Return-Path: Received: from SHELLEY.SP.CS.CMU.EDU by K.GP.CS.CMU.EDU id aa06170; 26 Jan 95 19:03:16 EST Received: from SHELLEY.SP.CS.CMU.EDU by SHELLEY.SP.CS.CMU.EDU id aa01307; 26 Jan 95 19:02:45 EST To: bovik+@SHELLEY.SP.CS.CMU.EDU Subject: Car inspection recommendations Date: Thu, 26 Jan 95 19:02:35 EST Message-ID: <1305.791164955@SHELLEY.SP.CS.CMU.EDU> From: Juan_Leon@SHELLEY.SP.CS.CMU.EDU Dear Harry, In response to my bboard post asking for lenient or good places to do my car's state inspection I got the following responses. Many of these recommendations are already duplicated in your growing database my friend. Juan, tenured student ---------------- To: Juan Leon Subject: Re: Nice inspector Date: Tue, 24 Jan 95 11:55:59 EST From: jennie@IUS5.IUS.CS.CMU.EDU Sender: jennie@IUS5.IUS.CS.CMU.EDU It's not clear why you want an inspector. If you want a thorough inspection of a car to evaluate it, we've been happy with "Auto Critic". We've used them twice to check out used cars that we've bought. It's a fairly expensive service ($100 a car, though they did have a AAA discount I think), but the mention of their name was enough to scare off one used car dealer. I have to say that I've never had them check a car and report it to be a loser, but then we looked at the cars first :-). I've watched them check a car over and, while I have little clue what they're doing, it takes them a while to do it, involves among other things removal of tires and hook-up of a cool computer complete with flashing lights. -- Jennie ------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 24 Jan 95 12:14:30 EST From: Thomas.Sullivan@SPEECH1.CS.CMU.EDU To: Juan.Leon@cs.cmu.edu Subject: mechanic Do you need this person to come to you, or do you want to take your car in to have it looked at? If the latter, I highly recommend Miller's Auto Service in Oakmont. 828-1598. John Miller is the owner (maybe Jim, but I think it is John). Anyway, we took my girlfriend's car in there to have the water pump fixed and the price was great. We also asked him to look over teh whole car and let us know if anything else was about to go, etc., and he did this and didn't find anything. He could have charged for that, and/or told us that things needed to be fixed that didn't (the car is an '87) and we'd never have known. Very friendly place to have work done too. I'll go back there if I ever need to. --Tom ------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 24 Jan 95 13:04:38 EST From: Po-Jen Yang To: jl@CHIANTI.NECTAR.CS.CMU.EDU Subject: inspector cc: cfb@CHIANTI.NECTAR.CS.CMU.EDU I have always done my inspection on Bruno's and Claudson told me that once Constantine (sp?) let him get away with a small crack on the windshield. -- Bwolen (WeH 4205, x3056) bwolen@cs.cmu.edu ------------------------------------------------------- To: leon@cs.cmu.edu cc: mscott@cs.cmu.edu Subject: Car Repair Date: Tue, 24 Jan 95 13:39:46 EST Message-ID: <5420.790972786@J.GP.CS.CMU.EDU> From: Mary_Scott@J.GP.CS.CMU.EDU I recently had my Voyager repaired by the Chrysler/Plymouth service center. Alas, too late for a recommendation for a mechanic who is reportedly very sincere and willing to work out a payment plan. He is Mr. Constatine and is in the SEI building which is very convenient. I am going to use his shop for the next problem when my warranty is no longer in effect. Good Luck, Mary. ------------------------------------------------------- To: jl+@SHELLEY.SP.CS.CMU.EDU Subject: Re: Permissive STATE inspection Newsgroups: cmu.cs.general In-Reply-To: Organization: School of Computer Science, Carnegie Mellon Cc: Bcc: Date: Tue, 24 Jan 95 15:34:17 EST From: mleone@ECONOMIC.MESS.CS.CMU.EDU Sender: mleone@ECONOMIC.MESS.CS.CMU.EDU In article you write: >Basically, I want to get away with as much as I can. In my particular >case I care more about money than about (limited) lack of safety. You might try Hi-Tech Auto (on Rt. 8, I think). They have been lenient with me in the past (e.g. balding tires, marginal brake pads). Also I once mentioned that I was concerned with the emissions, since the engine was out of tune. I was told "oh, we've never had anybody fail that test." Also, they used to have the cheapest inspection in town. I think it was eight bucks for both stickers! Here's a bit of strategy I've used: make an appointment in the late afternoon (I think they close at 5 or 6), and let them do it while you wait. If nothing major is wrong with the car (e.g. something that deserves another appointment), they may be more likely to pass the car as quitting time approaches. Good luck, - Mark ------------------------------------------------------- To: Juan Leon Subject: Re: Nice inspector Date: Wed, 25 Jan 95 8:06:05 EST From: robd@GS134.SP.CS.CMU.EDU Sender: robd@GS134.SP.CS.CMU.EDU In article , you write: |> I am looking for an.. ahem... understanding, sensitive and friendly |> mechanic to inspect my car. You could try Pon's Auto Service, 155 Greenfield Ave. 521-6980. I've had some work on my car done there, and they have been incredible (Good work, good prices, and didn't fix things that weren't broken.) Besides, one of the mechanics is a neighbor of mine, so I know he really is a good guy. I'm not sure, but I think they might have a discount for CMU students (just ask Ray, I don't remember)(Ray is the co-owner in charge of the Auto Service part of the business.). Rob robd@cs ------------------------------------------------------- To: Juan.Leon@cs.cmu.edu Subject: Car Inspector Date: Wed, 25 Jan 95 12:10:35 EST Message-ID: <14292.791053835@CAE.ADM.CS.CMU.EDU> From: Colleen Everett Juan: Constantin Garage 621-8497 on Henry Street, beneath the SEI is an excellent place to go. I've been taking my car there for about 5 years now and wouldn't think of taking it anywhere else. He is the absolute most honest mechanic I have ever run into. I believe there are lots of CMU folks who go down there. Corky Constantin is the owner. col ------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 26 Jan 1995 09:25:11 -0500 (EST) From: Jenny Ladd To: Juan Leon Subject: Re: Nice inspector Cc: In-Reply-To: Juan, I know a couple of good mechanics/garages, but they're typical in that they're honest & trustworthy, but not particularly "SNAGs" (sensitive new-age guys). But on my second or third pass at reading your inquiry: If you are looking for a garage to pass a _safe_ car without nitpicking, then try (the infamous) Bruno's on Mellon St. They're happy, friendly, HONEST folk, and they pay attention to the important things, not "what can we get this poor sap for." Having been "stung" several times by $300+ inspection tabs at other places (including one with a $20 pair of windshield wiper blades) my recommendation is to take it to Bruno's. As long as it is a safe car. They do check things like brakes, headlights and turn signals.... 8) If the car is obviously unsafe, they *will* fail it. If it's the windshield wipers are smearing, they'll tell you to buy new blades. (There was one inspection where I could tell by the dust on the windshield, that they never checked them. That inspection I think I paid them about $60 total for brake pads, some minor "doesn't start well" tweak & inspection all combined). -jny