Your next car...

[J86]

Dave, I think you're in an excellent spot to own a classic car as a "Sunday driver" with no intentions of doing your own maintenance.  Towns like yours are full of guys with disposable income who have those toys but don't do their own work- I'm sure you see the little Alfas, E-types etc. running around in the summers!  Just ask one of those guys next time you see one at a gas station who does their work...  Or failing that just drive down to Indian Harbor YC and ask those guys

[hotrodalex]

There are plenty of classic car shops. You can also find independent shade tree guys. A lot are painters at normal shops that will also do stuff on the side. And since they're a painter, they can help with literally anything on the car - mechanical and aesthetic.

I have two guys that have done stuff on my car. One is up in Logan, UT now and the other is back in KY. (Found the second guy thanks to a recommendation from the first). Best way to find a trusty mechanic is to talk to guys who own or work on old cars.

[Rupert]

Have you been to the gas station Indian restaurant in Logan? It's excellent.

[68_427]

Dave just get a Galaxie with one of these in it.

[hotrodalex]

Have you been to the gas station Indian restaurant in Logan? It's excellent.

No, I think you mentioned it one time but I haven't been up there in a while.

I might choose to buy/install coil overs in a month or two, so that'd be my next chance.

[FoMoJo]

Dave just get a Galaxie with one of these in it.

Just make sure you have a mechanic ride along with you.

[12,000 RPM]

When I worked at Pep Boys one of the mechanics mixed up the positive and negative cables on some old American ride. Owner was less than happy.

[Laconian]

You worked at Pep Boys? What was that like?

[GoCougs]

Uh no.  There are all kinds of places. 

No, not really.

[Rupert]

When I worked at Pep Boys one of the mechanics mixed up the positive and negative cables on some old American ride. Owner was less than happy.

I wouldn't take any car to Pep Boys.

[Rupert]

No, not really.

Yes, really.

[SVT666]

No, not really.

There are all kinds of places.

[12,000 RPM]

You worked at Pep Boys? What was that like?

Unfufilling. The only thing of value I picked up was a temporary Jamaican accent. Ya dun kno. Big tings a gwan.

[GoCougs]

Yes, really.

There are all kinds of places.

Again, not really, and even fewer of the are reputable. BTDT, and it's been ~15 years (= I can only imagine it's worse today, since there are far fewer such cars on the road). And when you do find a place there's usually a big wait time and many times parts have to be ordered/found. If a person buys a classic car and wants to have it maintained and repaired by others, save for the ultra basics like oil change or new tires, it's gonna be a PITA.

[Speed_Racer]

Have you been to the gas station Indian restaurant in Logan? It's excellent.

What's the name of this place?

[Raza]

A used manual compact or subcompact, 2010 or newer



My sort of BF is trying to talk me into a Fiat 500. He had one and regrets getting rid of it for his ILX

Yes, yes, yes. 

[hotrodalex]

Again, not really, and even fewer of the are reputable. BTDT, and it's been ~15 years (= I can only imagine it's worse today, since there are far fewer such cars on the road). And when you do find a place there's usually a big wait time and many times parts have to be ordered/found. If a person buys a classic car and wants to have it maintained and repaired by others, save for the ultra basics like oil change or new tires, it's gonna be a PITA.

Right here, doing it now. Not that difficult.

[2o6]

Yes, yes, yes.

It's too small, and I don't trust them. His was a pile of shit, and another friend of mine's got lemon law'ed.

[Eye of the Tiger]

Only problem I ever had with Accent was a broken sunvisor - because I hit my head on it. Too bad I owe money on it, or I'd just keep it. Good quality, yet unrefined.
I need a sub-$2000 Miata.

[Rupert]

What's the name of this place?

My guess is asking any local where to find the gas station Indian restaurant will get you there.

[CALL_911]

Unfufilling. The only thing of value I picked up was a temporary Jamaican accent. Ya dun kno. Big tings a gwan.

Hahahah

[Madman]

Your next car...

......will probably look like this, unfortunately.

[Soup DeVille]

If you're buying a super nice/restored/mint/concurs classic, you better not be taking it to Billy Bob's Fix-n-Tow or Maaco .

Not many reputable place exist that will put a new fender on a nice '57 Chevy or redo the fuel tank and lines of a '66 Mustang. Too few such cars, parts availability/quality are variable, when working on old cars collateral damage is common (replace coolant and let the heater dry out and watch what happens ), and customer satisfaction can be hard. If you do find a kick ass shade tree guy, they seem to always be backed way up, there's fewer of them by the year, they disappear (due to health, even death) often, and they don't have the resources to remedy a major mistake.

This would make more sense if you hadn't picked two extremely common cars with extensive parts supply networks.