"Neal Hudson" <nealwh@sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
news:AXEce.2925$zu.65@newssvr13.news.prodigy.com.. .
> Another reason NOT to do business with
> dealers for anything other than the direct purchase of a new car. Stay
> away
> from their service departments. Someone must pay for the fancy service
> advisors, car washes & etc. And even then you don't get to talk with the
> mechanics who do/did the work. I live in the Los Angeles area and there
> are
> plenty of independent service shops.
> Neal
>
Surely you knew that comment would draw input. In my opinion dealership
service shops are a better bet than independents when you have big trouble.
A shop that works only on a limited line of cars is always more intimately
familiar with your model than a similarly competent one that works on Fords
and Chevys and Kias and Fiats.... That is why we have an alt.autos.acura
forum and people here who can tell you what the deal is with your 2003 3.2
TL.

There is a lot to be said for identifying a reputable shop and developing a
good service relationship before big problems come along. I've noticed the
horror stories of poor diagnoses and pricing that never ends we see in the
car newsgroups are at the hands of independents. There are also some great
independents out there, too, but be prepared to kiss a lot more frogs
finding one than if you select from people who have to satisfy Honda/Acura
standards.

Mike (mostly swinging my own wrench for 30 years)