beater.

I've heard the Firestone on West Main is pretty good for routine brakes shocks etc.

Otto Kihm downtown has a good reputation.

I wouldn't let a Pep Boys store put air in my tires.

Thanks for the suggestions everyone. I may give Otto Kihm a try in the future. Spring Valley Motors on Mills St have really messed me up. They had good reviews in Yelp but my experience is very different. Drove it in on Monday and now having it towed home by them tomorrow at their expense.

I am going to rent a tow dolly this weekend and drag it to Muskegon to be repaired by a good backyard mechanic there. Sounds drastic but hey, I know the car will be fixed right, and at a fraction of the cost here.

That is not a good long term solution though, so appreciate the suggestions today.

I agree with Hoople, pep boys will not touch my car.

Kendall Auto in Portage, Woodwards Garage & Persons Auto Repair in Kalamazoo all three have been in business for years & years with MANY happy customers.
Very hard to beat the price of a knowledgeable backyard mechanic tho.

I had one absolutely horrible experience at Pep Boys about 10 years ago. Haven't taken my car back there (to any location) since then. I agree with the others, stay away from Pep Boys!

I agree with okgc. I've always had great results with Kendall Auto on Portage Rd. Not necessarily in Kazoo, but they have always been good to me.

Thanks again everyone.

Schuhardts. Been around fo 60 years. I've been using them for 20. I've gone in for what I was sure was a major repair, and he's fixed it with a belt tightening. So many places would just charge you the high dollar fix and not bother to tell you there is a simpler fix.

I was going to replace the rims on my jeep 7 years ago. He had a friend who did powder coating and I had all 4 done for a 100 bucks. New rims would have cost me around $600, and old rims from a salvage yard at least half that.

I have Toyota do most of our service on our 4runner. They are very good but pricey. For brakes, belts, and pre vacation services I've always used Schuhardts. I've taken a couple of jeeps to him that I was looking at buying. He test drove them, and did a quick diagnostic (talked me out of both) for no charge. When something is out of his wheelhouse (tranny) he's given me excellent referrals.

lol +3

(07-10-2014 09:38 AM)Nacho Wrote:  I still stand by Pep Boys. Everyone else here probably received poor service because of the sticks up their asses.

As usual, cape and leotard boy, you're in the minority - and wrong.

Did you ever consider that since it's a "work vehicle" they give you good service and jack up the price-make hefty profit (because your employer won't care-can write it off) and keep you coming back, as opposed to a private car?

Sooo...you still take your "personal vehicle" to Kendall Auto, instead of Pep Boys.

Hey CD,
What ever happened with that frame issue on your Toyota? Did it get fixed?

I had safe light come out to replace my windshield today. When he got it off he saw a "rust bubble" about 2 inches long. It is what caused the crack I guess. This is my beater I drive to work and back with close to 300,000 on it. Anyone know how or where to get this bubble fixed so I can get a windshield? Is it something my buddy can do? He is a mechanic but this is body work. I would think he could just shave it down or something. I know as much about cars as I do about chimp volleyball.

(07-11-2014 03:24 PM)okgc Wrote:  Hey CD,
What ever happened with that frame issue on your Toyota? Did it get fixed?

That was our old 4Runner. I sold it as is to my mechanic who made the repair on it and sold it. It had almost 250k miles on it. Toyota gave us a thousand bucks after a lot of back and forth. Call me crazy but I loved the car (particularly it's engine) and bought a 2009 back in 2011. The frame issue was resolved by Toyota back in 2006, but that was on Tacoma frames, which happen to be the same frame that 4 Runners used.

(07-11-2014 04:07 PM)Nacho Wrote:  Just don't go to Pep Boys.

FIFY