Three strikes, you're out... I'm a very competent mechanic. I do all of my own work from brakes to engine rebuilding at my home. The only things I have shops do are tires and alignments. If you're like me, you know why. The short version of this review is this: Debatable: “at least one fair and honest mechanic” Certainty: incompetent The long version of this review: In 2016 I took a Porsche 911 to Litchfield Auto Repair for and alignment after I did some suspension work. When I got the car back, the steering wheel was not centered. I took the car back and they spent nearly all day trying to get it centered. Finally, they said that they got it and I drove home. In fact, they had not fixed it, and the steering wheel was still not centered. I ended up just removing the wheel and moving it one spline over to center it. Fast forward a couple months, I noticed that the right rear wheel was cambered in negatively by a large degree. I took the vehicle back and discovered an adjustment bolt had come loose. The car was realigned for free (obviously). In 2017 I took a VW Touareg to Litchfield Auto Repair for and alignment after I did some suspension work. I dropped it off in the morning and got a call nearly at the end of the day that a piece had broke and the bill to fix it would be near $600. I said no and that I would have the vehicle towed out of there. Once I got there, the car was in pieces and tools were everywhere including a massive breaker bar (which was the cause of the broken bolt). Embarrassed, they asked why I wouldn’t let them fix my car. I explained that they should’ve called and explained a chance of breaking a bolt using a 6-foot breaker bar rather than say “oops, now you owe us $600 to fix it”. The mechanic understood where I was coming from and replaced the component that they broke for free. Here we go, the final straw. I decided to give Litchfield Auto Repair one last chance. After all, they had made the other situations right even though I was beginning to question their abilities. In November of 2018 I took my BMW 325i there for an alignment check since it was pulling to the right. They reported that the suspension was all tight, but the alignment was off (as I suspected). They also mentioned that the tires were nearing replacement time (which was also true). I had them complete the alignment ($170 or so). Again I noticed the steering wheel off center a bit, but I just didn’t have the energy or time to go back. Fast forward to last week. I had four new tires put on. When looking at the rear tires, they were severally worn on the inside (from negative camber). The wear seemed to accelerate after the alignment I had done in November of 2018. With the new tires on I went in for an alignment check today. As I suspected the alignment was way off. They wanted to sell me another alignment after only a few months and 9,000 miles. Alignments aren’t like oil changes folks, you don’t need them every so many miles. Alignments are needed after accidents, suspension component replacements, or hitting something (curb, pothole, etc.) NONE of those things happened to this car. This is my work commuter which spends 99% of its life on I-10. I’m done. I’ve already spent too much of my time with Litchfield Auto Repair and typing this review. I recommend you go somewhere else. EDIT: MY RESPONSE TO PHIL’S RESPONSE BELOW: -911: I did't request a “very specific spec”. I wanted it aligned to the OEM spec that was in your machine’s database. You assume I tracked the car, I didn't. No potholes or curbs were hit and I had not worked on the vehicle. It is my opinion that the camber adjustment bolt was not torqued correctly and came loose. -Touareg: you say the “adjusting nut had very easily broke due to excessive rust”. This is false. You showed me the breaker bar that your tech used to try and loosen the bolt, it was nearly as tall as you. -BMW: You say “obviously something was hit or moved to be this far out”. That is false, although I have no way to prove that. This is a simple case of blame the customer.
Nick I want to thank you for spending the time to leave this very detailed review. I am surprised, however, since all we have done for you since 2016. So as for the questionable fair and honest mechanic, I must explain to our viewing audience. Lets start with strike 1. Your Porsche 911, we aligned this vehicle to a very specific spec at your request. We did tell you that the steering was clocked wrong and we were maxed out of adjustment to achieve a centered steering wheel (it's on your paperwork as well). Since you are this "competent mechanic" you would understand this. Yes, after couple of months something was out of adjustment. Naturally, I did not argue that you may have been working on the vehicle or bumped something at the track or anything. We simply said OK and re-aligned it for free. Strike 2, This is completely my fault. At this point of speaking with you and going way above and beyond we should have just let you tow the vehicle home and ended our relationship there. An adjusting nut had very easily broke due to excessive rust. The bolt it attached to was seized in to the control arm. After spending several hours and purchasing a new control arm for you at no cost to you, I would think you would have been grateful. Nope you just complained. Strike 3 .... Ohh my gosh why did we even work on your 3rd vehicle at this point. Well after 2 years and seeing about 18000 cars since yours, we forgot about how grateful you were and lined our selves up for disaster. We aligned yet again your BMW. Then after 10 months you come in to have it checked and it needs to be done again. Seems the right rear was way out of spec. Because we didn't offer to do a "free" alignment after so long and obviously something was hit or moved to be this far out, you would leave us this wonderful review. This is simple case of a do it your self and blame someone else. As a Master Certified Technician for 27 years and owner of Litchfield Auto Repair I have no one to blame but me. I have continued to try to satisfy you in a variety of ways even to not charge you and your still not satisfied. Maybe were just not a good fit for each other. That's OK Nick, I thank you and do wish you the best at another shop. For the viewing audience this is a great example of "Fair and Honest". Fair and Honest works both ways, sometimes you have to cut your losses to prevent being taken advantage of. Thanks for reading, Phil Owner, Litchfield Auto Repair (623) 882 - 8700.
- Litchfield Auto Repair