Speaking of Hondas in Houston...
 

Can anyone recommend a good independent Honda shop in the northwest
Houston/Spring Branch area? I'll be moving there soon and need to find a
place to take care of my '00 Accord and '01 Odyssey. I'm willing to pay a
little more for work I can trust.

Thanks,
Paul

Re: Speaking of Hondas in Houston...
 

> I'm willing to pay a little more for work I can trust.

Then why not go to Honda Dealer ? All work is warranteed for 1 year.

Lynn

Re: Speaking of Hondas in Houston...
 

> I'm willing to pay a little more for work I can trust.

Then why not go to Honda Dealer ? All work is warranteed for 1 year.

Lynn

Re: Speaking of Hondas in Houston...
 

> I'm willing to pay a little more for work I can trust.

Then why not go to Honda Dealer ? All work is warranteed for 1 year.

Lynn

Re: Speaking of Hondas in Houston...
 

Lynn McGuire wrote:
>> I'm willing to pay a little more for work I can trust.
>
> Then why not go to Honda Dealer ? All work is warranteed for 1 year.
>
> Lynn
>
>

Because some dealers are good and some are bad. Also, turnover at a
dealer is sometimes high and you don't really know who will be working
on your car.

Another problem with dealers is that you have to talk to an relatively
uninformed person, the "service writer" and rarely speak with the actual
mechanic. Find a good independent specialist and you can communicate
directly with the owner and/or mechanics.

Good independents are well worth supporting when you have one available.

John

Re: Speaking of Hondas in Houston...
 

Lynn McGuire wrote:
>> I'm willing to pay a little more for work I can trust.
>
> Then why not go to Honda Dealer ? All work is warranteed for 1 year.
>
> Lynn
>
>

Because some dealers are good and some are bad. Also, turnover at a
dealer is sometimes high and you don't really know who will be working
on your car.

Another problem with dealers is that you have to talk to an relatively
uninformed person, the "service writer" and rarely speak with the actual
mechanic. Find a good independent specialist and you can communicate
directly with the owner and/or mechanics.

Good independents are well worth supporting when you have one available.

John

Re: Speaking of Hondas in Houston...
 

Lynn McGuire wrote:
>> I'm willing to pay a little more for work I can trust.
>
> Then why not go to Honda Dealer ? All work is warranteed for 1 year.
>
> Lynn
>
>

Because some dealers are good and some are bad. Also, turnover at a
dealer is sometimes high and you don't really know who will be working
on your car.

Another problem with dealers is that you have to talk to an relatively
uninformed person, the "service writer" and rarely speak with the actual
mechanic. Find a good independent specialist and you can communicate
directly with the owner and/or mechanics.

Good independents are well worth supporting when you have one available.

John

Re: Speaking of Hondas in Houston...
 

"John Horner" <jthorner@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:NV8Dg.79$Z1.37@trnddc03...
> Lynn McGuire wrote:
>>> I'm willing to pay a little more for work I can trust.
>>
>> Then why not go to Honda Dealer ? All work is warranteed for 1 year.
>>
>> Lynn
>>
>>
>
> Because some dealers are good and some are bad. Also, turnover at a
> dealer is sometimes high and you don't really know who will be working on
> your car.
>
> Another problem with dealers is that you have to talk to an relatively
> uninformed person, the "service writer" and rarely speak with the actual
> mechanic. Find a good independent specialist and you can communicate
> directly with the owner and/or mechanics.
>
> Good independents are well worth supporting when you have one available.
>
> John
>
John you are correct when you say when you have one available.

However just from my consumer point of view since I am not connected with
the industry, I see that in the next ten years the indy shop will become as
rare as the white rhino in Africa.

With the enormous cost of new diagnostic equipment and highly specialized
and ever changing skills needed to service more and more technologically
sophisticated electronics and advanced power plants (read hybrid and the
hydrogen fuel cell) there will be no chance for the small indy shop to
survive. I don't think that a shop can make a go of it even as a brake shop.
At some point the manufacturers will devise a brake system that is so
reliant on electronics that you will need a dealer out of necessity to do
the service.

I am not saying which is better, but just stating what I see as the future
of auto service.

Re: Speaking of Hondas in Houston...
 

"John Horner" <jthorner@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:NV8Dg.79$Z1.37@trnddc03...
> Lynn McGuire wrote:
>>> I'm willing to pay a little more for work I can trust.
>>
>> Then why not go to Honda Dealer ? All work is warranteed for 1 year.
>>
>> Lynn
>>
>>
>
> Because some dealers are good and some are bad. Also, turnover at a
> dealer is sometimes high and you don't really know who will be working on
> your car.
>
> Another problem with dealers is that you have to talk to an relatively
> uninformed person, the "service writer" and rarely speak with the actual
> mechanic. Find a good independent specialist and you can communicate
> directly with the owner and/or mechanics.
>
> Good independents are well worth supporting when you have one available.
>
> John
>
John you are correct when you say when you have one available.

However just from my consumer point of view since I am not connected with
the industry, I see that in the next ten years the indy shop will become as
rare as the white rhino in Africa.

