| Author | Message | ||
| Jerry W. (Tork1966)
Junior Member Username: Tork1966 Post Number: 140 Registered: 7-2001 |
I don't think I heard anyone accusing anybody of being a crook or thief. I found my guy upon recommendation of a good friend and upon lining him up to do the service, did not even ask what he charged. Why would anyone want to pay more than they have to as long as the service is exceptional? I never call around for anything asking what they charge, I simply go where I will be treated fairly. | ||
| Brian stewart (Eurocardoc)
Junior Member Username: Eurocardoc Post Number: 223 Registered: 11-2001 |
You know... I love you guys! thanks for the support, as I have posted before, I receive as much from F-Chat as I contribute. Look forward to meeting many of you. | ||
| Frederick Thomas (Fred)
Member Username: Fred Post Number: 373 Registered: 2-2001 |
Brian does all of the work on my 308 and I have nothing but good things to say about him and his work. | ||
| Brian stewart (Eurocardoc)
Junior Member Username: Eurocardoc Post Number: 222 Registered: 11-2001 |
I get a grilling from every new customer, but I know world renowned surgeons who have never had a patient even ask where they trained! I can make a pizza but Sonny's do it better. you can work on your car but some things are best left to the experienced (and honest). | ||
| William Huber (Solipsist)
Junior Member Username: Solipsist Post Number: 220 Registered: 9-2001 |
My rates are as follows $36.00 body $36.00 paint $22.00 paint supplies $65.00 mechanical $65.00 electrical (Augghh!) $45.00 frame I just did a rocker panel for a 1992 512tr, my only mistake is not charging for R & I time the left side radiator but it was easy.  | ||
| Ken (Allyn)
Junior Member Username: Allyn Post Number: 248 Registered: 10-2001 |
I don't complain about my mechanic charging $74 an hour at all; I think it's cheap for the quality of his work. His knowledge of carbs is priceless. What I would hate is paying for a job done badly or wrong which is too common with any car, let alone exotics. When you find someone who knows what they're doing the hourly rate is not very important. | ||
| Dave L (Davel)
Junior Member Username: Davel Post Number: 96 Registered: 7-2001 |
Brian, you make an interesting point. Coming from the aviation world,I know folks who complain about the price for aircraft service and yet that will most definitely KILL you even with a small failure. You have to truly pay to play in the sky Some exotic owners feel the same way. They whine and complain and cut corners and try to brow beat their mechanics into lower fees. Yet, these are the cars they are obsessed with and rave about at the local concours/club meet. Im happy when I can find a good mechanic willing to work on my car. I move every 2-3 yrs and its a struggle. Thankfully forums such as this make the task easier as we can share the good info on good mechanics in various areas. Keep up your good work and know that there are owners( I feel most if not all here on FC) who do care about the good, honest and important service you provide us and our precious cars. Thanks for helping here too....DaveL | ||
| Martin (Miami348ts)
Intermediate Member Username: Miami348ts Post Number: 1609 Registered: 5-2001 |
Regular rate at my mechanic is $ 70/h but I still get it at $ 50/h. Lamborghini and Lotus factory trained! | ||
| Richelson (Richelson)
Member Username: Richelson Post Number: 635 Registered: 12-2001 |
Brian I know what you are saying. Many people feel that some mechanics take them to the cleaners and it does happen especially with Ferraris. Many people don't know that much about their cars and some do take advantage of that. I have had it happen to me before. Now I wouldn't trust anyone with my car unless I know them fairly well. No matter the few bad experiences I had I will remember. It can happen to you too. I am sure customers have blamed you for items that weren't your fault. If you run an honest buniness with integrity you will always have customers. | ||
| Brian stewart (Eurocardoc)
Junior Member Username: Eurocardoc Post Number: 221 Registered: 11-2001 |
Why do people cough up the bucks for everybody but the car mechanic. I pay almost $3000 a year for Garage liability insurance, spend $10,000 a year for latest equipment for newer cars, and still cannot get the F-car software! Thirty years of experience, shop lease, etc., etc.. yet you will pay the Dr., atty., accountant...... we are not all crooks and thieves. | ||
| Jerry W. (Tork1966)
Junior Member Username: Tork1966 Post Number: 137 Registered: 7-2001 |
I know! I don't want to talk too much about it because if he gets wind of what I would be willing to pay, I will be very sad! I will tell you also that he is not some backyard hammer mechanic. He owns a couple of oil change joints and he talks so damn technical, that I don't know what the hell he's talking about half of the time. Hmmmm...does that favor his intelligence or my lack of it? LOL! | ||
| Tim N (Timn88)
Member Username: Timn88 Post Number: 548 Registered: 6-2001 |
25 bucks an hour?!?!?! Damn, thats less than half of what mechanics are expected to charge. | ||
| Jerry W. (Tork1966)
Junior Member Username: Tork1966 Post Number: 136 Registered: 7-2001 |
I have a local guy who doesn't realize what his skills are worth that has tuned up my dad's 308 to run like $1 mill. He charges $25.00/hr. He is an absolute Porsche fanatic and knows them inside out...he's an OK guy despite this shortfall. LOL Jerry. | ||
| Brian stewart (Eurocardoc)
Junior Member Username: Eurocardoc Post Number: 219 Registered: 11-2001 |
the dealerships charge according to a flat rate book. hourly rate times flat rate (or maybe not). I charge for time spent on the job, with the flat rate factored in, on porsches these are about equal, but with I have no flat rate schedule for F-cars, Lambos or Lotus, but my rates are pretty fair by comparison to repair orders from many other places found in customer records. Hourly rate? $72, less than the local Ford, BMW and others. | ||
| Ken (Allyn)
Junior Member Username: Allyn Post Number: 246 Registered: 10-2001 |
This is where a good independent mechanic is golden. My guy does Ferraris as well as my Lotus and is $74 an hour. If it's a pain in the butt job he's fair about it and he costs half of what a dealer would charge when all's said and done, and he does great work. | ||
| arthur chambers (Art355)
Member Username: Art355 Post Number: 316 Registered: 6-2001 |
Are you asking for the stated rate, or what you actually pay? Most dealership charge an hourly rate between 50 and 100 per hour. However, the factories, Ferrari included have a flat rate schedule, and I believe you are charged based upon the flat rate schedule. Most mechanics can beat the flat rate, sometimes by 50%, yet you still pay the labor charge times the flat rate, for an effective rate of double. Most states do not require the repair facility to tell you exactly how long it took to repair the car, and the shops bury the disclaimer about the rate deep in the fine print, which you didn't read. | ||
| Mike Fisher (Mikef)
New member Username: Mikef Post Number: 46 Registered: 11-2001 |
I am real curious about what hourly labor rates are being charged, both by independent shops and authorized dealers. What have you been paying? |