It took me a while to find just the right automotive shop and mechanic in Tampa. I first had to go through a lot of grief with other auto repair shops. Many of them are unprofessional and unreliable, not quite fulfilling agreements entered into. Repairs are usually not finished on time. Some auto repair shops use substandard car parts, resulting in return jobs that cost me valuable time away from work and other productive endeavors. Even worse, I often found my vehicle stalling in the most inconvenient places even after an expensive auto repair job. That was very frustrating, indeed.

I almost gave up on hoping to find an auto repair shop and mechanic that I could truly rely on in Tampa. I refused to get stuck with shops that offered poor service, though. There had to be a better way. I vented my frustration to a co-worker and, fortunately, he referred me to Guy’s Automotive.

He said he never brought his car anywhere else, whether for a simple auto oil change or for serious engine repair because the technicians there were highly skilled and experienced. They could handle everything from manual to automatic car transmissions, local to foreign cars, economy to luxury cars and even truck repair. He, therefore, made sure that he regularly brought his car for auto inspection and maintenance at Guy’s Automotive. He had so much trust in this automotive shop that I was convinced to give it a try. At that point, I had nothing to lose.

Guy’s Automotive in Tampa

Right off, I found the location of this auto repair shop to be very convenient, being near the downtown area. I decided to ask them for an auto inspection even if I still wasn’t experiencing any actual problems with my car. I thought it would be a good way to size up the shop and its staff.

The technicians were very efficient and friendly, indeed. Not only did they give fast service, they also clearly explained to me in layman’s terms what needed to be given close attention to in maintaining my vehicle. Not being very technically savvy, I greatly appreciated hearing about important details regarding my car in language that I could fully comprehend. I have never experienced such thoroughness from any other mechanic in Tampa. It gave me confidence in handling my vehicle and established my confidence in the auto repair shop, as well.

It turned out that some car parts previously put in my car were, indeed, of inferior quality and, although they were still functioning, were already showing signs that they would soon be needing replacement. The technicians at Guy’s Automotive taught me how to check on those parts on my own to detect the very first signs of trouble so as not to be caught off guard on the road. They assured me that when needed, they would replace those parts only with top quality AC Delco car parts. Apparently, this auto repair shop uses only AC Delco car parts which they have proven to have the best performance.

True enough, in a few weeks’ time I found the warning signs they had told me about and was able to bring my car to Guy’s Automotive before having to be inconvenienced in the middle of a drive. I was so glad that they had diagnosed my car accurately and had provided me with crucial information and advice. I felt like an empowered car owner actively participating in keeping my vehicle in its best condition. It saved me time, money, effort and a lot of stress. It may have even saved my life.

It’s certain that you’re not a fan of taking your car to the mechanic to get it repaired. However, this is something that has to be done and it not only costs you time, but money as well. Not only that, in the back of your mind you’re wondering if the mechanic is doing what needs to be done or if he’s just out for money. There are some out there who will take you for a ride, no pun intended.

Before you take your vehicle in to a repair shop, get referrals and recommendations from others who have been there. They can tell you whether or not the service lived up to their expectations. Using word of mouth is the best form of advertisement. Usually people will be truthful with you about their experience, whether it was good or bad.

Take note of auto repairs shops that advertise cheap prices for things like oil changes and a freebie for a brake check. This is one way some mechanics will try to get over on you. They will purposely look for ways to find things they claim need to be repaired prior to you leaving the auto shop. Then, you’ll end up paying additional money you were not expecting to dish out. It just goes to show you that “free” isn’t really free without strings attached.

Know what kind of parts the mechanic is using on your vehicle. Find out what the markup is on them. Some auto shops swear by using the manufacturer’s original parts for vehicles. They can still use parts that are not made by the manufacturer and still get the vehicle repaired. Parts that are not made by the manufacturer are cheaper, but the markup wouldn’t be great for the mechanic.

The mechanic can charge you more by not using spare parts. This is how they make their money. You can always ask them about the markup just to get their response. There is no law against you asking and no law against him providing you with an answer. However, if you don’t have a good feeling about it and you’re not getting satisfactory answers, here are some additional things you can do to get more clarification:

? You can ask to see what work has been completed on your vehicle. Ask them to allow you to see what you were charged for. If you’re paying for this, you have every right to know what’s going on with your vehicle.

? Ask the mechanic to show you the old part(s). You can check it against the new part to make sure it’s legitimate.

? Do a test with other mechanics in the auto repair shop. Take a peek and ask another person how they repaired other vehicles. They may think you’re weird for asking, but it’s your money and vehicle that you trust them with to repair properly.

If you still don’t feel as though the mechanic performed up to snuff and overcharged you, ask more questions and even get management involved if need be. This is your vehicle and the last thing you need is someone trying to overcharge you for unnecessary work or parts.

The automotive industry, one of the most important industries in the world, has left its mark not only on the economy but also on the world cultures. The automotive industry is involved in the design, development, manufacture, marketing, and sale of motor vehicles.

More than 73 million motor vehicles, such as cars and commercial vehicles were produced worldwide in 2007 with a total of 71.9 million of new automobiles sold: 22.9 million in Europe, 21.4 million in Asia-Pacific and 19.4 million in USA and Canada. While markets in North America and Japan have stagnated, those in South America and Asia have grown, with the most rapid growth coming from Russia, Brazil and China.

The Automotive Industry produces automobiles and other gasoline-powered vehicles, like buses, trucks, aeroplanes, and motorcycles, but also electricity-powered vehicles, such as trains. Not only does it provide jobs for millions of people worldwide, but the revenues generated reach well over billions of dollars, providing the necessary base for a wide range of other service and related industries.

The invention of automobiles revolutionized transportation in the early 20th century, and the way people lived and commuted for pleasure or business was forever changed. Goods could be taken farther and faster, and new market areas were now opened to facilitate business and commerce.

Overall costs of production were brought to a minimum with methods such as mass production, meaning that several products were made at once, mass marketing- products were sold nationally not only locally), and last but not least, globalization of production assembling products with parts manufactured all over the world.

However, in 2008 due to increased oil prices the automotive industry is subject to pressures from higher prices of raw material combined to changes in the buying habits of consumers. Moreover, the industry is at the same time up against external high competition coming from the public transport sector, since consumers are just now starting to evaluate the use of their private vehicle.

In North America, the automobile industry is dominated by the famous Big Three:

General Motors (producer of Chevrolet, Pontiac, Buick and Cadillac, etc) Chrysler (Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge) Ford Motor Co – (Ford, Lincoln and Volvo)

Unfortunately, the automobile also means related problems, like air pollution, the emission of gases leading to imminent global warming, traffic, not to mention fatalities. Nevertheless, the automotive industry is still an important source of employment and transportation for billion of people all over the world.