[racer_d]

Realize that a shop like HBL will use PORSCHE parts.. A porsche battery likely goes for double a normal "sears" battery if you will. Same with the Alternator. Then factor in the approx $100/hr labor charge.. Then consider that all of this work is done at "book rates" - not necessarily the actual amount of time a seasoned tech needs to perform said work. The book could say this is 8hrs of labor ($800) but it might only take someone 4hrs to do it.. hence a nice profit for the shop.

Does $1500 sound high? yes.. but did they give you the breakdown of how they got to that number? specific part costs and labor costs?

A new battery for a 6 year old car? yes that seems reasonable. I am suprised that the alternator is also an issue too... I have never had to replace an alternator in 20 years and 300,000 miles of driving history.

There are lots of "independant" shops nearby.. Intersport in McLean, ASG and IMA in Fairfax are 3 off the top of my head. I will say that most independant Porsche shops labor rates aren't much less than dealers these days. Shops like this also tend to get their parts from the Porsche network too, unless you specifically ask for something else to go in.