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If you spend some time researching forums dedicated to your make and model of car- yes, they probably exist for any make and model you can think of- you will probably find a passionate community of enthusiasts who are very happy to share information about where to find a good independent shop that specializes in your vehicle.
If you can't find a good mechanic by searching the archives, post a new thread asking for advice.
To take it a step further, look online for the factory maintenance schedule for your vehicle and keep on top of it. If you're comfortable doing any of the items yourself, do so- in addition to published manuals such as the Haynes offering, most of the enthusiast forums will have an entire community of people contributing posts on how to do the common maintenance items. Even if the job requires specialty tools, you can either rent them from most auto parts store or considering buying with the $70-100 per hour that you're saving in maintenance.
The real value of a good mechanic is in his or her ability to diagnose a problem that you haven't been able to pinpoint. If you know what needs to be done and are careful to take your time and follow the procedure, you can save large sums by doing the job yourself. If you can't quite place the problem or the difficulty level is over your head, that's when it's time to go spend your money for a quality mechanic who can troubleshoot the problem and fix it for you.
If you can't find a good mechanic by searching the archives, post a new thread asking for advice.
To take it a step further, look online for the factory maintenance schedule for your vehicle and keep on top of it. If you're comfortable doing any of the items yourself, do so- in addition to published manuals such as the Haynes offering, most of the enthusiast forums will have an entire community of people contributing posts on how to do the common maintenance items. Even if the job requires specialty tools, you can either rent them from most auto parts store or considering buying with the $70-100 per hour that you're saving in maintenance.
The real value of a good mechanic is in his or her ability to diagnose a problem that you haven't been able to pinpoint. If you know what needs to be done and are careful to take your time and follow the procedure, you can save large sums by doing the job yourself. If you can't quite place the problem or the difficulty level is over your head, that's when it's time to go spend your money for a quality mechanic who can troubleshoot the problem and fix it for you.
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