Return-Path: Received: from C.CS.CMU.EDU by A.CS.CMU.EDU; 6 May 86 13:55:53 EDT Received: ID ; Tue 6 May 86 13:56:38-EDT Date: Tue, 6 May 1986 13:56 EDT Message-ID: Sender: WHOLEY@C.CS.CMU.EDU From: Skef Wholey To: bovik@A.CS.CMU.EDU CC: lewis@A.PSY.CMU.EDU Subject: VW repairs Here are the responses I received to this post about VW repairs: I'd like to hear from people regarding places at which I might have transmission work done on a VW rabbit (the clutch is slipping awfully). Reports from satisfied customers will be of more use to me than horror stories, but both sorts of messages will be helpful. -------------------- 6-May-86 13:40:46-EDT,260;000000000000 Date: 5 May 1986 16:25-EDT From: Lyle.McGeoch at theory.cs.cmu.edu To: Skef.Wholey Re: VW repair I've been pleased with the service at McGee, the dealer in the South Hills. I haven't had anything as complicated as transmission work done. Lyle -------------------- 6-May-86 13:40:54-EDT,339;000000000000 Date: 5 May 1986 16:40-EDT From: Robert.Frederking at cad.cs.cmu.edu To: Skef.Wholey Re: VW repair I've been generally satisfied with McGee VW, in the near South Hills. Lately I've had a disappointment or two, but nothing serious. Whatever you do, avoid Ted McWilliams VW at all costs. They are dangerous crooks. Bob -------------------- 6-May-86 13:41:01-EDT,531;000000000000 Date: 5 May 1986 18:13-EDT From: Mark.Stehlik at g.cs.cmu.edu To: Skef.Wholey Re: VW repair I bought my Mazda at McGee VW/Mazda and they have been real competent in servicing it. Their VW mechanics appear to be just as competent (some of them work on both makes). I was talking to one mechanic there who had a thick German accent and seemed to have spent a large part of his life working on VW vehicles (he was working on his own VW bus while we were talking). I recommend them without reservation. Mark -------------------- 6-May-86 13:41:08-EDT,816;000000000000 Date: Monday, 5 May 1986 20:53-EDT From: lewis (matthew lewis) at a.psy.cmu.edu To: wholey Re: VW's Hello Skef I have owned a '67 bug here and had Paul's VW repair do all the work I didn't have the time for or couldn't do. He is not cheap, but he is VERY reliable, always on or under estimate, and his people hustle: the cars are always done when he says they will be. Paul himself is Austrian, and he keeps lots of VW parts on hand. I have had nothing but professional service from him and his group, and highly recommend him. He is located out on Rt. 51 (throught the Liberty Tubes and turn left) and his number is: 884-8866 Good luck. - Matthew I'd be interested in any other local opinions. When you get ready to ship stuff off to Harry, CC me a copy of the pointers you get. -------------------- 6-May-86 13:41:15-EDT,708;000000000000 Date: 5 May 1986 22:04-EDT From: Robert.Stockton at spice.cs.cmu.edu To: Skef.Wholey at C.CS.CMU.EDU Re: VW repair When my clutch gave out I took it to Merge Motors at Wilkins and Wightman, and was quite satisfied with the results. The clutch repair was done properly and came to exactly the quoted price, and they refused to do a tuneup along with the repair until they had determined that it was needed, at which point they called, told me the price, and asked if I still wanted it. I have heard other people state that they are sometimes a bit slow, but I was quite satisfied with both the speed and the quality of the work. Robert Stockton -------------------- 6-May-86 13:41:27-EDT,2024;000000000000 Date: Tuesday, 6 May 1986 10:17-EDT From: Neal.Altman at SEI.CMU.EDU To: Skef.Wholey Re: VW Repair I just ended a long term relationship with Billco Motors in the North Hills by trading in a 1978 Rabbit I purchased new at Billco for a Toyota. I found their service department to be very good for any mechanical work I needed done during the entire period of ownership. This includes brake, exhaust and radiator work. I never had internal transmission work done. Their rates are in line with VW standard, and are, in fact, cheaper than some of the other VW dealers. The service reps. I dealt with regularly are Eric and Cindy. I have a mixed review of the body shop. They did some super minor body work--dents and parking lot dinks smoothed and the paint matched perfectly. Their complete repaint of the car and some insurance work after someone shortened my front end were less satisfactory. Billco is far away--in the North Hills, on Route 19 in Wexford, south of the PA Turnpike/I-79 interface. You can reach them via. I-79 (north), Turnpike (west) or by going north along McKnight until it merges with Rt. 19 and then to the dealer. They will rent you a used (often very used) car for $12.50 per day while you have work done--request it in advance. PAT buses also travel Rt. 19 to Pittsburgh, but I don't know the schedule. If you are into waiting, they also have a waiting room. I've also used Denny's Exxon at the corner of Penn and S. Braddock for VW work. They did some ok work, but didn't do a totally satisfactory job this winter on a failing ignition system. They got two tries, then Billco got two. Billco fixed it, although the work that Denny's did was needed and competently performed. Denny's parts prices are amazing, higher than Billco's over the counter and even exceeding Ted McWilliams! I did, under special circumstances, get them to install some parts I provided, but this was in a high stress, confrontational situation. Neal -------------------- 6-May-86 13:41:35-EDT,596;000000000000 Date: Tuesday, 6 May 1986 11:20-EDT From: Jeff Koechling Sender: KOECHLING at  To: Skef.Wholey Re: VW repair I had a rabbit transmission and clutch replaced last fall at the Aamco in East liberty. They are expensive, but probably less expensive than anywhere else. They do work quickly. I think they did a lousy job of adjusting the linkages, but I was too lazy to go back and get it fixed. They do honor their warranty: my car was still fucking up after I got it back. They ordered another piece for me and installed it without charging me any more money. -------------------- 6-May-86 13:41:40-EDT,283;000000000000 Date: Tuesday, 6 May 1986 10:19-EDT From: Robert.Sansom at SPICE.CS.CMU.EDU To: Wholey Re: VW repair The guide and I recommend Hamlin's out in Bridgeville. As Doug Locke told Bovik: they're the best this side of the Mississippi (or however you spell it). - Robert -------------------- 6-May-86 13:41:49-EDT,1060;000000000000 Date: Tuesday, 6 May 1986 13:06-EDT From: Michael.Young at k.cs.cmu.edu To: WHOLEY Re: VM Rabbit repair Well, I haven't had transmission work done around here, but my recommendation would be for South Hills VW. All I've had done there is had a clutch cable replaced, but their operation looked good, and I've heard good things about them. McGee Motors is also pretty reasonable, although they seem overly busy and less friendly. DO NOT deal with Ted McWilliams VW if you can avoid it. From personal experience, plus a lot of word of mouth, Ted should be out of business. Generally, I've had good service from VW dealerships (excepting Ted), but they're really interested in fixing everything they can get you to agree to, and insist on expensive (or occasionally somewhat inferior) new VW parts. If you can find someone who knows VWs well, you might be better off financially. [I use VW dealers largely because my car is a diesel, and your average mechanic isn't adequately familiar with them.] Good luck, Michael -------------------- As it turned out, the problem was not as serious as I imagined (I'm a computer scientist, after all, not a mechanic). A just-in-case-it's-something-trivial trip to the Mobil station at Forbes & Shady resulted in a $12.00 repair -- the clutch cable just needed some de-gunking and oiling. --Skef