There's a very cool service launching this morning: RepairPal (http://www.repairpal.com/), a utility for when you need work done on your car.

As CEO David Sturtz explains, car repair is one of the classic cases where the consumer "is at an extreme informational disadvantage." Mechanics know more than you do, and this disparity can be used in the worst way: to completely rip you off. Even in the best cases, many people suspect their shop is cheating them out of money whenever their ride needs unexpected work.


To drive home his point, Sturtz told me about a study the company did when it was forming: 50 calls were made to shops asking for a price quote on a given repair. Then, a short time later, the calls were made again to the same shops, but this time with women making the queries instead of men. The average price difference was 17 percent higher when women called. Sturtz thought he could level the playing field, and not just for women.



http://i.i.com.com/cnwk.1d/i/bto/20080611/rpal-res_340x343.jpg

RepairPal will tell you if your mechanic's quoted price is out of line.



RepairPal can't tell you what is wrong with your car. But if you tell it which repair the shop says you need, plus what car you have and where you live, it will tell you the real price range for the repair. The data that goes into the generation of the this range is gathered from a number of sources, including one of the super-secret labor cost estimator tables that's been available exclusively to mechanics up until now.



(RepairPal has a five-year exclusive on this data.)


Sturtz worked hard in my interview with him to hammer home his point that the price estimates RepairPal generates are comprehensive and accurate and that they take in a ton of information while throwing out specious data like prices on inferior-quality parts.



Nonetheless, I found a huge range on some repairs -- from $1,100 to $2,400 for a clutch replacement on my 1996 Saab in San Francisco, for example. Sturtz told me that the data did reflect the reality of different parts costs, labor costs, and competencies that shops have in estimating repair prices. He also said that the range for higher-volume vehicles, like mid-'90s American cars, is tighter. (I found the Saab figures reassuring, by the way: My local shop charged me $1,200 for a new clutch a month ago.)


RepairPal has a host of supporting features for its repair cost estimator, such as expert advice that you get when you look up a repair. For example, if your mechanic tells you that you should replace your spark plug wires when replacing a failing ignition coil, and you can see that RepairPal recommends that for your car, you can feel less suspicious of your mechanic.



There's also a way to rate your auto shop, and if you tell the site about a repair you just had or are about to, it will give you a short quiz at the appropriate time on the transaction (estimated vs. actual price, for example) as well as asking you about your subjective satisfaction with the repair. All this goes back into the giant pool of data RepairPal will use to generate recommendations and repair price estimates.



http://i.i.com.com/cnwk.1d/i/bto/20080611/rpal-mycar2.jpg

You can keep a repair log on the site.



The site will keep repair logs for your cars, recommend scheduled service items. And should you want to sell your old heap, it will generate widgets of those logs to embed in eBay (http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?type=3&campid=5335862346&toolid=10001&mpre=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2F) or Craigslist (http://www.craigslist.org/) sale listings.


RepairPal is a great idea and nicely executed, too. The hard job for the company is going to be to get users, since it's not like this site is going to be front-of-mind with them all the time. Interest from blogs, consumer advocates, and an upcoming hit on Car Talk will generate spikes in traffic, but not the persistent awareness this service will need to survive.


Ongoing traffic will come primarily from search engine optimization and search advertising, Sturtz said.
Revenue will come from context-sensitive advertising at first, but the longer-term opportunities for this business are much more interesting than that. Sturtz is convinced that mechanics will love this service, since it has the potential to reduce the natural suspicion customers feel when they're told about the price of a repair.



And since Sturtz thinks he'll end up as friend to the auto shop, he's looking at an OpenTable (http://www.opentable.com/) model to help shops run online scheduling for repairs, and he'll collect booking fees from that. He's also thinking that at some point he may put an open bid model on the scheduler, so users could put a call out for a standard repair (like a 30,000 mile scheduled service), and then collect bids from nearby shops on that service.


Also to come is a mobile app or a call center for the service, so consumers will be able to use the site at time they need it the most: when their car has stranded them in an unfamiliar town.


RepairPal could be a major disruptor to the auto repair business. I hope the company is able to deliver on its vision.

http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13746_7-9966636-48.html?part=rss&tag=feed&subj=TheCarTechblog

nice find

I've found 2 ways to get better respect when I go for auto repairs:

1: Go in with my GE name badge on (if I come from work)
2: Go in with exact names and part numbers of stuff (and wear a grease covered shirt/jeans)

I straight up hate mechanics (i work at a dealership go figure) and will always work on my own vehicle instead of taking to someone. If I don't know how to do something, I will find someone i know who does, or learn how to do it.

