Q: Can you tell me how much a certain repair will cost?
A: "Without examining your car, we can’t know its condition. We try to develop a rapport with customers so they become repeat visitors. Once that happens, and we really know your car, we can be much more specific about repair costs."
Q: Do you give free estimates?
A: "Absolutely."
Q: How long can I go between oil changes?
A: "For regular oil or petroleum-based oil, you should change it every six months or 5,000 miles. With synthetic oils, we generally recommend every 8,000 to 10,000 miles, depending on how you drive. Manufacturers often say longer, but those really long intervals are unhealthy, especially for short-range driving. It’s really about preventative maintenance—catching something before it becomes a problem."
Q: How important is tire pressure?
A: "Very important. Unfortunately, most people aren’t very diligent about checking tire pressure on their own. The best plan is to set up your vehicle on a service program that’s conducive to the type of driving you do and the type of car you have. It’s just preventative maintenance, but it’s very important for fuel mileage, safety and cost, because low tires wear out much faster."