MECHANICS: Is this a good price?

[the Teuton]

So pretend my car was a little newer and had 5 lugs instead of 4. This is basically what happened with my car -- the flange rusted apart from the pipe. The car has been driven about 300 miles since it happened, and the pipe has been beaten to shit on the part where it's rubbing the ground. I am working with an independent mechanic right now to get it fixed, so it should be done tomorrow night at the earliest. He is cutting off the rusted flange, the beaten-to-hell part of the pipe, and welding a new piece of pipe in its place. The quote I got was $80 for everything.

Good price? I know it's still under $100, but the other day, some of you were quoting $50-60 for such things, so I thought I would ask if this all seems fair.

[2o6]

I don't think 80$ versus 60$ is that big of a deal.

[the Teuton]

I don't think 80$ versus 60$ is that big of a deal.

That's a 25 percent difference. It's not like it's life-shattering. I just want to know I'm getting a good deal.

[Secret Chimp]

That's a 25 percent difference. It's not like it's life-shattering. I just want to know I'm getting a good deal.

You really do deserve to have those Star of David hubcaps.

[the Teuton]

You really do deserve to have those Star of David hubcaps.

So a mechanic at any other shop would probably charge me more than $80?

[Eye of the Tiger]

It's not a great deal, especially for just a straight piece of pipe and two welds, but it's not a total ripoff. If your entire exhaust is likely to need replacement soon, I'd consider replacing the whole thing right off, instead of fixing it in several inconvenient stages. You should be able to get an entire cat-back done for roughly twice that price - and I'm talking cheaper aluminized steel, not stainless (overkill for a cheap used car). 

[MX793]

Considering your typical shop charges $60 an hour just for labor and that job sounds like it would be at least an hour, $80 doesn't sound unreasonable.

[the Teuton]

Considering your typical shop charges $60 an hour just for labor and that job sounds like it would be at least an hour, $80 doesn't sound unreasonable.

Cheap shops around here have been running at about $70-75 and the more expensive are right around $92, for reference. But the labor should be an hour or so?

I just need this car to safely and relatively quietly get me to New York in two weeks.

[Eye of the Tiger]

Considering your typical shop charges $60 an hour just for labor and that job sounds like it would be at least an hour, $80 doesn't sound unreasonable.

Do-it-all ASE certified guys do charge that much.
That's why you go to a hole-in-the-wall exhaust shop with a guy that only does exhausts all day, and can fab up an entire dual exhaust on a 79 LeMans with newly installed headers for $200 in less than an hour, blindfolded.

[the Teuton]

Do-it-all ASE certified guys do charge that much.
That's why you go to a hole-in-the-wall exhaust shop with a guy that only does exhausts all day, and can fab up an entire dual exhaust on a 79 LeMans with newly installed headers for $200 in less than an hour, blindfolded.

This is from a hole in the wall place. That's why I'm able to get the car back on a Sunday night possibly. But I want to know what is fair for a job like this.

[Eye of the Tiger]

This is from a hole in the wall place. That's why I'm able to get the car back on a Sunday night possibly. But I want to know what is fair for a job like this.

Im sure its a hole in the wall, but the price is high compared to an exhaust shop. It's not that bad, though. Dont worry so much.

[Onslaught]

Do-it-all ASE certified guys do charge that much.
That's why you go to a hole-in-the-wall exhaust shop with a guy that only does exhausts all day, and can fab up an entire dual exhaust on a 79 LeMans with newly installed headers for $200 in less than an hour, blindfolded.

If he's good then he'll charge you. I would.

[TBR]

I'd just be happy to have found someone willing to do it on a weekend.

[Eye of the Tiger]

If he's good then he'll charge you. I would.

I'm not sure what you're getting at.  It sounds like Teuton needs a small, straight section of pipe put in. Anyone can charge an hour labor plus parts and most customers will pay it, but a good exhaust guy would do it for next to nothing.
He could do it himself with a $5 section of pipe, $4 for two clamps, and a sawzall or hacksaw.

[S204STi]

Yeah it's actually not that easy, but I agree with Josh and others, this is a relative steal.

