Grace Jarvis writes:
Hi Sajeev,
I’m looking for a trustworthy local shop that will service my 260,000-mile 1986 Volvo 240 wagon, but I’m not sure how to find it. I thought I had one in Ann Arbor — they even had this cool digital tool where they’d take pictures of various systems or items on the car, write down what needed to be done, and estimate the cost of fixing it. I could approve or deny each job from my phone or computer! One time, I even got someone on the phone who shot straight with me, and told me which jobs I could safely put off and what was immediately vital to the health of the car.
Sadly, they’ve lost my trust. After I picked up my car from that shop, where it had just received new shifter bushings (so nice!), I discovered a block of wood between the exhaust pipe and the chassis. Talk about increased NVH! When I picked it up, they had the nerve to mention that the car was making a little more noise than when I had dropped it off — maybe the exhaust was leaking? (I made it 2 minutes from the shop before pulling off into a parking lot, discovering the offending chunk of 2×4, and beating the block out with a torque wrench. It was already charred.) I’ve since moved to Detroit, so good riddance times two.
For context, I don’t have a garage or a lift (or a driveway!), so I need a shop that will tell me what needs fixing, and when, and for how much. I no longer daily the wagon, but I would love to be armed with the info and resources to get it back to daily-driver status should I need it. Generally, the car’s been rock-solid (despite needing a clutch immediately after I bought it in 2019, and eventually a power-steering pump and an alternator), but I’ve read enough of Piston Slap to understand the value of preventative maintenance! I’ve got a soft spot for this wagon, too.
Sajeev writes:
Welcome to the world of long-term classic-car ownership in an urban setting! We don’t have the space do everything ourselves, even if we wanted to. And with so many people living in the same zip code, odds are that getting help from a local mechanic is a serious benefit to our lifestyle. As you’ve noticed, not all shops are created equal. So here is what I recommend to track down a shop that fits your needs.
The first thing to do is find a shop in, ahem, your area. (That’s a vague statement because every city, town, or zip code has various levels of density and alternative forms of transportation to get you around town.) Narrow down the search by befriending your neighbors with older cars (i.e. ones that are no longer covered by a factory warranty) and asking what repair shops they like. Check platforms like NextDoor, Facebook groups, Yelp, Reddit, and Google Maps for recommendations. My favorite is still the “Google Near Me” searches you can do with ease on any web browser.
Try search terms like “auto repair near me,” “classic auto repair near me,” and “Volvo repair near me” for relevant answers. I wrote about Near Me searches in a previous Piston Slap, and that article also provides questions to ask candidates before becoming a committed customer:
I am not a copy/paste writer by nature, and I also have a fantastic local repair shop. So let’s add to the story with another perspective.
I headed over to G&S Automotive to interview AJ, its owner and a trusted friend of yours truly. I asked him the question posed by Grace, and his feedback was invaluable:
AJ admits that many of these points are not relevant to the average consumer, but they are a great way to find a local mechanic for the enthusiast. It doesn’t matter if it’s a Model A or a Volvo 240, old cars have common traits.
You might be surprised at how many local mechanics might be qualified to turn wrenches on your classic Volvo. But for me, the cream always rises to the top. One shop will be the best fit, and your (eventual) loyalty to them will pay serious dividends in the future.
Do the homework and shop interviews now, and be ready for when the Volvo needs repairs!
Have a question you’d like answered on Piston Slap? Send your queries to pistonslap@hagerty.com—give us as much detail as possible so we can help! Keep in mind this is a weekly column, so if you need an expedited answer, please tell me in your email.
I live in Ohio not far from you.
You need to find a private and not a national chain import shop.
Start by looking for one that does Volvo if not Euro cars. In the mid west import repair shops generally go by Europe, Asia or America.
Ask around and then just go in for an oil change. Get a feel and check on what all they will work on.
Avoid resto shops. Your car is older but not that old. Resto shops can be more expensive and slower.
As for the block of wood. Even great chops are not perfect. Imports often take creative ways to repair them. The tech may have missed or forgotten it. I have found tools left behind too.
You should just have let them know and they would have made it right based on all they got tight for you.
No one is perfect. Doctors bury their mistakes, mechanic have to deal with their mistakes.
I doubt you will find a Volvo shop in Detroit but a good Euro shop should be there.
Check for a Volvo club or Web site that could also advise.
I’m now just diving into my first Euro car and to this point I have done all my own work. But im also asking and learning from other Porsche owners where to go for the big needs.
Mine is an 1986 and a weekend car. I just need a Porsche or good Euro shop.
I like the advice to check the shop and the vehicles being worked on. Years ago I needed to have a new top put on my Miata. After doing internet research about shops in the area, I decided to go to one that had good reviews, but was also surprisingly reasonable (read: inexpensive) for the work. Their location seemed kind of sketchy, but I found their shop to be neat, clean, and well organized, and talking with them by phone and in person gave me some confidence. The final factor in knowing I had made a good choice was when I looked at the cars both in their lot and in the shop. I figured that if people were trusting them with their Maseratis, Porsches, a vintage Land Rover, and a Ferrari, then my Miata was in good hands.
