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Re: C900 - When is it time to throw in the towel? Posted by SWEDECAR [Email]  (#112)  [Profile/Gallery]
(more from SWEDECAR) on Sun, 2 Jan 2005 09:31:40
In Reply to: C900 - When is it time to throw in the towel?, Kate, Sun, 2 Jan 2005 04:34:02 Members do not see ads below this line. - Help Keep This Site Online - Signup |
It's very tough call.
It all depends on what your car need and what you can hold off on in repairs.
Let me give you my side of view.
I have seen this scenario many, many times before.
A new to me customer comes in with a Saab that has either not seen any service/repairs or been to a shop where they only repair what's broken at time being without giving any suggestions for what the car needs in the future.
I look the car over from bumper to bumper and write down as much as I can see of things that are either broken or start to go bad.
I write down an estimate and priorities the repairs from most urgent (safety) to less to cosmetic.
If I find an unreasonable amount of repairs compared to the cars age and mileage I ask the customer what their plans are for this car.
If they are in the near future planning to get something newer I tell them to hold off on most repairs and if the most urgent repair is of a high expense I suggest to them to start looking at other cars right away.
I don't want to start plucking the money of a new customer if I see it as being a lost case (car in too bad of a shape). I know that each car owner have their own affection to their car and what I see as being unreasonable amount might not be the same to the owner. That's why it is important to interview the owner about their plans and feelings for the car.
I might scare som customers away with this kind of estimate, $3000-4000 is not unheard of of an 88 900 and the owner might go to another shop where they tell them, Oh no! you only need this and that and then they start to pluck the customer dollar by dollar to after a year or so, they are up to the same amount as I estimated in the first place.
I have seen that too many times and don't want to put myself there just to make some short term money.
So, the shop you found might be operating in the same manner as I am OR? they might take you for a ride. It is important for you to interview them as well and have them show you why the car need this and that and maybe even find another Saab shop for a second estimate.
If you list the items that the shop suggested, this board can help you in suggesting if it is of high importance or not to have it repaired right away.
Good luck
Anders
posted by 24.127.89...
, Mon, 3 Jan 2005 16:30:59, Tue, 4 Jan 2005 08:50:12, Tue, 4 Jan 2005 13:50:31, Mon, 3 Jan 2005 16:40:20, Tue, 4 Jan 2005 13:52:47, Tue, 4 Jan 2005 14:22:28, Sun, 2 Jan 2005 09:31:40 <-- Viewing This Message
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