Since the earth is 3/4 water and only 1/4 land, I spend my time fishing instead of using my spare time servicing the car. However, I can drop my car at my independent and have the car taken care of while I am at work.

I used to do my own servicing–oil changes, spark plugs, etc. On the other hand, no matter how low the price, a botched job always sticks in my mind. If I pay a little more for servicing, but the job is done correctly, I soon forget about the price. I don’t price shop–I know that the work from this shop is first rate.

I have a great independent shop that does all my automotive work. These people lump the skilled mechanic working at a dealership or independent garage and the oil changer at the Quicky Lube in the same category. These people probably would be even more negligent about oil changes if “Quicky Lube” didn’t exist. Most of the car driving population is in a hurry and doesn’t understand much about an automobile. I would bet that at least 99% of the oil changes at the “Quicky Lube” places are done without problems. The major chains, like Midas, suffer from the same problems. If you find a decent quickie lube place, stick with them. Quickie lube places as a whole, offer just another barely-above minimum wage job, and attract the people that are just starting out or can’t do better. Probably a lot of folks that would have considered being a mechanic a decent career a couple of decades ago, go into engineering or something where the money is better. And it really takes a bright, savvy person to do the job right, especially these days. I really think being a mechanic is under rated and a ‘lost art’ The pay sucks, the job is considered menial, and most have to buy their own tools and work at a frantic pace to do well at all. (including myself when I was 17) Randomly you will get some bright, conscientious ones, but I really think the job interview that most give just determines that the worker has a pulse and transportation to the job. Nothing against BK workers, but they’re young, and just want to get through their shift and get down to partying, like any reasonable young kid would. Pretty much the same folks that have jobs at Burger King. Most are just barely staying in business I think, and hire people that they can pay very little because they have little skill or experience.

Quicky lube conway