Here’s an argument for the feminist movement — why do some mechanics feel the need to take advantage of women when it comes to car repair?
I was recently in a car wreck and took my car to three different mechanics for price quotes to fix it. I have struggled in the past to find a decent and trusting mechanic. The only ones that fit the criteria so far have been friends of friends or those who think I know a thing or two about cars.
The first mechanic was one my mother has touted for years. The mechanics gave me an estimate exceeding $1,000. Not having a grand to spare, I paid the $84 charge to diagnose the problems and was prepared to sell the car for spare parts.
My uncle suggested getting a second opinion, so I took my beat-up car to a second mechanic. He looked at the car for five minutes and said it wasn’t worth fixing and to have a nice day. Thank you sir, I will be coming to you for years to come.
Finally, my uncle told me about another place he has been several times that he said did great work at a decent price, making me raise my eyebrows in hope for the car I’ve driven for years.
Someone called after two days to say, in fact, it was going to cost around $1,000 to fix but not for reasons given by the first mechanic.
This mechanic caught more problems with the car. The original problems from the first mechanic, they had fixed already without charge. But they too could be filling my head with lies.
Living in Arlington, a city with no public transit, I need a car to keep multiple jobs and stay enrolled in college. If shop classes were mandatory in high school, I might have more faith in what car doctors tell me. If I had just taken a class to learn the basic ways to spot a cheating mechanic and to know how to fix basic things, I perhaps would not be in this situation.
When a female walks into an auto repair shop, store or even a car dealership, they’re already at a disadvantage because of the stereotypes about women and cars. It’s 2010, people. Let’s get something done.
By the way, if anyone out there is looking for a car, I’ve got a beauty!
