Local guide vs online reviews for finding a good mechanic - which is more reliable?

I had to pick between asking my neighbor for a mechanic recommendation or just checking Google reviews last month when my car started making a weird noise. The neighbor said his guy was cheap and honest, but Google had a guy with 4.9 stars. I went with the neighbor's guy and he fixed it for $180, but took two days. Now I'm wondering if the online guy would have been faster. What's your take on this - do you trust word of mouth more or online ratings?

2 comments

2 Comments

barnes.brian8d ago

It took two days" - see that sounds like the neighbor's guy didn't have much of a shop, just worked out of his garage probably. I used to think word of mouth was ALWAYS better until I got burned by a "cheap and honest" guy who took a week to fix my brakes and used used parts. Online reviews at least tell you if someone is FAST, you know? Like when I check Google now I look for reviews that specifically mention turnaround time and if they actually fixed the problem right the first time. The neighbor's guy might have been good for your neighbor but every car is different. I'd say use both - ask around for names then check those names against online reviews to see if there's a pattern of people complaining about slow work or hidden fees.

oliver5238d ago

Wait, that used used parts thing - did you catch it right away or find out later? Honestly that's my biggest fear with random garage guys, you got no idea what they're actually putting in.