I have a 2000 corvette that needs a bunch of work. Here's what I know is wrong:
ABS sensor off/broken, O2 sensor malfunctioning (check engine light is
on), ABS/traction control both non-working due to wheel sensor,
steering cloumn lock broken, electrical system "on the fritz",
airconditioning vents do not change (ie doesn't matter whether it's on
defroster or floor vent or whatever; it just seeps out), need to mount
and balance 4 new tires. This is a lot of work and a bunch of money. I
think the dealer will rip me off. I need a list of 2 or 3 places that
are highly recommended in the Corvette community and that are fairly
priced. I am guessing I'll have to spend a minimum of 2 grand. I am
too lazy to check all these post boards ect. so I need you to figure
out my best value and most honest service provider. The shop doesn't
have to deal with Vettes exclusively, but I am assuming those places
will be best. Again, price is paramount, but I obviously want someone
to work on my car who is familier with Vettes. I live in the 22203 zip
code in Arlington VA. I am wiliing to travle up to 50 miles for a good
place. HELP ME NURSE MY BABY BACK TO HEALTH!!

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Request for Question Clarification by tutuzdad-ga on 22 Nov 2005 14:18 PST

There?s no way that we can list your problems and get a close estimate
on the repairs without (a) knowing something about Corvettes
ourselves, and (b) being able to show the mechanic the car. I found a
place within your limits though that specializes in Corvette repair
and does all varieties of work on Corvettes from mechanical to body
and paint to interior repair and restoration. They've been in business
for 8 years and seem to be one of the premiere experts in this field
in your state. Would this single source do as an answer in view of the
fact that we can't get estimates for you?

tutuzdad-ga

---

Request for Question Clarification by tutuzdad-ga on 22 Nov 2005 14:34 PST

I've also checked with the Better Business Bureau and found that the
business has a satisfactory history, logging only one complaint in the
last 36 months and even that complaint was resolved to the customer's
satisfaction.

tutuzdad-ga

---

Clarification of Question by artimis-ga on 23 Nov 2005 05:53 PST

I don't need an estimate- sorry to throw you off with dollar figures.
I need a reputable place that Vette owners go to religiously. I need
honesty and good prices. And I need a couple options so I can get a
couple of opinions. So, yes, check the BBB, and Vette chatboards and
get refferences and get me 3 options, but you need not get any type of
estimate. Thank you.

Dear artimis-ga;

Thank you for allowing me to answer your interesting question. After
quite a bit of research I believe I?ve found your best options
according to what I?ve managed to learn about them. Keep in mind that
we cannot recommend a particular business and this is a ?Caveat
Emptor? (let the buyer beware) list so you?ll need to go with your own
gut on these sources based on what you are able to determine that are
capable of doing and not based solely on my research. At any rate I?ve
managed to weed out the dealers and the more amateur garages as you?ve
requested.

The first one that caught my attention was actually the one I was most
impressed with. Give these guys a close look and place them on your
list of first considerations because they seem (from what I?ve been
able to tell) to fit all the criteria you mentioned. They?ve been in
business for 8 years and advertise that they have six specially
trained employees that are capable of running the gamut of Corvette
repairs:

CORVETTE SPECIALISTS
5310 Eisenhower Avenue, #2
Alexandria, Virginia 
22304

Tel: 703-751-6780
M-F: 8 am - 6 pm, Sat: 9 am - 12 pm
http://www.corvettespecialists.com
Email: corvettespecialists@verizon.net

BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU
http://www.dc.bbb.org/report.html?national=Y&compid=1024525

. . . . . . 

CORVETTE FEVER, a Corvette connoisseur magazine has compiled a list of
the most notable repair shops around the nation called, of all things:

CORVETTE SHOPS YOU CAN TRUST
http://corvettefever.com/techarticles/corp_0506_100shops_trust/#Tennessee,%20Texas%20and%20Virginia


BROAD STREET AUTO SERVICE 
Buddy Harris 
2120 Lake Ave. 
Richmond, VA 23230 
(804) 285-8707 

BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU
http://www.richmond.bbb.org/commonreport.html?compid=4012962

. . . . . . 

SPRINGFIELD MOTORSPORT 
John Dega 
8532 W. Terminal Rd. 
Lorton, VA 22079 
(703) 339-3780 
http://www.springfieldmotorsport.com/

BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU
http://www.dc.bbb.org/report.html?national=Y&compid=1036903


. . . . . . 

CORVETTE SPECIALTIES OF MARYLAND 
Pat Olden 
1912 Liberty Rd. 
Eldersburg, MD 21784 
(410) 795-3180 
http://www.corvettespecialtiesofmd.com

BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU:  No Record
. . . . . . 

CORVETTE SPECIALTIES
Kermit Hose, Owner
7919 Fairplay Farms Rd 
Fairplay, MD 21733-1036
(301) 733-0108

BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU
http://www.baltimore.bbb.org/nis/newsearch2.asp?ID=1&ComID=0011000014010413

. . . . . . 

KLJ CORVETTES 
Michael Warden 
7505 Connelley Dr., Ste. B 
Hanover, MD 21076 
(410) 590-7707 or (866) 374-2384 
kljvetter@msn.com 
http://www.kljcorvettes.com
 
BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU:  No Record

. . . . . . 

TONY'S CORVETTE SHOP 
Tony Avedisian 
7500 Rickenbacker Dr. 
Gaithersburg, MD 20879 
(301) 987-0565

BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU
http://www.dc.bbb.org/report.html?national=Y&compid=23005889

Good luck with your baby!

I hope you find that my answer exceeds your expectations. If you have
any questions about my research please post a clarification request
prior to rating the answer. Otherwise I welcome your rating and your
final comments and I look forward to working with you again in the
near future. Thank you for bringing your question to us.

Best regards;
Tutuzdad-ga ? Google Answers Researcher



INFORMATION SOURCES

Defined above


SEARCH STRATEGY


SEARCH ENGINE USED:

Google ://www.google.com


SEARCH TERMS USED:

CORVETTE

REPAIR

RESTORATION

FULL SERVICE

SPECIALIST

EXCLUSIVELY

My mechanic, All Tune on Kenilworth in Riverdale MD, has always been
honest with me for the past 13 years. They have had at least three
clear occasions to rip me off (in addition to the myriad opportunities
to mess up my cars while in for routine service) where I was clueless
as to the cause of a problem that they diagnosed quickly as a minor
item. One was a loose transmission backing plate on an old Jeep I had
purchased several days earlier. They might have taken me for quite a
ride on that, but tightened it up and and sealed the bolts for ten
bucks. I bought the garage lunch for that one.

They've worked on my Lincoln, Aries, Jeep, 3 Volvos (and referred me
to an expert when it was out of their league), my beloved Dart, and
even the MG (once-- nobody gets to play with that except the
specialist).

They have a couple of mechanics that have been there as long as I have
been patronizing the place, and a few that have only recently left to
pursue their own careers after many years. Such low turnover is a good
sign, in my opinion.

Your list of repairs is impressive. The steering column will be pricey
if it needs replacing (I paid about a grand for my Lincoln's new
column install, but not from All Tune) and electrical gremlins are a
bi... er, are the Devil to run down. A consult would cost nothing, I
expect, except time.

Talk to Leo, the owner, or Sue, the gal who runs the desk. Comment
here if you decide to visit them and I'll drop by.