Does anyone have an opinion on wether a VW specialist mechanic is significantly better than a normal mechanic or not?
I would say, in my opinion, that for an older style vw i would go to a vw mechanic. For newer i would not be too concerned
In my opinion you are better off going to a VW mechanic as they know idiosyncrasies of the older Vw engine.
plus normal mechanic see a VW come in and they think here comes a bit of S@#t.
I tried a normal mechanic a few years ago they did the work but they really did not want to.
thats my 2cents worth
Marc
[Edited on 27-8-04 by Midlife crisis]
I know a couple of mechanics (brother in law and mate) who can't stand working on VW's, there too hard apparently.lol
I recon the VW specialist know there buisness, so use the pros not some bushy mechanic you works on fords and holdens all day.
My 2c + a buck 20.
I've never taken my car to a non-vw specialist and never will, given the choice.
Two main reasons i) the old VW air cooled motors are very different from any thing else, and I think it takes a specialist to treat them properly, ii)
normal mechanics don't have spares in stock for a flat four, even the basics like rocker cover gaskets, so everything takes ages to get done.
Definetley a VW mechanic.........most "normal" mechanics cringe at the site of an old veedub.....would only take it to someone who "gets" them!!:thumb
im with them a vw mechanic definately
well, that answers it then!
I am near morisset NSW (between newcastle and Gosford)
I know there is a guy at toronto, but we took it to him when we first got it, knowing nothing about VW's, and asked him to 'make sure it is OK'
and 2 weeks later it caught fire. It might be unfair to blame him for this..anyone else dealt with him?
no i only have dealt with my old man at taree and a guy at mornington in vic
Theres afew guys from Newcastle on here...i'm sure they'll be able to suggest someone.Maybe if you put up a seperate post asking for a VW mech. near
you're area.
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Look until You find a VW Mechanic...
I have seen what NON VW [aircooled] Mechanics do...
You may as well give it to a monkey...
They ARE that different from anything else.. and know nothing about VWs at all.......
They have knowledge of what works and what doesn't and that can save You heaps while the non Vw Mechanic tries to find things.. and reads books if He
has one... or Mostly tries to guess what to do....
VWs are fairly easy to tune, and the more experience the better....
so stick to a VW Mechanic...
Fires- Make sure that there are two hose clamps on every fuel line attachment.... plus carry a fire extinguisher..
The metal fuel lines in the fuel pump & Carburetor can pop out at ANY time.... they were only made to stay there 10 years
and look how long they have been there....
so.. beware...
The fellow at Toronto May be OK... He didn't light the fire??
Two Weeks after...??
I don't know Him, so maybe try Him again...
At least You know His work is OK.....
Best of Luck....
Lee -- Scone - NSW -
I'd go for a vw mechanic... I've been to both...but the VW mechanic is often cheaper, usually already has most of the parts, and tools needed....
on a recent club tune up day one of our newest members had his car on the hoist and we had found that the mechanics from a rather large variety store
that also offers tyres and machanical had srewed almost every adjustment screw to thier extremeties.
Our mate could not believe the difference that a real VW mechanic made to his Kombi.
watch out too for non vw spanner benders that they put all the tinware back on my girls kombi had its engine overheated and seized because `insert name of major shopping chain here' mechs took some tinware off to get at bits of the motor and didnt put it back on :-(
hmmm i wonder who this major shopping chain which seems to have come up twice so far could possibly be? 
Yes, Those IGA Mechanics can be downright dangerous....
Get a Mechanic who has only ever worked mainly on Steel crank cases [engines] and see what they can do to a nice soft Alloy VW Engine block.... and
that is a valid point about the tinware... leave one piece out and Your engine can overheat.. same as having a water leak in a water cooled
engine.... even leaving the spark plug rubber seals off is bad enough.... I would NEVER take My VW to a Non VW Mechanic... or a Mechanic who has
never worked on them...
it probably will cost You Money....
Lee
we wont mention any names here but she was super po'd about it-sold it to a car yard in brisbakers and only got 600 bucks for a mint 76 kombi camper
(except for the seized 2l that is) as a trade on a rustbucket 85 toyota wagon
i was even more po'd when the nameless mart refused to accept any responsibility-even they admitted to me on the phone-oh yeah there was some bits of
tin left over-do you want them??
nah not any more :-(
Ahh you could probably get them for something like neglegence (damage to property)! Surely there was a warranty period with their services? How long
ago was this!
Some sort of mart hey? cant possibly be S mart! hahahaha
it was a while ago now-but at the time was told that their warranty only applies to the bits they fit-if those bits fail they will replace them
:-(
now very wary of taking a vw anywhere except to a real vw mech
ahh a shame that it was a while ago, In hindsight though i would have to say to anyone if it happened to them i beleive they have a responsibility to put back things they removed or at least tell you what they have done. Anyway, very sad in the long run, i hope someone found the kombi before it went to ruin.
That was real crap about the knuckledraggers leaving the tinware off, admitting it and that was all.
I say for sure go the VW mechanic.