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Best indie mechanic in Austin area?

Discussion in 'Texas' started by daylorb, Mar 6, 2020.

  1. Mar 6, 2020 at 8:03 PM
    #1
    daylorb

    daylorb [OP] New Member

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    Austin, TX
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    Go Pack!
    Wife took her Highlander into the dealer, 60k miles. She came back with a nearly $5k estimate to replace every fluid, gasket, brake pads, rotors, etc. etc.

    Funny thing is - I put on new rotors and pads last summer... clearly they saw a single woman walking in the door... you know the drill.

    Any thoughts on the best indies in Austin for Toyotas?
     
  2. Mar 6, 2020 at 10:03 PM
    #2
    realtorblake

    realtorblake Tundra Thunda

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    Redneckistan... aka Cypress, TX
    2019 Crewmax Platinum 5" Zone lift Fox 2.5 /OME suspension 12.5x35x18 ProComp's
    Man, when I first read the title... I thought an indie music fan or a member of one of the indie bands there for sxsw needed to have his plug removed. :rasta::poking::facepalm:
     
  3. Mar 6, 2020 at 10:40 PM
    #3
    realtorblake

    realtorblake Tundra Thunda

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    Redneckistan... aka Cypress, TX
    2019 Crewmax Platinum 5" Zone lift Fox 2.5 /OME suspension 12.5x35x18 ProComp's
  4. Mar 7, 2020 at 5:40 AM
    #4
    JohnLakeman

    JohnLakeman Burning Internet Daylight

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    Outside of Weird, TX
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    TRD Pro grille, 2018 LED Headlights, Undercover Flex bed cover, Neoprene seat covers, Bed/tailgate mats, Power tailgate lock, auto headlights, illuminated key switch
    Crooked dealer service. That brake scam is the perfect illustration. Jerk tried to pull that with me at a Chevy dealer. (Millennial thought I was old and stupid). Nobody wants questionable brakes, right?

    The downside with independent shops is you typically don't get Toyota parts if that is important to you. Try another dealer, there are several in Austin. Take the car in yourself to discourage bull**** from the outset. It may get you a little lagniappe with your wife. I have no recent experience with Toyota dealer service, but all dealer service people, regardless of brand, are not crooked.
     
  5. Mar 7, 2020 at 5:50 AM
    #5
    teedubbya

    teedubbya I like fat booty

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    Austin TX
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    2019 trd pro voodoo 4runner
    Cedar park Toyota has always been good to me.

    ive heard good things about juke auto.
     
  6. Mar 7, 2020 at 7:24 AM
    #6
    Trooper2

    Trooper2 Premium Lone Star Member / SSEM #13

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    Houston, TX (Suburban South)
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    2007 Tundra 5.7 L Double Cab TRD 2WD
    TSS 20's with Cooper ATP ll's, N Fab 3 Step Nerf Bars,, Pioneer AVIC-8100NEX, Masters Tailgate Replacement Latch with Camera, 1" Maxtrac Shackles, LED Interiors/Brake/Reverse/Cargo/Fog Bulbs, Fumoto Drain Valve, Toyota Aluminium Oil Filter Housing, TRD Shift Knob, Courtesy Door Projector LEDs with Toyota Emblem, Console Tray and Lower Divider.
    I would search around and get estimates for the things you want done. I would think you could find a decent shop fairly easy. Yelp reviews are always resourceful as well.

    Good Luck!

    Edit: think I would be calling that service manager and tell him about the brake work already done. Also might be trying to Yelp review them as well.
     
  7. Mar 7, 2020 at 4:19 PM
    #7
    daylorb

    daylorb [OP] New Member

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    Go Pack!
    LOL - I'm hoping whoever it is also can play some music....
     
    realtorblake[QUOTED] likes this.
  8. Mar 7, 2020 at 4:26 PM
    #8
    daylorb

    daylorb [OP] New Member

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    Austin, TX
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    2016 Limited 4X4
    Go Pack!
    I checked my records - I put on Power Stop drilled and slotted rotors, last May. The dealer said to my wife "it looks like someone put after-market rotors on... you don't want that..."