[the Teuton]

Yeah it's actually not that easy, but I agree with Josh and others, this is a relative steal.

That's all I wanted to hear. Danke!

[Onslaught]

I'm not sure what you're getting at.  It sounds like Teuton needs a small, straight section of pipe put in. Anyone can charge an hour labor plus parts and most customers will pay it, but a good exhaust guy would do it for next to nothing.
He could do it himself with a $5 section of pipe, $4 for two clamps, and a sawzall or hacksaw.

In our line of work you never charge actual time. I can fix things in less than half the time the book gives but you don't see me giving the money back when I'm done.
If I was a good exhaust person who could fix things fast then I'd want to get paid for the fact that A. I'm good and B. It took time for me to get good so you've got to pay for that.

[The Pirate]

Yeah, good price Teuts.  Last time I had something very, very similar to that done it was around $65.  That was almost 4 years ago, and with material price increases, inflation, etc. that seems very reasonable.

One thing to recommend though:  have him inspect the rest of the exhaust system for potential failures in the near future.  Like Nick said, if something else is going to go soon, it's best to just more now and be done with it.

[MX793]

In our line of work you never charge actual time. I can fix things in less than half the time the book gives but you don't see me giving the money back when I'm done.
If I was a good exhaust person who could fix things fast then I'd want to get paid for the fact that A. I'm good and B. It took time for me to get good so you've got to pay for that.

I suspect that the "book" often takes into account worst case contingencies that you might only encounter 10% of the time.  Stuff like you accidentally break the head off of a rusted bolt and then have to spend a bunch of time screwing around trying to remove the rest of the bolt.

[Onslaught]

I suspect that the "book" often takes into account worst case contingencies that you might only encounter 10% of the time.  Stuff like you accidentally break the head off of a rusted bolt and then have to spend a bunch of time screwing around trying to remove the rest of the bolt.

I don't think so. That fucking book is paying less and less to do things every year.
And regardless if you're good at something you're not going to charge less to do it just to be nice.

[the Teuton]

My car is done. He said the exhaust, as it is, is generally like Swiss cheese. Still, it's a lot quieter than it was. I'm not worried. I'm going to pick it up tomorrow.

[Eye of the Tiger]

My car is done. He said the exhaust, as it is, is generally like Swiss cheese. Still, it's a lot quieter than it was. I'm not worried. I'm going to pick it up tomorrow.

It'll fall apart again in a week.

[sportyaccordy]

It's not a great deal, especially for just a straight piece of pipe and two welds, but it's not a total ripoff. If your entire exhaust is likely to need replacement soon, I'd consider replacing the whole thing right off, instead of fixing it in several inconvenient stages. You should be able to get an entire cat-back done for roughly twice that price - and I'm talking cheaper aluminized steel, not stainless (overkill for a cheap used car). 

Yep

But then u have to do a cost benefit analysis of installing a $250 exhaust on a $250 car.

[Eye of the Tiger]

Yep

But then u have to do a cost benefit analysis of installing a $250 exhaust on a $250 car.

I think he should sell it and get an STi

[the Teuton]

It'll fall apart again in a week.

I don't think so -- or at least I hope not. I don't need it going kaput in New York on me.

[The Pirate]

It'll fall apart again in a week.

That happened to me once.

[the Teuton]

Got the car back. Apparently, the exhaust is wearing out altogether, but it sounds really good right now...dare I say it, sporty. The car is quieter than it has ever been for me, and it's really smooth.

That said, after taxes, it came to a little under $80 and some gas money. It looks like he put about 30 miles on my car, but nothing was missing and there was no excessive oil burnoff, so color me impressed.  

[Eye of the Tiger]

30 miles? wtf

[Eye of the Tiger]

That happened to me once.

That happened to me more than once.

[the Teuton]

30 miles? wtf

I believe I left the car with 1/8 tank of gas. It usually takes 20-30 miles for it to get to E (even though there are usually still 2 gallons left in the tank). I wish I would have recorded the miles before I left, but I'm thinking 20-30 miles.