First Gear Garage Eden Prairie – GREAT PLACE!!

I thought I would share my experience this morning with these guys.
Changing the oil in my GTO is a nightmare because the oil filter is pretty much caged in by the headers, I often thought if I only had a lift I could manuever around to get it out.

First Gear Garage in EP is an automotive do-it-yourselfer’s paradise!! They are located right next to Abra on 212 in Eden Prairie and they offer 2 post lifts and one 4 post lift that a guy can rent for under $40 an hour. They also have pretty much everything you could ever need for a car repair because this is also where they work on their race cars.
This morning was my first time there and I’ll definitely be back. If you do any of your own automotive work I would definitely check these guys out, I tried for 2 hours to get my oil filter out at home and lying on my back trying to get at things just wasn’t working.
This morning I spent more time letting the car cool down than I actually did working on it and I was in and out for under $20.

I can’t believe no one thought of this sooner.

Their site is Firstgeargarage.com
If you have the know how to do a job but not the right tools or place to do it….definitely check these guys out. Auto shops and dealers are so expensive, it stinks getting charged the “book” hours for a job that really only takes half the time.

Just wanted to share….money is tight all over and this may be a way to save some money…..so we can spend it on fuel to actually go fishin.

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I can’t believe no one thought of this sooner.

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I have thought and tried to many times in my area I still have it all on paper, But it takes ALOT of money to just open the doors, to do it right one would need atleast a 4-6 or more bay building and room for all of what it takes to available for the renters & 2 sets of everything.

It is a great concept and would help alot of people out, Just NO funds and couldnt find a backer

Ever consider looking for a remote location for the filter, did it on a 440 stuffed into a 67 cuda years back.

Al

Holy liability batman For the the guy who really knows how to “do it himself” it sounds great. For most, it sounds like risky business… Do you sign a nice lengthy “contract” to use the hoist ? or a short course ? We change oil & filter, up to 6 qts for $15 all day long. Book times are designed for the average mechanic… good one’s, with the right tools and know how, can get the job done quicker, don’t hate em for that… Plenty of cars come in on the hook, where the guy was doing it himself (in half the time) and saving money… doesn’t always work that way. Speaking of saving money, how hard can it be to take a kidney out anyways…

I am going to look in to a remote filter, going to check with Summit racing, they are pretty good with stuff like that.

Big G – they did all the lifting and lowering of the car, that is one of the rules, I had to show proof of insurance and I did have to sign a waiver form.

As for being charged book rates, the end of my shifter broke off a truck I had a few years ago, I just asked for the part but the mechanic put it on and there was a $20 charge for “installing” it. $20 to take it out of the plastic bag and snap it on the end of the shift lever..REALLY?? They removed the charge because the service writer remembered that I said I was going to do it myself but it openned my eyes to the way they do things. If a good mechanic can get a job done in half the time why aren’t people charged for the actual time? In all reality, if a mechanic does a 4 hour job in 2 hours then starts another job the dealer is double billing for the hours. It is nice to get your car back quickly but hard to swallow paying for 4 hours of labor when they only have your car 2 hours.

Dealers and shops definitely have their place because there are jobs beyond what some people can do or have the time to do but with this option I am going to make darn sure it is something I can’t do before spending the $80 – $100 an hour labor that shops charge.

With money being so tight for so many people this is just a really great option for people that have some know how to do stuff themselves.
I know I could probably have had an oil change done for less but then I am trusting that someone else will be as careful with my car as I am and I’m not getting the filter and oil that I want for my car.

If a good mechanic can get a job done in half the time why aren’t people charged for the actual time?

Why would you want to be a good mechanic then. The better and harder you work the less money you make for the work you are doing.

buck shot YOU ARE NOT JUST PAYING FOR THE TEC’S TIME also his knloge.would you also be willing to pay 8 hours for a 4 hour job when the tec has problems with the job?

I got a similar situation, usually I end up paying the shop to do the work, I bring the oil and filter. I wish my toyota wasn’t such a PITA to work on, you think technology would be moving forward….

Buck…anybody that would pay $20 to have a shift knob installed, probably is going to the wrong shop (yeah, they are out there) As far as book times and efficient techs… I have one guy that is bascially double booking every hour he sells. There are times, when I ask him to keep a car inside, so the customer doesn’t get upset, cause it is done so quick. Kinda funny, having the customer sit there for an hour more, when he wouldn’t have to, but hey, I don’t want him to feel cheated…

If you have heart problems why go to a heart specialist? Go to a vet. They both are doctors.

The shop that wanted to charge me $20 for the shift knob was a BIG dealer here in the metro area, the mechanic listed it and they were charging me for a 1/4 hour labor.

There are definitley jobs I am not willing to do or don’t know how to do and for those I am absolutley willing to take it to the shop I trust and have them do it. However, I also know there are a lot of people….like me that enjoy doing it yourself when you can whether it is car repairs, home repairs or whatever for a couple reasons. The satisfaction of getting it done, saving some money and knowing I did it right and didn’t cut any corners.

I just wanted to share this place with everyone because like I said…if you have the know how but not the tools or the place to work on your car, these guys provide a clean friendly atmosphere with pretty much everything you need.

Was the place very busy when you where there? Seen them get some air time on channel nine news maybe six months ago. Certainly is a interesting new idea.

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Why would you want to be a good mechanic then. The better and harder you work the less money you make for the work you are doing.

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Why would you want a rep as a lazy loaf? Why would you want a higher volume of work passing through a shop, thus having more people refer you for your quick and good work?

There were 2 other guys there working on their cars, I think there was one more lift available and a bay with no lift. I called ahead and they had a lift open and they held it for me until I got there so that was really nice.

Glad to see this thread. I have been to FirstGear many times. I have saved and help save friends and family thousands $$$ on many different procedures. I’ve probably done 8 brake jobs alone in the last year 1/2. With the knowledgeable/helpful staff, and the volume of special tools they have, anything can be done. I had some basic knowledge of working on cars a year ago. Since then, I’ve been back so many times that I feel confident I can handle almost any general mechanical issue. I’m with the OP here, GREAT PLACE!!!

I saw this thread and thought I’d chime in as the owner of FirstGear Garage. Thanks for stopping by Saturday. I dont’ want to shamelessly promote our busines but if anyone is interested please stop by and check us out. If you want to do your own auto repair in a professional safe environment…we’ve got the place for anyone and anything big or small.

Also, I do agree with Big G. The book time/actual time argument has both sides and is often debated. But as long as the job is done right, “beating” book time is the reward for years of experience and knowledge a tech puts to be able to get to that level.

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Why would you want to be a good mechanic then. The better and harder you work the less money you make for the work you are doing.

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Why would you want a rep as a lazy loaf? Why would you want a higher volume of work passing through a shop, thus having more people refer you for your quick and good work?

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Why are boobs good?