I've found 2 ways to get better respect when I go for auto repairs:

1: Go in with my GE name badge on (if I come from work)
2: Go in with exact names and part numbers of stuff (and wear a grease covered shirt/jeans)

GE as in General Electrics? Ohhh man... I'm walking away to catch my breath :lol:

I straight up hate mechanics (i work at a dealership go figure) and will always work on my own vehicle instead of taking to someone. If I don't know how to do something, I will find someone i know who does, or learn how to do it.
I'm a mechanic do you hate me?:sadbanana:

I'm a mechanic do you hate me?:sadbanana:

not when your under my hood:D

I straight up hate mechanics (i work at a dealership go figure) and will always work on my own vehicle instead of taking to someone. If I don't know how to do something, I will find someone i know who does, or learn how to do it.

Someday, you'll need one, and you'll be eating those words. You can't do everything yourself.

really there just people like you and me,work hard trying to support their families.

Hey like the Seinfield episode,when Jerry gave up his move for a good Mechanic.

Someday, you'll need one, and you'll be eating those words. You can't do everything yourself.

That really depends, so don't cover everyone with that statement.

I've owned a few cars, new and used with high mileage and even built my own race cars. I've never once taken my car into a mechanic for anything, ever. I've never even taken my car into a quick-lube, brake jobber or tune up place either even for convienence. I cannot abide someone else working on my cars.

That really depends, so don't cover everyone with that statement.

I've owned a few cars, new and used with high mileage and even built my own race cars. I've never once taken my car into a mechanic for anything, ever. I've never even taken my car into a quick-lube, brake jobber or tune up place either even for convienence. I cannot abide someone else working on my cars.

That may be fine for you but there are other people who just don't have the spare time to work on their car, or the money to repair any mistakes they may make while working. Can you imagine someone with no real knowledge of cars replacing their camshafts? What happens when timing is off and they blow the engine? I don't think they deserve to get ripped off so this is a good tool for them.

I will never take my car to a mechanic

especially after taking my car to get an alignment and finding out that the mechanic couldn't figure out how to loosen my coilovers to adjust the camber, so he used a hammer and chisel to get the strut to move in the tophat

The biggest thing that program can't help you with is telling you what your car needs. I went to Tilden break world a couple years back and they quoted me $1200 to do my breaks, and i went in there with one squeaky break. They wanted to charge me for 4 new rotors and new pads.

Went to an autoparts store and then to my fave mechanic and only cost me $350 and it was done in no time. I love my mechanic!! Very honest and has a keg in his garage, Newcastle no less.

GF took her Exploder to some other wierd place, they quoted her over 1k for new tires and shocks and struts, none of which she needed. Places are crazy. I have no problem paying for good work, but to many places try to give you things you don't need.

Yeah, the big thing problem is dealerships trying to sell unnecessary repairs. I took my Ford Exploder out of a shop when they told me my brakes could fail at any minute and I needed 4 new rotors and pads for ~$1000. That was about 15,000 miles ago and the pads still aren't squeaking. I just wanted the e-brake cable adjusted a little tighter.

there are a good number of shady mechanics out there and there are very good ones that are making their living just like any one else. 90% of mechanics are paid on commission or flat rate so when they are busy that make good money, when they are slow they are not making a dime while they stand around so sometimes yes they try and upsell some maybe not urgently needed work but stuff that does need attention and with the ecomomy the way it is right the whole auto industry is hurting pretty bad, people will spend their money to fill their tank and not use it to do regular maintainence or repair. I used to be a mechanic and now rebuild slushboxes all day, and we are feeling the crunch here to. But yes i prefer to work on my own car, even while it was under 3/36 warranty. i have never had a major problem with it but have done all the maintainence and mods myself/ with friends. but yes regular non car people need to shop around and find a shop they can trust.

I just had my wife's AT fluid swapped out. According to Repairpal, it should've been $61-75. All the places I called, including the places they suggested were $30 - $40 more. I wonder if the accuracy and range of prices are sometimes off? Perhaps it's a good frame of reference to go by and not something you hold the shop accountable to? :confused:

That really depends, so don't cover everyone with that statement.

