Usually take my car to Downtown Lexus but would be happy to find a good independent mechanic. Haven't had any particular issues with DL and they're very close to where I live, but I'd be willing to give an independent a look.
Anyone have a Lexus guy?
- Thread starter NuggyBuggy
- Start date
TK4
Well-known member
My go to guys for years - Auto Repair & Tire Shop in Scarborough, ON | Traditions Auto Service
My dad has a 2006 Lexus, takes it to the local shop that does Toyotas, Hondas, etc.
This one, I believe: Best Motoring Fine Cars Ltd · Scarborough, Ontario
A car that old doesn't seem to need any special computers for diagnostics, etc. You might find any local shop that can handle Japanese cars to be capable.
And much, much cheaper than the dealership.
This one, I believe: Best Motoring Fine Cars Ltd · Scarborough, Ontario
A car that old doesn't seem to need any special computers for diagnostics, etc. You might find any local shop that can handle Japanese cars to be capable.
And much, much cheaper than the dealership.
Thanks @TK4 and @Lightcycle .
You both trust your guys? I’m looking for a guy who if he says it’s $3k for X, I don’t even need to question it. I’ve got a contractor like that at our cottage.
You both trust your guys? I’m looking for a guy who if he says it’s $3k for X, I don’t even need to question it. I’ve got a contractor like that at our cottage.
I have a Toyota guy I trust in Aurora. He works at a dealership and doesn't do side jobs though so while he will be straight-up with what needs done, it won't be the cheapest job.Timely thread, I was going to ask about a Toyota mechanic. As I'm suspicious of the work my dealer has been going, or finding issues that might be non-issues.
Both those options are in daHood as well
Thanks!
TK4
Well-known member
Never an issue with the Toyota or the Ford or the Volvo (before it got crunched).
There have been a couple of times when I've asked if the repair can be put off for a while and they've given me straight answers.
sburns
Well-known member
Hey @NuggyBuggy did you end up checking out any of the suggestion, or which shop did you end up at?
Looking to get some work done on my Toyota, and not at the dealer.
Looking to get some work done on my Toyota, and not at the dealer.
@sburns : I should have posted a follow-up. Apologies - that's bad form.
I'm pretty sure I called the guy @Lightcycle recommended, and that they told me they did not do Lexus. @TK4's guy was in Aurora which was too far for me.
I ended up taking it to a place called EuroMechanic - McDermott motors, right downtown on Shuter Street off Parliament. They were recommended somewhere else. I do not recommend. PM me and I will give you the details.
They have no lounge to wait, not even a chair to sit down in while you wait for someone to come to the front. They took 2 days longer than they promised. And most importantly, I was dissatisfied with their work. I brought the car back, but they still didn't fix the problem and I just said screw it. I don't know how they could have handed the car over to me either time without recognizing an issue.
For whatever I saved, and I'm not sure it was that much, I would have been better off paying the dealer. I would have been able to work in comfort in a nice lounge, not had to take time off work to walk there and back (they're close enough to walk to from my house, but this was in the middle of the blizzard), likely gotten my car back on the promised day, and *probably* had a good job done the first time.
All that being said - if you find a good Toyota/Lexus guy, let me know. I'm willing to give another place a shot.
I'm pretty sure I called the guy @Lightcycle recommended, and that they told me they did not do Lexus. @TK4's guy was in Aurora which was too far for me.
I ended up taking it to a place called EuroMechanic - McDermott motors, right downtown on Shuter Street off Parliament. They were recommended somewhere else. I do not recommend. PM me and I will give you the details.
They have no lounge to wait, not even a chair to sit down in while you wait for someone to come to the front. They took 2 days longer than they promised. And most importantly, I was dissatisfied with their work. I brought the car back, but they still didn't fix the problem and I just said screw it. I don't know how they could have handed the car over to me either time without recognizing an issue.
For whatever I saved, and I'm not sure it was that much, I would have been better off paying the dealer. I would have been able to work in comfort in a nice lounge, not had to take time off work to walk there and back (they're close enough to walk to from my house, but this was in the middle of the blizzard), likely gotten my car back on the promised day, and *probably* had a good job done the first time.
All that being said - if you find a good Toyota/Lexus guy, let me know. I'm willing to give another place a shot.
sburns
Well-known member
@NuggyBuggy thanks for the info. I'm in Scarborough so the appeal of something local is why I was interested in the other suggestions as they are not to far from me.
But you make a good point about the dealer. For me as well they are close, I can get a ride home, but for whatever reason the 2 items I want to get repaired are what seem like the most expensive way to fix them. So I'm skeptical if they are just leading me on.
But you make a good point about the dealer. For me as well they are close, I can get a ride home, but for whatever reason the 2 items I want to get repaired are what seem like the most expensive way to fix them. So I'm skeptical if they are just leading me on.
I understand. When I had an MDX it seemed like every time I went in, there was something that cost between $500-1000. My theory was that amount was just low enough to not make it worth my while to get a second opinion. I don't get the same feeling with my Lexus dealer.
Gyro Mazda - every time I bring in my wife's car, there's something catastrophically wrong. I bring it to Maple Mazda and they tell me everything is fine. I am probably a few miles from Gyro and many miles to Maple, and I now always make the drive. It's easy to see how Gyro could pay for all their fancy accoutrements.
@NuggyBuggy not too close to you, but I've got a mechanic I trust here in Mississauga (Wolfedale / Dundas area) which I trust with my cars.
Went to him a few weeks ago for some suspension work on the Odyssey, while they resolved the main issue...there's still a clunk (after $1900) and he asked me to come back to see what they missed.
Maverick is getting new rubber, oil change, and brake fluid change tomorrow...so if you have any questions let me know and I'll ask tomorrow morning.
Went to him a few weeks ago for some suspension work on the Odyssey, while they resolved the main issue...there's still a clunk (after $1900) and he asked me to come back to see what they missed.
Maverick is getting new rubber, oil change, and brake fluid change tomorrow...so if you have any questions let me know and I'll ask tomorrow morning.
Thanks - yeah, probably too far. Hang on to any mechanic you trust.
After years of getting screwed over by HVAC guys I found one I can trust who isn't always trying to sell me a new furnace or AC. So when he *does* tell me I need a replacement, I trust him.
I was told that if a guy from one of the big companies comes into service your furnace/AC, they get a bonus when someone so much as shows up at your house to give you a quote on a new unit. So they're incentivized to tell you your unit needs replacement, not to fix your unit as per the contract.
So it comes as no surprise that the guy who came in on a service contract told me my furnace was shot and I needed a replacement, and gave me an outrageous quote to fix. When the guy I now trust came in, he said "nah, you just need a new capacitor". And that was that. Cancelled my service contract.
I've got a car mechanic in Aurora who I've known and used for 30 years. I know it may be a bit of a drive for some of you, but he is a 5 minute walk to the Aurora Go Train and I often drop off my car in the morning, catch the train downtown and return at the end of the day. Easy peasy. Honest and his shop rates are fair. Also, through my hockey contacts, I pretty much have every trade covered, so I'm always calling someone I know for almost any work.
If he has a waiting area or is within walking distance of a Starbucks, I'd make the drive and give him a shot.
If he's a five minute walk from aurora go, Starbucks in longos is not a long walk.
They have seating? Somewhat shocked
I haven't been in in a while. Last time I was there, probably a dozen seats. It's right at the front against the windows instead of the typical loblaws way with a kiosk in the middle of the floor.
