Eugene Auto Repair

What are the advantages of going to a proven auto repair shop?

Common priorities to consider are speed, convenience, location, and cost, though they may not always be as essential as you think. Don’t sacrifice safety for speed. Don’t sacrifice professionalism for convenience or location. Don’t sacrifice quality by not investing in thorough and proper service; save money by doing it right the first time.

When choosing a good automotive repair facility you need to first evaluate what you're looking for. Of course, the initial concern is always finding an auto repair shop that specializes in your particular issue, or perhaps more importantly, your type of vehicle. Once you’ve targeted those aspects, you can start narrowing your search. The next question you should ask yourself is reliability. Will this auto repair shop still be around next year? How long have they been in service? Will the people be courteous and professional?

Reputation is always essential. At Downtown Automotive Center we pride ourselves in cultivating quality relationships. We don’t just want to repair your car. We want to care for you and your car for the lifetime of the vehicle, and more importantly, for your lifetime. We strive to assure your comfort, by communicating clearly and being forthright about our services and thoroughly conveying the needs of your vehicle. Additionally, we love working on cars and pride ourselves in our state of the art diagnostic systems and vast knowledge of all makes and models of vehicles. With a solid relationship with your automotive specialist you can avoid expensive repairs by establishing maintenance routines. Working with a professional auto mechanic who intimately knows the particulars of your vehicle will save you time and money in the long.

What are the best practices of a quality auto repair shop?

Thorough communication is the key to the entire process. Incorrect auto repairs are generally a result of poor communication, ranging anywhere from the service person incorrectly documenting the concern, unrealistic time expectations given for the repair, or worse, improper diagnosis of the issue. Clear, concise communication throughout the entire process, from the time the vehicle is brought into the shop to the time the owner receives their keys is essential. This can only be achieved by being diligent and attentive to every detail, including clear documentation of all verbal reports from the owner of the vehicle’s symptoms. An auto technician may need to test drive the vehicle with the owner to duplicate the symptoms, in order to properly locate and identify the noise, vibration, smell, or other concern. Being attentive to all dashboard indicators and the vehicle’s industry regulations is always required. Proper diagnosis may sometimes demand a series of mechanical or electrical tests to identify the problem by process of elimination. The more information acquired up front, and the more methodical the process, the more accurate the diagnosis will be. Accuracy is essential to assure your vehicle is repaired in a reasonable time frame while reducing expenses, without sacrificing the reliability and safety of your automobile.

What are the best time management considerations for auto repair?

Again, clear communication is imperative. Planning your vehicle's visit and allowing the proper time with the auto repair facility is essential.

For most auto repairs, we aim to have your vehicle completed within 24 hours. Due to the complexity of some repairs, we may need more time to diagnosis the issue. Occasionally, we may need to order a part which may require more than 24 hours for sourcing and shipping. In those cases, we will inform you of the time demands. Depending on the severity of your vehicle's issue, some automotive part replacements may be scheduled so that you can still drive your vehicle while awaiting delivery of the new part. Emergency automotive repairs are another issue entirely. We always strive to meet your expectations in a timely manner, but thorough diagnosis is always essential, and again, the severity of the problem dictates the amount of time required for the auto repair.

With our lives moving at light speed our vehicle's health is more important than ever. Though its essential to have your vehicle repaired in a timely manner, haste may cause unnecessary setbacks, or worse, an inoperable or dangerous vehicle. Whenever possible, always schedule your vehicle for routine maintenance to avoid any surprises. Schedule in advance, and assume it may take up to a day for general maintenance, unless specified otherwise. Allowing a full day for inspection and maintenance can actually save you time and money by avoiding return trips. As a matter of routine, Downtown Automotive Center performs a 16 point inspection whenever you bring your vehicle in for repair or maintenance in order to keep your vehicle operating smoothly, efficiently, and safely. Downtown Automotive Center will always keep you informed of any symptoms or concerns that need to be addressed.

Common pitfalls to avoid when shopping for an auto repair shop.

Seek a Professional Auto Repair Facility:
Avoid non professional auto repair shops, unless they are given the highest recommendation by someone you trust. Often, such shops are run by a novice, or perhaps a specialist, with limited knowledge. They may have limited access to the essential diagnostic tools and are working by hunch rather than fact. Many such shops may also have limited access to parts, forcing them to rely on untrusted sources, or perhaps more expensive sources.

Give the facility and technicians the eye test:
Do they operate out of a commercial space or their personal garage? What kind of equipment do they have? Do they use hydraulic lifts or outdated metal ramps? Is the facility clean and orderly? Are there other cars indicating that they have established customers? Do they run a tight ship? Are there clear communications procedures? Is there a clear chain of command? Do they keep regular hours? Are they professional in their appearance? Do they take pride in their brand? Do they have a website? Does their website offer quality reviews? Not all of these are essential, but they offer good reference points for identifying a quality auto repair shop.

Communicate:
If the auto repair technician can’t immediately answer this simple question: “What is that new yellow or red light on my dashboard?” then they clearly don’t know enough about your vehicle. In this instance, if they begin the sentence with ‘Probably…” quickly slip out the door and find another auto repair center. There are no gray areas in this regard. Either they know with confidence, or they simply don’t know.

Are the auto repair technician paying attention? Are they taking notes? Do they have a formal checklist, or are they writing it on a napkin? Are they kind and courteous? Are they offering you any information to inform you of their process and methodology?

A few other considerations:
Does the auto repair technician work on a variety of makes and models? Do they have specialized experience? How long have they been in business? Do they have supplemental or complimentary services like oil changes, general diagnostics, inspections, online booking and communications, vehicle history checks, pick up and delivery, fleet services?

Invest Wisely - your vehicle, job, family, and life depend on it:
A common pitfall when seeking automotive repair is looking for the cheapest price for the repair. The repair and maintenance of your vehicle is not the wisest place to be saving your pennies. Would you pick the cheapest dentist to maintain your teeth, or the cheapest doctor to care for your child? Your vehicle gets you to work and home safely as well as hauling your family and friends. The reliability and safety of your vehicle is directly proportionate to the amount you invest; you get what you pay for. Save money by having your vehicle repaired correctly the first time. Better yet, save money by maintaining your vehicle routinely and diminishing the rate of costly repairs.