The mechanic I've been going to charges $65 an hour, and it's a long distance away from work and home, and they are an Imports shop. There is a Porsche Motorsport shop that specializes in Porsches within walking distance of my work, I could drop it off in the morning and pick it up on my way out if I needed work done. They seem to know what they are doing and I like the idea of someone that just works on Porsches, but they charge $75 an hour. What would you do? How much does your mechanic charge?

 

$65 +1 hour each way drive vs. $75 and no drive,

Try both and then make the decision on who does the best work.

 

In the San Francisco Bay Area, labor rates are considerable higher.

An independant Porsche mechanic is $95-$110/hour and dealers are another $20/hour on top of that.

Karl.

 

The very good European speciality shops around here go @ $75.00, and I understand the dealer is near $100.00.

 

Here in NJ, Powertech charges $75/hour, and they only do Porsches. That's where I go.

There are other good Porsche-only shops nearer to me, but I like the work that Powertech does, so for me, it's worth the extra distance.

Just my $75.00 hehe...
-Zoltan.

 

My wrench is Porsche only, mainly watercoolers and 914's with the occassional tail dragger. $60/hour. Dealer is $80/hour or so.

It seems kind of hard to compare rates from accross the country, as most of the cost is tied to local expenses and cost of living type things.

Typically I'd say always go with the Porsche only if it is reasonable, which $10 an hour difference is.

When I first got my car it was due for timing belt, rollers, some new hoses, and some other stuff. I took it to a place that did some imports, but not Porsche only. I was told they had a Porsche mechanic. I got a bill for $1400 and a car that had duct tape on the distributor and had to be fixed a month and a half later due to a some bolts connecting up to the balance shaft that weren't torqued down all the way.

New balance shaft, new timing belt, new cover (really destoyed the old one) and thanking my lucky stars I didn't destroy the t-belt and bend 16 valves.

A big hassle. To get them to cover it they would have had to have done the repairs. I ate the cost at a good shop and chalked it up to a learning experience.

Learn from others' mistakes, it's cheaper than learning from your own.

 

look for my post about "getting run around by shop" and you will never look twice at what you are spending. It is very hard to find people who are professional in any profession these days, good mechanics are even harder to come by. I, myself am willing to spend whatever is necessary to do the job with the same amount of care as I would exert.

 

Good mechanics, doctors, lawyers and plumbers are priceless.

How much time will the average job take? say 4 hours, thats a $40 savings. Is your time worth more than $20 an hour?

If not then drive further away. If your time is worth $20 an hour then go to the local guy.

 

Good mechanics, doctors, lawyers and plumbers are priceless.

How much time will the average job take? say 4 hours, thats a $40 savings. Is your time worth more than $20 an hour?

If not then drive further away. If your time is worth $20 an hour then go to the local guy.

 

Go to whomever does the best work and will stand behind it. Don't be fooled by labor rate prices. Compare the total job price. The shop that has a higher labor rate is more likely to charge you for how long it takes to do the job. The other will just keep adding time till they get to the price they want. $1400.00 for a timing belt from 2 different shops one may charge 4 hours another 6 but the end result will be the same. Low labor prices are for the person who calls on the phone, just to get them in the shop. Low labor rate may also mean the shop may need more business and they are using price to get it.

 

Thanks for the input guys, I think I'll give them a shot.

 

The only shop I use is 70 miles away (Riverside), $75/hr. and I have to book time 1-2 weeks in advance of taking it in. But, sooooooooo worth it. I get to watch whenever I want & ask questions. I only had them do belts once, watched, and do it myself ever since.

It is unanimously (PCA,POC, word-of-mouth) the best Porsche shop in San Bernardino county. $75/ hr aint bad for the best. Ask any PCA club members in your area where they take theirs. They know, they have made the mistakes and found strait shooters. "Membership has it's privliges".