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Any Rhode Island mechanics you’d actually trust?”I recently moved to RI, so I’ve mostly been using the dealership for oi...
06/02/2026

Any Rhode Island mechanics you’d actually trust?”

I recently moved to RI, so I’ve mostly been using the dealership for oil changes. But every single visit turns into them telling me my car needs thousands of dollars in “urgent” work.

This latest quote is for my 2018 Mazda CX-5 with around 80k miles. I know the car is at the age where maintenance is expected, but this estimate feels like a lot.

They’re recommending:

Rear sway bar links — $550
Front sway bar links — $580
Coolant fluid exchange — $380
Transmission fluid exchange — $750
Front & rear differential fluid exchange — $2,880

Total comes out to about $4,603, and they marked everything like it’s urgent.

I’m not trying to avoid necessary maintenance, but I also don’t want to get taken advantage of just because I don’t know a trusted shop here yet.

Does anyone know a reliable mechanic near Warwick, RI who will be honest and not try to scare me into repairs I may not need?

Finally got a local shop quote and it’s way better than what I was expecting.”This is for a car with 201,452 miles, and ...
06/02/2026

Finally got a local shop quote and it’s way better than what I was expecting.”

This is for a car with 201,452 miles, and the shop quoted work including:

Timing belt kit
Serpentine belt
Head gasket replacement
Coolant flush
PCV valve assembly

Total came out to $748.60.

Honestly, after seeing what dealerships and some shops charge lately, this feels almost suspiciously reasonable. I know timing belt/head gasket-related work can get expensive fast, so I’m wondering if this is actually a good deal or if something might be missing from the estimate.

Would you trust this quote, or would you ask for more details before approving the work?

Can I get a second opinion on this estimate?This is for suspension/front-end work on a 2016 BMW 330i, and the dealership...
06/02/2026

Can I get a second opinion on this estimate?

This is for suspension/front-end work on a 2016 BMW 330i, and the dealership quote came out to $7,113.69 total.

They’re quoting:

Passenger control arm with ball joint
Both front axle shaft assemblies
Front quick strut assemblies
Front sway bar end links
Both front wheel bearings

Parts total is $4,305.00, labor is $2,437.50, plus shop supplies and tax.

The total is honestly high enough that I’m wondering if I should fix it or just trade the car in instead.

Does this look like a normal dealership price for this kind of work, or am I getting absolutely crushed here? Would an independent shop be a better move?

Just got a second opinion after the dealer tried to hit me with a $5,800 quote 😭This independent shop estimate came out ...
06/02/2026

Just got a second opinion after the dealer tried to hit me with a $5,800 quote 😭

This independent shop estimate came out to $2,599.08 total.

Breakdown shows:

Parts: $602.00
Labor: $1,997.08
Estimated Total: $2,599.08

They also highlighted one of the spark plug-related items as declined, so now I’m trying to figure out what actually needs to be done and what was just being pushed.

Does this look like a fair price for the work listed, or is the labor still high? I’m mostly trying to avoid getting taken advantage of because the dealer price was almost double this.

Can I get a second opinion on this repair estimate?”This is for a 2018 Toyota Camry with about 78,921 miles. The shop is...
06/02/2026

Can I get a second opinion on this repair estimate?”

This is for a 2018 Toyota Camry with about 78,921 miles. The shop is quoting suspension/axle repairs, including:

Front struts
Front control arms
Front CV axles

The estimate shows 2.40 hours, but the labor line is $1,500, with parts coming out to $3,936.50.

Final total after tax is $5,817.05, and they even wrote:

“Unsafe to drive — fix ASAP.”

I know suspension and axle work isn’t cheap, but this feels really high for a Camry. Does this look like a fair quote, or should I absolutely get another estimate before approving anything?

Is $1,792.90 reasonable for spark plugs and ignition coils?I’m trying to figure out if this quote is reasonable, because...
06/01/2026

Is $1,792.90 reasonable for spark plugs and ignition coils?

I’m trying to figure out if this quote is reasonable, because the whole experience already made me not trust this shop.

The invoice is for a 2013 Honda Civic Si 2.4 with about 104,136 miles. The work listed was replacing 4 NGK spark plugs and 4 ignition coils.

