5 /5 Mr. Oprov: ...How do I make this very long story short?
I purchased used 2013 Subaru Impreza in a very bad shape with the idea to put some money in refreshing the suspension,
brakes...engine was supposed to be okay. Here is where the struggle begins - April 25, 2024.
First mechanic in my area (Yonkers, NY) after a week of thinking called me and said - "I dont want to deal with this junk!"
Mechanic number two made me wait 2 weeks - same answer.
Mechanic number three - big specialist on tuning (truly) finally took the car, kept it 3 weeks for a 2 days work ,
addressed a leak from the time cover on the engine, while on it replaced the hydraulic chain tensioners and guides, water and oil pump
and off I go - minus 6K $ for parts and labor with some "normal" rattling noise from the engine...
Its now July, I have the car for 3 months and driven it only from one service station to another... Im ready to junk it and Im looking
for another Subaru on Facebook Marketplace, Autotrader and so on... and this is how I stumbled on Neil - there was a Subaru Legacy for sale
at Carmel, repaired before the sale from some place called NorthEast Performance. Before I put my mind together - the car was gone.
So I called this guys, they told me to bring the car, when - now. I was there before they hung up the phone.
Very friendly, took the car for test drive and my worst fear came back with the guy who drove - rod knock!
The rest is history, Neil swapped the engine with JDM (Japanese Domestic Market production),
threw a bunch of new parts (clutch service, differential service, transmission fluid replacement) installed fog lights,
buffed some long scratches free of charge and as of August third I have a vehicle that rides and looks like new.
The story doesnt end here.
Two days ago I went to swim up in the Bear Mountains for first time in six years. Tensioner pulley and idler bearings failed
and I found this when I was in the middle of nowhere.
I call Neil in panic - "stay where you are, Im coming to tall the car and then I will drive you back home" he said.
I opted to risk driving 30 miles with melting serpentine belt and I made it home.
The next morning Neil drove all the way to my place (50+ miles) with new part and tools in hand, fixed the problem - and it wasnt even something
that failed because of his work on the car... I was speechless !
From now one I will do the 50 miles drive to NorthEast Performance just for oil change or even if a plastic clip falls of the car!
Finding gold will be much easier than finding honest mechanic in the times we live in.
If this guy keeps the good work soon he will wipe out the competition in a 30 miles radius of his service place, I can bet my Subaru on that!
Young businessman he is, shakes hand like a man and the job will be done on time!
August 8, 2024