The Future of Auto Shops?

[The Critic]

http://lusciousgarage.com/

This shop is advertised to be an example of the future of automotive repair. Environmentally friendly, transparent, and being specialists on specific models. I think this approach may be the direction of professional auto repair in the future as cars grow more complex. It is simply too difficult for a shop to be extremely familiar with every make and model and its common issues. For this shop, their specialty is hybrids.

Their prices seem to be fair considering the level of knowledge and their willingness to be pioneers in the field of hybrid service and repair. At $120/hr, their labor rate is average for the SF Bay Area. However, the $110 they charge for a minor service is a bit high, but they do include adjusting the emergency brake, which is a service that I feel isn't done often enough and dealers charge extra for anyway. Plus, they are actually familiar with these cars-- unlike the dealer here who is afraid to change the transaxle fluid.

I am bringing my Prius there today for a transaxle drain and refill. Hopefully from this small job, I will see if they live up to the great reviews and to the outstanding shop that they claim to be. If so, I will be using them in the future for diagnostic work and for work that I am too lazy to do myself.

I will keep everyone posted on how it goes.

 

[Burt]

Luscious!?

Definition of luscious
1: having a delicious taste or smell : excessively sweet : cloying
2: sexually attractive : seductive, sexy
3: richly luxurious or appealing to the senses

I just want an oil change and tire rotation. I don't care how it smells, taste or any of that funny stuff.

 

[Pop_Rivit]

Originally Posted By: Burt
Luscious!?

Definition of luscious
1: having a delicious taste or smell : excessively sweet : cloying
2: sexually attractive : seductive, sexy
3: richly luxurious or appealing to the senses

I just want an oil change and tire rotation. I don't care how it smells, taste or any of that funny stuff.


It's California. San Francisco, California. They like their mechanics to be Luscious mechanics.

 

[teambeechstreet]

"Luscious Garage is woman-owned and operated." First sign to stay away lol!

$110 for an oil change and safety inspection? That's f'n ridiculous. Not surprised it's in SF.

 

[MoparDak05]

Originally Posted By: teambeechstreet
"Luscious Garage is woman-owned and operated." First sign to stay away lol!


I'm sorry, but not a snowball's chance I'd ever go there. That's like when I see "Female Owned" on a used car ad. I immediately move on. I'm not sure why this was ever considered to be a selling point. The first thing I think is "Neglected service and dents...lots and lots of dents...". There are exceptions, but I wouldn't risk it.

 

[JHZR2]

Specialist indys have always been the best place to go if avoiding a dealer. I agree with the above comments.

 

[The Critic]

Originally Posted By: teambeechstreet
"Luscious Garage is woman-owned and operated." First sign to stay away lol!

$110 for an oil change and safety inspection? That's f'n ridiculous. Not surprised it's in SF.

Most of the shops I have been to have labor rates between $120-$150/hr. One BMW dealer near my work is at $220/hr I believe.

If a tech is paid 0.7 hr to do an oil change and rotate (not that this place works on flat rate, as far as I can tell), ~$110 is not that far out of line considering the labor rate. You have to also remember that Jiffy Lube charges $80 for 0w-20 oil change out here plus another $25 to rotate your tires.

Originally Posted By: MoparDak05
Originally Posted By: teambeechstreet
"Luscious Garage is woman-owned and operated." First sign to stay away lol!


I'm sorry, but not a snowball's chance I'd ever go there. That's like when I see "Female Owned" on a used car ad. I immediately move on. I'm not sure why this was ever considered to be a selling point. The first thing I think is "Neglected service and dents...lots and lots of dents...". There are exceptions, but I wouldn't risk it.

I too have seen a lot of poorly maintained female-owned cars, but this is a professional auto shop that we are talking about. Female ownership is quite unconventional in this industry, but it would be sexist of me to not keep an open mind, especially considering this shop's reputation.

 

[Cristobal]

Humbug!

I once lived in San Francisco. Auto repair shops there are incredibly overpriced compared to, say, the area around El Monte. There once was a shop there called Automotive Engineering; I recall their commercials.

Automotive Engineering

We serve thousands, why not you?

Just substitute the word "serve" for (expletive deleted) and you know what I mean.

 

[dparm]

Oh God, Cristobal, I lol'd.

 

[Drew99GT]

Are you serious Critic? As the US continues it's economic decline and people are more strapped for money, I think the future for the average auto shop will be in keeping older cars running longer and longer, not specializing in boutique cars like the Prius and Leaf. Obviously there is a market for those cars and for shops that specialize in them, but it certainly isn't the norm.

$110 bucks for a tire rotation and an oil change?

I needed a good laugh!

 

[SteveSRT8]

All the local indy shops around here are VERY busy. Definitely trending upward.

X2 on the guffaw. I love California.