The breakdown shows:

NGK Spark Plugs: 4 × $31.50 = $126.00
Ignition Coils: 4 × $249.75 = $999.00
Shop Supplies: $59.95
Labor: $525.00
Tax: $82.95
Total: $1,792.90

What really bothered me is that despite my name being on the car, me handing over the keys, and me being the one paying, the mechanic kept talking to my partner the entire time instead of me. You probably won’t be surprised to hear I’m female and he’s male.

Because of that, I’m already not inclined to trust them or go back. But setting that aside, does $1,792.90 for plugs and coils sound reasonable, or does this look way too high?

Is $693.55 reasonable for spark plugs and ignition coils on a 2018 Honda Accord?I got this estimate for replacing 4 spar...
06/01/2026

Is $693.55 reasonable for spark plugs and ignition coils on a 2018 Honda Accord?

I got this estimate for replacing 4 spark plugs and 4 ignition coils on my 2018 Honda Accord, and I’m trying to figure out if this is actually fair or if the first quote I got was way too high.

This invoice breaks it down as:

NGK spark plugs: 4 × $18.75 = $75.00
Ignition coils: 4 × $95.00 = $380.00
Shop supplies: $24.95
Labor: $180.00
Tax: $33.60
Total: $693.55

Compared to the other quote I saw for plugs and coils, this one seems way more reasonable, but I still wanted to ask before assuming.

Does $693.55 sound normal for plugs and coils on an Accord, or is there still anything here that looks off?

2002 Volkswagen Transporter failed roadworthy — repair estimate came back at $5,600My 2002 Volkswagen Transporter just f...
06/01/2026

2002 Volkswagen Transporter failed roadworthy — repair estimate came back at $5,600

My 2002 Volkswagen Transporter just failed its roadworthy inspection, and I’m trying to figure out what’s actually reasonable here before I approve anything.

The van has about 245,300 km on it, and the inspection came back as a fail for:

No horn
Headlight full of water
Engine oil leak
Brake master cylinder leaking
Rear main seal leak suspected
Number plate light out
Steering rack boot split

The inspection itself was $129, but the handwritten repair estimate came back at $5,600, which honestly made my stomach drop.

I know some of these are serious, especially anything brake-related or oil-leak related, but a few of them sound like smaller DIY-type fixes — horn, number plate light, maybe even dealing with the headlight moisture depending on what’s actually wrong.

I’m not trying to cheap out on safety, but I also don’t want to spend thousands if part of this quote is inflated or if some items can be handled separately.

For anyone in Australia familiar with older VW Transporters, does $5,600 AUD sound realistic for this list, or should I absolutely get another quote before moving forward?

Spark plugs and ignition coils quote — does this seem high?I got this invoice for replacing 4 spark plugs and 4 ignition...
06/01/2026

Spark plugs and ignition coils quote — does this seem high?

I got this invoice for replacing 4 spark plugs and 4 ignition coils, and the total came out to $1,518.40.

The breakdown shows:

NGK spark plugs: 4 × $24.99 = $99.96
Ignition coils: 4 × $225.00 = $900.00
Shop supplies: $49.95
Labor: $395.00
Tax: $73.49
Total: $1,518.40

The labor line says: “Spark plugs — remove & replace — all with coil replacement.”

I’m trying to figure out if this is normal pricing or if I got taken for a ride. The spark plug cost seems reasonable, but $900 for four ignition coils feels really steep, especially before labor is even added.

Does this look like a fair quote for plugs and coils, or should I be looking for a second opinion next time?

Is $2,137.25 reasonable for spark plugs and ignition coils?I got this invoice for my 2019 Subaru Outback, and I’m trying...
06/01/2026

Is $2,137.25 reasonable for spark plugs and ignition coils?

I got this invoice for my 2019 Subaru Outback, and I’m trying to figure out if this price makes sense or if it’s way too high.

The work listed was for replacing 4 NGK spark plugs and 4 ignition coils.

The breakdown shows:

NGK Spark Plugs: 4 × $42.50 = $170.00
Ignition Coils: 4 × $285.00 = $1,140.00
Shop Supplies: $79.95
Labor: $650.00
Tax: $97.30
Total: $2,137.25

The labor line says:

“SPARK PLUGS - Remove & Replace - All with coil replacement”

I know Subarus can be more annoying to work on because of the engine layout, but over $2,100 for plugs and coils feels painful. The ignition coils alone are $1,140, and the labor is another $650.

Am I crazy for thinking this is extremely high, or is this normal pricing for a Subaru? Should I get another quote before approving anything like this again?

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