Are the prices I am getting for work on my car high??
 

Hi,

I have bought a 2007 Boxster and took it to my local garage for some work it needs - what do you think of the prices below...

- replace both seat belt buckles as airbag light is on $597

- 60,000 service $ 1302

- replace crank case breather $829

The place is a very well respected and long standing Porsche specialist, with a good reputation I am just not sure if I can get the work done anywhere for much cheaper......any advice would be much appreciated.

Thanks.

Simply ask the shop what their hourly rate is. Under $100 is pretty cheap, $100-$120 is typical, and over $120 is high.

The best way to save money is to DIY as much as you can;

1. Replace the seat buckles yourself and then pay $100 to have the airbag light turned off.
2. Perform the 60K service yourself and save $500 (or more).
3. Not sure what it takes to replace the crank case breather but I'd look into it and see if I could do it myself and save probably half.

Thanks but I have zero experience and zero tools........think I would make more of a mess than anything else!! LOL

Bring it over and I'll help you with it. You need to bring the beer and some hot wings tho!:D

I'm in the San Francisco area. Hourly rates here are about $130 / hour. I paid 30% less for my 60K service than the price you were quoted.

Working on a car is not hard. For those shop prices you can get a Bentley book, some basic tools at Sears and then get some beer and hot wings and then go see Bala. Nothing like fixing and maintaining your own car.

Where do you live? In my area, a normal rate is $70-80/hr. Some even $60/hr.
The more expensive premium mechanics charge $90-100/hr.
The Porsche dealership charges $120/hr.
This is in Philadelphia, PA

But when I lived in Bethesda, MD, one of the most expensive places to live in the U.S., a normal mechanic rate was $100-110/hr. The Rockville Porsche dealership was $136/hr. I was lucky to find a mechanic at under $100/hr. During that time, I learned how to work on my car as I couldn't afford a mechanic.

As for the thread original question. Yes those prices are too expensive.

I live in Westport Ct which is not the cheapest place on planet earth, however the prices I was quoted just seem huge to keep my car on the road. I have found another place called W Jennings in Southport that has superb reviews on the web so will get another quote from them........

You have access to one of the best "indy" Porsche shops there is - in northern Connecticut - Musante Motor Sports .

Porsche Service CT - Porsche Repair & Service by Musante Motorsports

Thanks I know of them, buts it's a 3 hour drive every time I need a job doing which is a little to far. I am going to try W Jennings which about 10 mins from my house. Will keep you posted.....

Thanks.

Looks like dealer prices to me.:ah:

I dropped it at W Jennings today, great Porsche specialist I found about 5 miles from my house. The service alone was $500 cheaper than the original estimate. I am also getting the other work done at a much better price....

All worked out, I will let you know on Friday how it went.