A & W Auto

[phat_ridegt]

Not sure if this is appropriate or not, but my best friend Aaron Brown and I are looking to stop working for the 'man', and open our own shop. We DO NOT have our own buisness yet, but are both trying to get a name for ourselves out there.

Im not sure if this is the place, but we have been doing work out of our garages for sometime now, and trying to save enough dough to start our own shop. If anyone needs anything done, please feel free to PM, or call me. I specialize in GM FWD, but i've worked on many others as well. Aaron works at an independent shop, and has a LOT of experience working on everything lol. From mercedies to audi to dodge, we can do it. At a labor rate of no more than 40/hr, you can't go wrong. Club discounts will apply as well.

A little backround about us:

I have been a gm tech for 5 years, and attended IVCC's automotive programs. I am NOT ASE certified, because I couldn't afford to go to school full time, and not work. I was offered a job before i finished school with Terry Bentz Buick in Marseilles, IL so I took it. I am GM certified in many fields and should be a GM mastertech before long.

Aaron attended JJC in Joliet, IL and is a TechNet master Tech. He has worked in two different shops in the last 7 years, and is by FAR the best Tech I've ever met. He specializes in electrical problems and wiring.

Please feel free to PM me or call to schedule an appointment. 815-712-3034


and also, mods, if this is inappropriate, please delete!

[SyntheticShield]

Glad you posted. I wish there were more of you around. I dont have a problem with you posting your stuff here, thats what the community vendor section is for.

Id like to see more GM techs that could show up for local chapter meets and supervise mod days or even make a few bucks doing the mods for people.

[UR LOSN]

Phat, being ASE certified is not all its cracked up to be. they will give it to anyone. I mean look at me......I am proof. LOL.

I will vouch for Danny!!!! He knows his stuff!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Toasty]

Phat, being ASE certified is not all its cracked up to be. they will give it to anyone. I mean look at me......I am proof. LOL.

I will vouch for Danny!!!! He knows his stuff!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I should write you up for excessive use of teh "capital 1's" !!!!1!!

[turbocharged406sbc]

the only ase certs i'd put my faith in would be L1/L2 the rest are pretty damn easy...

phat, ya ever talk to bob and voytec? we're cleaning up the shop this month getting everything ready, i gotta borrow the hammer drill from my boss but once we get the lift to the shop and installed it'll be much better than working on my back in my garage...

we are all keeping our day jobs and trying to get it off the ground...all i want is enough room for an older 3axis cnc mill that i can retrofit

nothing like working your ass off constantly eh? lol

[GR8racingfool]

Pretty much what they said about being ASE is true. Most dealerships like to brag that all their techs are certified, but when it comes down to it, only 1 out of 20 is worth a damn. The others can do the work yes, but like to leave parts outs, like brackets, clips, covers, and rerouting wiring, and hoses after a job correctly is slim to none.

There is a lot more to being a good tech than being certified in this and that, its the attention to detail, and doing the job right the first time, and trying to avoid the customer coming back for a second time with the same problem. THAT right there makes a good tech. NO repeating business is a good thing. But a repeating customer is even better because they know you can do the job right. From there...word spreads like a wild fire.

Thats my advice to you guys. Sure you know this, and will use it anyway in your business practices. But that right there, and sticking to those morals, and not getting greedy like many do, will keep you guys busy with customers, and growing everyday. Do it because you love it, and not because your after the money. Thats just a bonus.

Good luck on your business, and hope it works out for you guys. Having people/employees familiar with many makes and models is one thing, but having somebody that specializes in electrical troubleshooting and repair is like gold now a days. Plug the crap out of that when you advertise.

~F~

[phat_ridegt]

i agree about the ASE thing, thats why its not on my to-do list. i also agree that it's just a about knowing something on paper. i have learned almost everything i know about these cars by doing, not by reading a book. on the job experience is where it's at for sure.

thanks for the advice guys. we are still going to keep our day jobs to start, but id like to save 10-15k between the two of us, and then look for a shop, and start getting equipment. by the time we've made 10k, we SHOULD have a decent customer base, and like jason said, word of mouth is critical.

so....if anyone knows someone who knows someone who needs work done, send em my way lol. thanks guys