 

[Drew99GT]

The guy I take my Toyota to who specialized in Lexus and Toyota vehicles for 2 decades has now branched out to offer service for domestic and other foreign vehicles and he hired 3 techs to fill that void. He's busier than ever and advertising about keeping older vehicles running longer. It sucks IMO because it used to be just him - the owner, the tech, the accountant, the secretary. True customer service, but now it's turning into the usual big auto repair facility trying to push BG engine flushes and all that [censored].

 

[JTK]

Originally Posted By: Drew99GT
.. but now it's turning into the usual big auto repair facility trying to push BG engine flushes and all that [censored].


Isn't that the truth? Had my Hyundai in for a State inspection some months back at a trusted small indy shop around the corner. Been using this guy for decades. He put new wiper blades on for me for an additional 40 something dollars on the bill! Never asked, etc. Nobody gives you a break anymore.

 

[doitmyself]

Exactly correct, Drew. So, if The Critic's garage remains true to their mission of excellent repair and customer service, then why are we bashing the idea?

It is SO difficult to find a good repair facility now a days.

 

[Drew99GT]

Originally Posted By: doitmyself
Exactly correct, Drew. So, if The Critic's garage remains true to their mission of excellent repair and customer service, then why are we bashing the idea?

It is SO difficult to find a good repair facility now a days.


I'm not bashing the idea at all. I just don't think it's "the future of auto shops" to specialize in one type of vehicle. I've seen a few more shops in my area that used to specialize in one make for a long time, branch out and start working on other makes/models. ie, they grew.

 

[doitmyself]

Originally Posted By: Drew99GT
Originally Posted By: doitmyself
Exactly correct, Drew. So, if The Critic's garage remains true to their mission of excellent repair and customer service, then why are we bashing the idea?

It is SO difficult to find a good repair facility now a days.


I'm not bashing the idea at all. I just don't think it's "the future of auto shops" to specialize in one type of vehicle. I've seen a few more shops in my area that used to specialize in one make for a long time, branch out and start working on other makes/models. ie, they grew.


But, it sounds like you liked your old shop but hate the way it has changed into "all the other shops". It sounds like The Critics garage is trying to be the "old way" regarding customer service. I thought you were actually bashing how your old shop moved away from what The Critics shop is trying to do.

But, I agree about "the future of auto shops" comments. This is just a story about someone trying to capitalize on a niche market. Give her credit on that front. If she can develop a loyal clientele, she might make it? Like your story, either greed or necessity seems to take over and the excellent shop morphs into a so-so shop.

 

[Drew99GT]

Originally Posted By: doitmyself


But, it sounds like you liked the old shop but hate the way it has changed into "all the other shops".


Definitely. The guy Gary I go to still strives for outstanding customer service, but IMO, it's harder to accomplish when he ads more employees and more services.

 

[01rangerxl]

I could see such a place being very appealing to the hybrid driving Californian demographic. They probably do not want to take their high tech machine to Bubba's Auto Repair, they may not like or trust the dealer. They want a non-intimidating specialist who will give them a stress free experience. If this place does good repairs, they will make a ton of money where they are (probably already do).

That said, I'd probably never take my truck to a place like this. I have a short list of a couple good dealers and a couple good hole in the wall shops that I am willing to use, then Firestone Complete Auto Care for tire stuff.

 

[tom slick]

If they are providing good service and making money I support them fully. Nobody forces people to go to any particular shop so if this one gives clients warm fuzzies then that's great.

Is their specialization any different than a shop that only services single makes? Lots of MB or BMW only shops around I don't read about anyone complaining about those.

 

[eljefino]

Originally Posted By: 01rangerxl
I could see such a place being very appealing to the hybrid driving Californian demographic. They probably do not want to take their high tech machine to Bubba's Auto Repair, they may not like or trust the dealer. They want a non-intimidating specialist who will give them a stress free experience. If this place does good repairs, they will make a ton of money where they are (probably already do).


I agree, there are lots of Type A people that drive priusses that made a decision based on numbers or other non-emotional thinking. They might even be able to afford better but choose not to. So they don't want to screw around with a shop they have to return to a second time if something is not fixed right the first time.

I wish mechanics would follow a hippocratic oath of not biting off more than they could chew. 80% of the stuff underneath a prius you'd find under a corolla; if a guy is a meathead doing your prius brakes (specific example) he also would be on a non-hybrid.

My concern is preppy schools, guidance counselors etc shuffling the "dumb" kids to a trade and the smart ones to become anthropologists or whatever. There's no shame in being an electrician/plumber/mechanic, and with licensing barriers to entry, decent money in it. But you run into a risk... a regional one, perhaps reflecting on the quality of schools or local ethics... of having a moron work on your car and other morons agreeing with them that the job was done right.