except tuning
Beat the corvette tax
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 327
Likes: 1
Beat the corvette tax
I recently posted about a $105 oil change done for me by an independent shop that specializes in Corvettes.
During the inspection while changing the oil they indicated that I needed a new oxygen sensor. The price quoted was a total of $405 for parts and labor. Later I emailed the owner of the shop and he stated that it would actually only cost about $300 plus
I ordered the part from parts warehouse and got a bosch unit for $65+- and took it to a local shop that does several types of repairs on most makes of cars. The guy put it on the rack and spent all of 20 minutes replacing the sensor. He charged me $30 labor which I thought was extremely fair. A total of $95 vrs $405. I think that corvette owners are getting rippedoff by some of these corvette specialists because of their love for their cars. The mechanic let me watch and showed me how easy it was(if you have a lift) He explained that corvettes are mechanical devices and not that different form any other high tech car. Corvette owners have to start asking. Why am I paying 3 times or more for the same service other owners of other high end cars do not have to pay. Is it time to quit patronizing these corvette sepcialist shops untill they get more reasonable, I think so..
During the inspection while changing the oil they indicated that I needed a new oxygen sensor. The price quoted was a total of $405 for parts and labor. Later I emailed the owner of the shop and he stated that it would actually only cost about $300 plus
I ordered the part from parts warehouse and got a bosch unit for $65+- and took it to a local shop that does several types of repairs on most makes of cars. The guy put it on the rack and spent all of 20 minutes replacing the sensor. He charged me $30 labor which I thought was extremely fair. A total of $95 vrs $405. I think that corvette owners are getting rippedoff by some of these corvette specialists because of their love for their cars. The mechanic let me watch and showed me how easy it was(if you have a lift) He explained that corvettes are mechanical devices and not that different form any other high tech car. Corvette owners have to start asking. Why am I paying 3 times or more for the same service other owners of other high end cars do not have to pay. Is it time to quit patronizing these corvette sepcialist shops untill they get more reasonable, I think so..
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 18,681
Likes: 47
From: Reno is so close to Hell you can see Sparks , State Of Confusion
St. Jude Donor '12-'13-'14
Great post, You are so correct.... I went to a muffler shop here in town and got a price to install my ZO6 exhaust and he told me 200 bucks, I said it won't take more than half an hour and his reply was you drive a Corvette so it costs more.lol. I drove down the street to another well known shop and had it done for 70 bucks and the guy let me watch.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 16,513
Likes: 4
From: Official Dirty Dozen Member
Great post, You are so correct.... I went to a muffler shop here in town and got a price to install my ZO6 exhaust and he told me 200 bucks, I said it won't take more than half an hour and his reply was you drive a Corvette so it costs more.lol. I drove down the street to another well known shop and had it done for 70 bucks and the guy let me watch.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 19,659
Likes: 34
From: Lenoir City Tennessee
Ci 6, 8 & 10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
I guess the corvette shop was trying to make a days full labor off of you for a 30 minute job. He must be hurting for work or soon will be if stuff like that gets around. Myself, I would have installed it myself but for $30 labor you did good. 
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,128
Likes: 5
From: Chicago IL
What we should do is including the name of the shop “specialist” so that we now not to go to a place like that, because there are true CORVETTE specialist that do fantastic job like John at POWERHOUSE PERFORMANCE, INC.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,011
Likes: 493
From: South Florida
For basic things on the car I let someone that I know work on the car. He owns a late 70's vette, and one of the workers owns a split window coupe. These guys are meticulous with my car. When they did the catback install they brought me out to make sure everything was lined up perfectly. They also only charged me $80. They also let me bring in my own oil and filter and just charge an extra 20 bucks to change it. Now something like a cam I would have someone like ECS do for me.
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Drifting
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,714
Likes: 2
From: of mind, NY
I recently posted about a $105 oil change done for me by an independent shop that specializes in Corvettes.
During the inspection while changing the oil they indicated that I needed a new oxygen sensor. The price quoted was a total of $405 for parts and labor. Later I emailed the owner of the shop and he stated that it would actually only cost about $300 plus
I ordered the part from parts warehouse and got a bosch unit for $65+- and took it to a local shop that does several types of repairs on most makes of cars. The guy put it on the rack and spent all of 20 minutes replacing the sensor. He charged me $30 labor which I thought was extremely fair. A total of $95 vrs $405. I think that corvette owners are getting rippedoff by some of these corvette specialists because of their love for their cars. The mechanic let me watch and showed me how easy it was(if you have a lift) He explained that corvettes are mechanical devices and not that different form any other high tech car. Corvette owners have to start asking. Why am I paying 3 times or more for the same service other owners of other high end cars do not have to pay. Is it time to quit patronizing these corvette sepcialist shops untill they get more reasonable, I think so..
During the inspection while changing the oil they indicated that I needed a new oxygen sensor. The price quoted was a total of $405 for parts and labor. Later I emailed the owner of the shop and he stated that it would actually only cost about $300 plus
I ordered the part from parts warehouse and got a bosch unit for $65+- and took it to a local shop that does several types of repairs on most makes of cars. The guy put it on the rack and spent all of 20 minutes replacing the sensor. He charged me $30 labor which I thought was extremely fair. A total of $95 vrs $405. I think that corvette owners are getting rippedoff by some of these corvette specialists because of their love for their cars. The mechanic let me watch and showed me how easy it was(if you have a lift) He explained that corvettes are mechanical devices and not that different form any other high tech car. Corvette owners have to start asking. Why am I paying 3 times or more for the same service other owners of other high end cars do not have to pay. Is it time to quit patronizing these corvette sepcialist shops untill they get more reasonable, I think so..
I am glad you found a mechanic who was honest and I agree we should vote with our dollars, any shop can mess up your car, as well as any shop can do a good job for an honest price. Best way to see how shops are,... is drive by often ( lot full or empty ) look at kinds of cars that are there and see if you can get a customer to give you a reference , then go meet the owner or mechanics, and get a feel for the type person they are. That is doing your homework, and it USUALLY pays off, but like we alll know even good shops FU some times, stick with this guy he seems like a good man
Administrator
Joined: Mar 2001
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From: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
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St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
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Always pays to check your options - some shops don't try and take advantage of you just because you drive a Vette.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,891
Likes: 4
From: North Port Fl
A few months ago I was looking for someone to install a 3:42 ring and pinion that I picked up. I got a price from a local (Detroit suburb) Corvette shop, (Tracey Performance) at $2000 plus any parts if needed. A local drive train specialty company (DTS, Drive Train Specialties) gave me a price of $500 plus parts, I ended up having a forum member, Roadrebel, do the install for a total price of $465.