    The quote also included EFI work, optimizer on the fuel system, 4 wheel alignment, new ATF, cooling flush, coolant, gear oil, new belts, tranmission pan gasket (which was $1900 of labor itself...)
     
  9. Mar 7, 2020 at 5:54 PM
    #9
    Trooper2

    Trooper2 Premium Lone Star Member / SSEM #13

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    Houston, TX (Suburban South)
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    2007 Tundra 5.7 L Double Cab TRD 2WD
    TSS 20's with Cooper ATP ll's, N Fab 3 Step Nerf Bars,, Pioneer AVIC-8100NEX, Masters Tailgate Replacement Latch with Camera, 1" Maxtrac Shackles, LED Interiors/Brake/Reverse/Cargo/Fog Bulbs, Fumoto Drain Valve, Toyota Aluminium Oil Filter Housing, TRD Shift Knob, Courtesy Door Projector LEDs with Toyota Emblem, Console Tray and Lower Divider.
    "Optimizer" for the fuel system is usually big rip off, probably something like Gumout poured in tank.
    Service advisors at dealerships are trained to upsell anything they can, big profits for them.
     
  10. Mar 7, 2020 at 7:24 PM
    #10
    JohnLakeman

    JohnLakeman Burning Internet Daylight

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    TRD Pro grille, 2018 LED Headlights, Undercover Flex bed cover, Neoprene seat covers, Bed/tailgate mats, Power tailgate lock, auto headlights, illuminated key switch
    Want to share the dealership name for the locals?...Maybe just the initials, like CM, AN, CP, RR, etc. Then, if I do have a real problem, I'll know where NOT to take mine.
     
  11. Mar 7, 2020 at 7:52 PM
    #11
    daylorb

    daylorb [OP] New Member

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    Go Pack!
    It was CM.
     
  12. Mar 7, 2020 at 9:36 PM
    #12
    atxtundra

    atxtundra New Member

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    CM is the new official partner dealership of ATXTC. Hopefully there’s a discount to be had but then again, I wouldn’t pay for dealer maintenance personally. Plenty of good shops out there at much cheaper rates.
     
  13. Mar 8, 2020 at 4:44 AM
    #13
    JohnLakeman

    JohnLakeman Burning Internet Daylight

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    Outside of Weird, TX
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    2017 MGM DC TSS 4.6L
    TRD Pro grille, 2018 LED Headlights, Undercover Flex bed cover, Neoprene seat covers, Bed/tailgate mats, Power tailgate lock, auto headlights, illuminated key switch
    That was my first guess, although I've never been near them. My impression from the sales side is that they are very highly driven by profit, and yet seem to be highly successful as an area dealership. I'm not sure what the appeal is...are people really that naive?

    For any savvy buyer shopping in the Austin area, their ubiquitous advertising represents less than "draw-them-in" leader deals; it's more like they advertise blatant rip-offs. I did a little internet pricing and ended up in San Marcos. Got a great deal after less than expected haggling. It's an hour away from me, but Austin dealers are nearly the same distance-wise. Since I do my own general maintenance, I have enough confidence in Toyota reliability to not worry about living next door to a dealership.
     
    Last edited: Mar 8, 2020
    Trooper2 likes this.
  14. Mar 8, 2020 at 5:16 AM
    #14
    JohnLakeman

    JohnLakeman Burning Internet Daylight

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    Outside of Weird, TX
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    TRD Pro grille, 2018 LED Headlights, Undercover Flex bed cover, Neoprene seat covers, Bed/tailgate mats, Power tailgate lock, auto headlights, illuminated key switch
    Huh. Hopefully, CM provides some good discount value for ATXTC. Two years ago, ATXTC was associated with the newest dealership, CP.

    I've been personally involved in the wax and wane of club sponsorship by dealers, and it's often about whatever current dealer management is willing to provide space for the meets. There's usually something of a "quid pro quo" in their motive, not just good PR. If the "quid" doesn't develop, then enthusiasm can quickly wane. :D
     

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