Our 1997 LS400 just rolled over 135,000 miles. I don't feel right calling her a beater because Ol' Bessie is still a very nice car, but she's our airport/Angel game car. The car I take when I am worried about parking. The car I take when I can't carpool with my wife and it's raining... you get the idea.
She's been a great car (she's been in my family since new) and I want to hold on to her for years. But the reality is that she sits outside, and I can't justify paying Lexus dealership prices to service her anymore.
So for the first time in 10 years I was looking for someplace to service Bessie other than a dealership.
Dynamic Auto Services in Midway City (Westminster, CA) was recommended to me. The owners are Lexus Certified Master Mechanics and they work on Hondas, Toyotas and Lexus Vehicles.
A few people reported good experiences on this board with them working on their NSX's.
I figured why not give it a try.
Bessie needed a 135,000 mile service, I thought she needed an alignment, and I wanted to replace a door speaker in the driver's side rear door.
I called three local dealerships. On avg. the 135,000 mile service was $400 - $450. The alignment was $150 - $225. And the speaker replacement was going to be $75 - $100.
I called Sonny at Dynamic Auto and he was very helpful. He quoted me $180 for the 135,000 mile service, suggested I wait until he looked at the suspension on the car (since it is 10-years old) before I have the alignment done and said that changing the speaker would be $40.
I made an appt., dropped the car off at lunch on a Wed. and picked it up the next day at lunch. (Note - the service could have been done in a few hours but I live in Dana Point and the shop opens long after I'm in the office. It was easier for me to simply leave it).
When I picked the car up, Sonny went through everything with me. He showed me exactly what he did, and gave me a detailed break down of the costs.
Turns out the alignment was not needed. Sonny made a few minor adjustments and the car tracks beautifully.
I couldn't be happier. Sure, you don't get a loaner car. And sure, this shop isn't exactly in my backyard.
But they're honest, do good work, and are very knowledgable.
I am still likely to take the NSX to Autowave or Jon Martin (because they work on so many NSX's I'm super comfortable with them knowing the ins and outs of the car) but I have no qualms about taking either Bessie or our 2006 LX470 to Dynamic and recommend them to anyone here.
She's been a great car (she's been in my family since new) and I want to hold on to her for years. But the reality is that she sits outside, and I can't justify paying Lexus dealership prices to service her anymore.
So for the first time in 10 years I was looking for someplace to service Bessie other than a dealership.
Dynamic Auto Services in Midway City (Westminster, CA) was recommended to me. The owners are Lexus Certified Master Mechanics and they work on Hondas, Toyotas and Lexus Vehicles.
A few people reported good experiences on this board with them working on their NSX's.
I figured why not give it a try.
Bessie needed a 135,000 mile service, I thought she needed an alignment, and I wanted to replace a door speaker in the driver's side rear door.
I called three local dealerships. On avg. the 135,000 mile service was $400 - $450. The alignment was $150 - $225. And the speaker replacement was going to be $75 - $100.
I called Sonny at Dynamic Auto and he was very helpful. He quoted me $180 for the 135,000 mile service, suggested I wait until he looked at the suspension on the car (since it is 10-years old) before I have the alignment done and said that changing the speaker would be $40.
I made an appt., dropped the car off at lunch on a Wed. and picked it up the next day at lunch. (Note - the service could have been done in a few hours but I live in Dana Point and the shop opens long after I'm in the office. It was easier for me to simply leave it).
When I picked the car up, Sonny went through everything with me. He showed me exactly what he did, and gave me a detailed break down of the costs.
Turns out the alignment was not needed. Sonny made a few minor adjustments and the car tracks beautifully.
I couldn't be happier. Sure, you don't get a loaner car. And sure, this shop isn't exactly in my backyard.
But they're honest, do good work, and are very knowledgable.
I am still likely to take the NSX to Autowave or Jon Martin (because they work on so many NSX's I'm super comfortable with them knowing the ins and outs of the car) but I have no qualms about taking either Bessie or our 2006 LX470 to Dynamic and recommend them to anyone here.