I've owned a few cars, new and used with high mileage and even built my own race cars. I've never once taken my car into a mechanic for anything, ever. I've never even taken my car into a quick-lube, brake jobber or tune up place either even for convienence. I cannot abide someone else working on my cars.

I know what you mean, I don't ever take my car to anyone, but since I'm a technician, I can do more myself than most people.

What if you need A/C work, an alignment, or body work? Can't really do those yourself in your garage.

What if you need A/C work, an alignment, or body work? Can't really do those yourself in your garage.

Sure you can.

The A/C dye kits (for finding leaks) are available to shadetree mechanics.. and refrigerant is available at any auto parts store.

An alignment can be accomplished on a level garage floor with some string and a ruler. (most shop alignments are done by poorly trained techs who just try to get things within factory specs.. which are extremely loose)

Body work is more about skill than equipment.. and setting up a paint booth in a garage is certainly within the means of a dedicated shadetree.

...What if you need A/C work, an alignment, or body work? Can't really do those yourself in your garage.

Sure you can.

The A/C dye kits (for finding leaks) are available to shadetree mechanics.. and refrigerant is available at any auto parts store.

An alignment can be accomplished on a level garage floor with some string and a ruler. (most shop alignments are done by poorly trained techs who just try to get things within factory specs.. which are extremely loose)

Body work is more about skill than equipment.. and setting up a paint booth in a garage is certainly within the means of a dedicated shadetree.

I've redone A/C stuff in my garage. If a compressor is bad then I just source the part. The rest is pretty straightforward.

I like doing my alignments. Any good motorsports book from Amazon will tell you how to do it in the paddocks/garage with basic tools.

AND for body work, well I've done it...poorly but I care more about structural rigidity and corrosion protection than aesthetics. But if you are interested Hot Rod magazine has produced a set of videos that goes through step by step with tools and techniques for getting that arrow straight body and kick ass two step base/clear done in your very own garage.

I guess it comes down to time and what you value. I push my cars pretty hard and I simply don't trust the average mechanic to make sure that my suspension won't come adrift at high speeds.

Coming from the other side of this....it absolutely sucks to sell parts and service to people.

Everybody is brainwashed to think that EVERYONE in the automotive industry is trying to rip them off. People come in with terrible attitudes and are constantly trying to argue. I hate selling parts retail.

Yeah, the big thing problem is dealerships trying to sell unnecessary repairs. I took my Ford Exploder out of a shop when they told me my brakes could fail at any minute and I needed 4 new rotors and pads for ~$1000. That was about 15,000 miles ago and the pads still aren't squeaking. I just wanted the e-brake cable adjusted a little tighter.

My gf's experience was the opposite; The mechanic she and her family had used for years was ripping her off. She took in her SUV for a vibration up front, he wanted to replace the front driveshaft ($400 part & $300 labor), and oh the diff was leaking the steering was leaking, something else was wrong, etc. Went to a dealership and they said 'Oh, that's the U-joint." $15 part $100 labor. Pays to shop around!

I've found for the few things I do bring my car to the shop for, if you know what's wrong, and tell them exactly what you need fixed, there's rarely an issue. It's people who bring in their car for random noises or other nondescript issues that get hosed. And why not? Thing about how many car problems there are that could have 10 different fixes. Might as well suggest them all if you're the shop.

My gf's experience was the opposite; The mechanic she and her family had used for years was ripping her off. She took in her SUV for a vibration up front, he wanted to replace the front driveshaft ($400 part & $300 labor), and oh the diff was leaking the steering was leaking, something else was wrong, etc. Went to a dealership and they said 'Oh, that's the U-joint." $15 part $100 labor. Pays to shop around!

Whoops - I didn't mean to single out dealerships in my original post. I meant it to apply to all auto repair shops. You have to find a good one (dealership or not) that will not sell unnecessary repairs. Once you find that, you should stick to them even if their rates are a little high.

Whoops - I didn't mean to single out dealerships in my original post. I meant it to apply to all auto repair shops. You have to find a good one (dealership or not) that will not sell unnecessary repairs. Once you find that, you should stick to them even if their rates are a little high.

+1

I've found a great subaru mechanic and a great alignment shop. I still do what i can myself, but it's nice not to have to worry about much if larger problems arise.

There are no mechanics these days , only parts changers.

There are no mechanics these days , only parts changers.

That's a terrible generaliztion, but sadly, somewhat true.