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Servicing by On & Off mechanics

1.4K views 16 replies 8 participants last post by  GQMac  
#1 ·
Hi there,

My GQ is in need of some major servicing. I'm searching for someone who is able to do a good job at a reasonable price. I've read many good reports of Morooka Automative, however I live on the northside of Brisbane and is too far to travel. Has anyone had their rigs service by on and off road mechanicals in Brendale? Would appreciate your comments on their price and workmanship.

Cheers
 
#2 ·
If it is just regular servicing, than do it yourself. I don't know about the 2.8 but the 4.2 is pretty easy to do basic things on: oils, coolant, belts, hoses, etc. At least it will give you a good reason to relax and have a few beers rather than worry if your being scewed by some shop.
 
#3 · (Edited)
Canuck said:
If it is just regular servicing, than do it yourself. I don't know about the 2.8 but the 4.2 is pretty easy to do basic things on: oils, coolant, belts, hoses, etc. At least it will give you a good reason to relax and have a few beers rather than worry if your being scewed by some shop.
why do a lot of people aways think that mechanics are trying to screw them over if you think that mechanical shops make a lot of money then think again, its very hard to make a dollar in this industry.And ive only heard good things about On&Off road mech
 
#5 ·
Yom said:
Because theres a few rotten eggs out there who give the whole 'industry' a bad name. And I think most people have been taken by a ride at some stage in their lives.
there are bad eggs in all industries and a lot of the time people only think they are being taken for a ride. Tradesman in general get dumped with a bad name. Generally anything that you cant see people dont want to pay for, if you cant see the new brake pads that were installed you dont want to pay for them. I am an electrician and people only ever see a power point screwed on the wall, they dont see the infrastructure in the ceiling/wall cavities and therefore the powerpoint doesnt look like it should cost a lot.

When was the last time anyone ever questioned there GP about the 10 min consult that costs $50 ($300/hr). question why you should pay $80 for a pair of shorts that would have about $3 in material and take 10mins to make.
 
#7 ·
mickyd555 said:
there are bad eggs in all industries and a lot of the time people only think they are being taken for a ride. Tradesman in general get dumped with a bad name. Generally anything that you cant see people dont want to pay for, if you cant see the new brake pads that were installed you dont want to pay for them. I am an electrician and people only ever see a power point screwed on the wall, they dont see the infrastructure in the ceiling/wall cavities and therefore the powerpoint doesnt look like it should cost a lot.

When was the last time anyone ever questioned there GP about the 10 min consult that costs $50 ($300/hr). question why you should pay $80 for a pair of shorts that would have about $3 in material and take 10mins to make.
Tell me about it!

I work in I.T. Noone ever sees much more than me clicking away at the computer. Automatic assumption? I do no work. :rolleyes:
 
#9 ·
rvh96 said:
why do a lot of people aways think that mechanics are trying to screw them over if you think that mechanical shops make a lot of money then think again, its very hard to make a dollar in this industry.And ive only heard good things about On&Off road mech
This is basically the reason why I do as much of my own work as possible. I have been screwed over too many times. Even taking proper precautions by asking around making sure the shop was propely certified, I got screwed over on the rebuild of my IP last year. The fuel shop came in at around $750 for the pump rebuild. The service shop to take the IP out and put it in tried to charge me near $1600 labor and the Frs didn't even time the bloody pump right. :mad: Perhaps it is different in Australia, but shops here are charging anywhere from $80-130 per hour just for labour. Paying those rates, I don't expect to pay for someone's learning curve, especially after they repeatedly said they would have no problem doing the job. Another thing here is they always start at the book rate. So if the book says it should take three hours to do a job and it takes them two, you can be damn sure you are going to pay for three. If it takes longer, then they will try to charge you more. And they know they got you by the balls here. The way the law is set-up they do not have to release your vehicle until you pay. If you don't pay within a certain period of time, then they sell you vehicle. Of course you can take them to court, but they know most people can't be bothered to go that route. The good guys are few and far between here and if you can find one who has time then you have struck gold. I use to schedual work on the Nissan van weeks ahead with a mechanic I had in another town. Now I have a diesel, well I haven't got a clue. I try to do almost everything myself. It also helps to have a couple friends who know Japanese diesels - but they aren't trained mechanics. So if you are a good and honest Japanese diesel mechanic, you might consider setting up shop in Abbotsford.;) For now the closest shop that has a good rep is nearly 70 kms away in Vancouver and you can guess how busy they are.
 
#12 · (Edited)
mickyd555 said:
there are bad eggs in all industries and a lot of the time people only think they are being taken for a ride. Tradesman in general get dumped with a bad name. Generally anything that you cant see people dont want to pay for, if you cant see the new brake pads that were installed you dont want to pay for them. I am an electrician and people only ever see a power point screwed on the wall, they dont see the infrastructure in the ceiling/wall cavities and therefore the powerpoint doesnt look like it should cost a lot.

When was the last time anyone ever questioned there GP about the 10 min consult that costs $50 ($300/hr). question why you should pay $80 for a pair of shorts that would have about $3 in material and take 10mins to make.
You have hit the nail on the head, and whens the last time you went to a GP and they could tell you what was wrong with you and most people cop it, but they bring their car to the mechanic and expect him to know everything thats wrong by just looking at it for a minute and then fix it for next to nothing and then if something else goes wrong with it in the near future then hes ripped them off. The other thing that makes laugh is those guys say do it yourself and they wouldn't have a f***ken clue what their even looking at would they perform heart surgery on themselves to, because you wouldn't trust a surgeon to do it right
 
#14 ·
GQMac said:
Hi there,

My GQ is in need of some major servicing. I'm searching for someone who is able to do a good job at a reasonable price. I've read many good reports of Morooka Automative, however I live on the northside of Brisbane and is too far to travel. Has anyone had their rigs service by on and off road mechanicals in Brendale? Would appreciate your comments on their price and workmanship.

Cheers

Have had my series 2 GU services there a number of time.. good and honest mechanic... have had no problems with his work.
 
#15 ·
GQMac said:
Hi there,

My GQ is in need of some major servicing. I'm searching for someone who is able to do a good job at a reasonable price. I've read many good reports of Morooka Automative, however I live on the northside of Brisbane and is too far to travel. Has anyone had their rigs service by on and off road mechanicals in Brendale? Would appreciate your comments on their price and workmanship.

Cheers
Yep me and a mate use him all the time now. Seems to know his stuff. He just installed an ARB front locker for me, and did the last service.
 
#16 ·
Yom said:
Tell me about it!

I work in I.T. Noone ever sees much more than me clicking away at the computer. Automatic assumption? I do no work. :rolleyes:
I hear Yom I hear ya.... same happens to me. Even when you get THEIR business up and running again after everyone else has stuffed it they still quibble about the cost.