With the enormous cost of new diagnostic equipment and highly specialized
and ever changing skills needed to service more and more technologically
sophisticated electronics and advanced power plants (read hybrid and the
hydrogen fuel cell) there will be no chance for the small indy shop to
survive. I don't think that a shop can make a go of it even as a brake shop.
At some point the manufacturers will devise a brake system that is so
reliant on electronics that you will need a dealer out of necessity to do
the service.

I am not saying which is better, but just stating what I see as the future
of auto service.

Re: Speaking of Hondas in Houston...
 

"John Horner" <jthorner@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:NV8Dg.79$Z1.37@trnddc03...
> Lynn McGuire wrote:
>>> I'm willing to pay a little more for work I can trust.
>>
>> Then why not go to Honda Dealer ? All work is warranteed for 1 year.
>>
>> Lynn
>>
>>
>
> Because some dealers are good and some are bad. Also, turnover at a
> dealer is sometimes high and you don't really know who will be working on
> your car.
>
> Another problem with dealers is that you have to talk to an relatively
> uninformed person, the "service writer" and rarely speak with the actual
> mechanic. Find a good independent specialist and you can communicate
> directly with the owner and/or mechanics.
>
> Good independents are well worth supporting when you have one available.
>
> John
>
John you are correct when you say when you have one available.

However just from my consumer point of view since I am not connected with
the industry, I see that in the next ten years the indy shop will become as
rare as the white rhino in Africa.

With the enormous cost of new diagnostic equipment and highly specialized
and ever changing skills needed to service more and more technologically
sophisticated electronics and advanced power plants (read hybrid and the
hydrogen fuel cell) there will be no chance for the small indy shop to
survive. I don't think that a shop can make a go of it even as a brake shop.
At some point the manufacturers will devise a brake system that is so
reliant on electronics that you will need a dealer out of necessity to do
the service.

I am not saying which is better, but just stating what I see as the future
of auto service.

Re: Speaking of Hondas in Houston...
 

dbltap wrote:

> With the enormous cost of new diagnostic equipment and highly specialized
> and ever changing skills needed to service more and more technologically
> sophisticated electronics and advanced power plants (read hybrid and the
> hydrogen fuel cell) there will be no chance for the small indy shop to
> survive. I don't think that a shop can make a go of it even as a brake shop.
> At some point the manufacturers will devise a brake system that is so
> reliant on electronics that you will need a dealer out of necessity to do
> the service.
>

Perhaps, but people have been saying that for at least 30 years now.
Fuel injection, body control computers, etc. were all supposed to be the
end of the independent. So far the aftermarket equipment suppliers have
managed to keep the indy shop going, at least those shops with the
ability to invest.

John

Re: Speaking of Hondas in Houston...
 

dbltap wrote:

> With the enormous cost of new diagnostic equipment and highly specialized
> and ever changing skills needed to service more and more technologically
> sophisticated electronics and advanced power plants (read hybrid and the
> hydrogen fuel cell) there will be no chance for the small indy shop to
> survive. I don't think that a shop can make a go of it even as a brake shop.
> At some point the manufacturers will devise a brake system that is so
> reliant on electronics that you will need a dealer out of necessity to do
> the service.
>

Perhaps, but people have been saying that for at least 30 years now.
Fuel injection, body control computers, etc. were all supposed to be the
end of the independent. So far the aftermarket equipment suppliers have
managed to keep the indy shop going, at least those shops with the
ability to invest.

John

Re: Speaking of Hondas in Houston...
 

dbltap wrote:

> With the enormous cost of new diagnostic equipment and highly specialized
> and ever changing skills needed to service more and more technologically
> sophisticated electronics and advanced power plants (read hybrid and the
> hydrogen fuel cell) there will be no chance for the small indy shop to
> survive. I don't think that a shop can make a go of it even as a brake shop.
> At some point the manufacturers will devise a brake system that is so
> reliant on electronics that you will need a dealer out of necessity to do
> the service.
>

Perhaps, but people have been saying that for at least 30 years now.
Fuel injection, body control computers, etc. were all supposed to be the
end of the independent. So far the aftermarket equipment suppliers have
managed to keep the indy shop going, at least those shops with the
ability to invest.

John

Re: Speaking of Hondas in Houston...
 

Paul wrote:
> Can anyone recommend a good independent Honda shop in the northwest
> Houston/Spring Branch area? I'll be moving there soon and need to find a
> place to take care of my '00 Accord and '01 Odyssey. I'm willing to pay a
> little more for work I can trust.
>
> Thanks,
> Paul
>
>
Check the mechanix files at Cartalk.com for their recomendations in
your area.
You are right on the money about using an independent shop. bob

Re: Speaking of Hondas in Houston...
 

Paul wrote:
> Can anyone recommend a good independent Honda shop in the northwest
> Houston/Spring Branch area? I'll be moving there soon and need to find a
> place to take care of my '00 Accord and '01 Odyssey. I'm willing to pay a
> little more for work I can trust.
>
> Thanks,
> Paul
>
>
Check the mechanix files at Cartalk.com for their recomendations in
your area.
You are right on the money about using an independent shop. bob