Nov 07, 2008 -- Single-brand mechanics favored by Clark
Americans are keeping cars longer these days out of economic necessity. Many of us are in the 10-year club with our new cars, though owning a used car for 4 years will have the same boon for your wallet.
Of course, with increased vehicle age comes responsibility. Clark is particularly fond of having his used cars serviced at single-brand shops. These kinds of shops only service one brand of vehicle, such as Honda or Toyota. By doing maintenance on a regular schedule, you avoid bigger problems. The most basic thing to do is change your oil every 3,000 or 5,000 miles.
Developing a relationship with a mechanic is one of those important intangibles of car ownership. Single-brand shops have in-depth experience and are familiar with older out-of-warranty cars. Contrast that with the experience of bringing your car to a traditional dealer's service facility: You typically don't get to see the mechanic who worked on your car; you instead have to deal with a commissioned service rep.
New Jersey wants to ensure that auto manufacturers share diagnostic codes with independent single-brand shops. Some manufacturers have been keeping them secret to ensure that car owners could only go to licensed dealers for service. But that's as bad as price-fixing, according to Clark. The "Right to Repair Act" now moves to the N.J. Senate for approval.
