I took the mini in to get a service and pink slip yesterday, I haven't driven it much since I got it last year, and over that time I've come to question how legit the blue slip that it came with was. This morning I picked it up from the mechanic. He'd sorted the clutch, brakes and gear change out for me, got the new speedo cable and cluster in too, he'd also given it a good greasing.

He told me he would fail it for a pink slip based on rust mainly, I'm taking it back to him next week and he'll put it up on the hoist for me to show me what he wants me to get sorted out.

The best bit is he gave me a list of other stuff he wants me to do myself to get it sorted out, along with a stern talking about learning how to keep drums and clutches adjusted myself rather than wasting my money on paying him to do it. He was also pretty disparaging about the previous owners idea of greasing So I'll be taking it down to a relative's warehouse space next week sometime before the rego expires and we'll start cutting and welding to hopefully get it sorted out before I need another blue slip for it(3months).

Anyway, when you hear so many bad stories of dodgy service and rip off merchants, or people rubber stamping slips and that sort of thing I thought I'd share a story where a negative experience actually turned out be quite a positive one I'm actually glad he told me he'd fail it rather than me finding out how weakened it is at the worst possible time. Ironically this is the nicest it has been to drive since I bought it!

So does anyone else have a good old fashioned mechanic story?

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Basil - 1978 Leyland Mini, Brooklands Green, bit of a bitsa, and a park brick in the boot.

have found two good mechanics through my driving time.

1st one was my parents mechanic, they'd been going to him for as long as they'd been in this area (early 70's) and he'd looked after every car they had.
When my father passed away my mother kept his car and swapped around driving hers and his, he piped up about a year after dad passed and said she should get rid of the car before it becomes too far gone, mum, being mum, ignored him and continued to drive it about..
Brought it back to him for the next service and again he said 'get rid of it, it's not safe and I WON'T touch it again.' ....
Next service, mum rolls in with the car, he puts the car on the hoist and points to about 30 things under the car that were about to go, were warped or would need to be replaced again and again due to the age/ condition of the car.. then proceeded to put a big spanner on the floor pan where it meets the firewall and pushed it straight through, then wandered over to the area just under the drivers seat and just as easily pushed it through the floor....
mum got a new car.

I went to him for about 2 years before he passed away and he'd always charge me for parts at cost and never more than around $50 for labor.

2nd mechanic (current one) isn't as cost friendly as the first (still cheaper than a lot around here), but then the service you get from him is A1.
I recently brought my mothers car (Inherited it after she passed away) and we put it on the hoist, had a coffee and ran through all that would need doing...
I bought everything needed, brought it back to his shop, back on the hoist and shared the work load, as long as I got out of his way when he needed to be there, it was all good.. saved probably 3 hours of labor.
He's also worked on both of my partners cars and my previous car. When doing an RWC, he will NOT pass anything (regardless if you're an old mate/ family friend or not) that is NOT safe (taught the Mrs to look more carefully when she got her current car.. $5000 to get RW!), he's more than happy to have you hang around and show you how to do what you need to in order to do the work yourself and I've learned a fair amount from him over the years.
I'll drop in some days just to say hi if I'm in the area and if he's between customers (nothing on the hoist) he's usually got a coffee ready for me by the time I sit down.

Both have been Great mechanics and I'll send anyone I know there without a second thought.

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So what's the last thing you remember...

I'm pretty sure you were..

WRONG ANSWER!!!

MiniAutomotive... Ken always does a great on job on the Cooper S , and is always encouraging me, Great Service and always happy!!

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You'll get the service or rather education anytime you speak to Matt Read.

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But he's thriving and striving and hugging the turns.

too far north for me, but I would drop in if the chance arises.

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So what's the last thing you remember...

I'm pretty sure you were..

WRONG ANSWER!!!

big thumbs up for ken at mini auto.

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First you get the money,then you get the power,then you get the Mini.

Our local RACQ depot in Cooroy has a real country garage ethos as well.

Last service he said when I picked it up the brakes are starting pulse so he gave the disks a skim no charge but they are getting thin and they will only last another skim and I will need new disks. Not a bad heads up for future expense.

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David L


My greatest fear in life is that when I die my wife will sell my Mini and tools for the price I told her I paid for them!