Portland, United States – October 8, 2019 / Effective Web Solutions /

A good auto repair shop depends on the viewpoint of the person taking their vehicle in. Some people see cost as a major determining factor, the lower the better. Others want a specialist for their vehicle type. Still, some think, hey, if an auto repair in Portland has good reviews then that is good enough. Those are reasons to choose a shop, but they don’t make it a good one. As a car owner making sure all the needs are met is the most important of any auto repair shop and at Steve’s Imports they don’t miss a single thing.

Consider the following:

Qualifications of a good auto shop

• Certified mechanics and technicians. This should be the first thing to ask about. Certifications are especially important for newer mechanics. Old-timers have a wealth of experience while newer mechanics benefit greatly from training. When it comes to newer vehicles with computer-controlled engines and anti-DIY features or “lifetime” features like air filters that the manufacturer claims never need changing. Look for ASE certifications. This training cover engines, transmissions, drive-trains, axles, suspension, steering, brakes, electrical systems and ECM’s, heating and AC, and performance enhancements. They also offer master certifications.
• Experience with the vehicle manufacturer. At Steve’s Imports, they are aware of inflated prices at dealerships. That makes finding a specialist very important particularly when it comes to performance vehicles. Sports cars are notorious for having difficult to diagnose issues and expensive parts. Auto repair shops that do specialize in particular manufactures typically choose American-made or foreign-made automobiles. These also sub-divide by region. Some are European car repair specialists, others focus on Japanese-made vehicles. So make sure to choose a repair shop accordingly.
• Affordable pricing and guaranteed work. These go hand-in-hand. If a garage doesn’t back the work they do, an initially affordable repair can balloon if the part was faulty and needs immediate replacing. That’s what makes backyard mechanics such a luck-of-the-draw. An unregulated business operation leaves car owners with very little recourse if something doesn’t work out. They recommend comparing prices to other specialists and dealerships. Paying a little more for an experienced garage from the beginning can be worth it in the long-run.
• Time in business and experience. The older a car is the more this matters. Mechanics with experience working on the classics know the ins-and-outs of these vehicles. They’ve encountered every issue that can have with carbs, tuning, and non-ECM controlled engines. Time in business can indicate this experience. Even if the original owner has retired, many garages keep the business in the family. The current owner likely learned from their father or mother. That intuition can’t be taught in schools. It’s only earned through sweat, grease, and a lot of trial and error.

What else to look for in an Auto Repair

A great mechanic is one that answers questions thoroughly. Knowing what is wrong is one thing, but knowing how the problem occurred is another. A great mechanic is happy to share their knowledge with the car owner. That way the owner makes an informed choice about how to proceed, and more importantly, take steps to prevent the issue from returning.

Options for OEM or aftermarket parts. Not all car parts are created equally. A good garage will provide recommendations, but offer to use OEM or aftermarket parts. Aftermarket parts are fine for a lot of applications and can even be of better quality, but certain precision elements respond better to OEM parts.

Auto shops say what’s going right. Chain shops like Grease Monkey have been outed for telling customers their air-filters are bad every time they go in. Sometimes work won’t even be performed because the emphasis is on the number of cars in the shop versus the quality of work. A small auto repair in Portland doesn’t have to meet corporate demands. If they point out what is working well, what doesn’t need fixing, and when areas are looked at, it can indicate an honest garage.

At Steve’s Imports, honesty and trust in this industry are very important. Knowing fixes that have been done recently (Like an oil change, spark plug, or filter change) and the garage says they’re bad and need changing, is something to question. The likelihood of these smaller fixes going bad so soon is incredibly unlikely. Call them for auto repair in Portland.

Contact Information:

Steve’s Imports

7273 SE 92nd Ave
Portland, OR 97266
United States

John Spinnett
(503) 707-6813
https://stevesimports.com/