I took my 2002 Pontiac Montana into this shop because one of my renters had just started working there. This was Dec 1st 2009. My van had broken down while I was on a road trip and there was a scraping in the rear after my husband had repaired the brake on the right passenger side. Ron the owner told me that the rear axle was bent. The estimate was $818.53 to replace the rear axle and I was informed that it would be a new axle. We had to give them a $400 deposit in cash for the axle. I called the shop number the next day and the phone had been disconnected. I was able to reach Rita (my renter) on her personal cell phone. She informed me that the phone system was broken and it being repaired the next day. It is now 10 days later and the number is still disconnected, according to the Verizon message.
Two days later Rita called to tell me that the parts company had dropped the axle they had ordered and the axle bent when it was dropped. Mind you the rear axle supports the rear of the van but it bent because it was dropped. I questioned this and was also assured by Jason (the mechanic) that the supplier bent the axle before it could be shipped. I received a call from Rita the next day saying they ordered the wrong axle and the one that I needed was $80 more. I asked which one was it; did the supplier bend the axle so it was not shipped out or did they order the wrong one? I finally became so aggravated that I called Leonard?s asked how much they would charge me to replace the rear axle. Allan quoted me $500 and he promised to honor this estimate.
I called Valrico Auto and asked them how much it would cost to just put the rear end back together and I was told $149 and change. The labor rate is posted at $70 per hour. I wanted to speak with Ron the owner and he would not even speak to me at this point on the phone. Jason and Rita the girl Friday and my renter quoted me this price. Rita insisted that she would bring my van to me and when she delivered it the refund from the $400 deposit was only $200. They charged me $200 instead of the $149 and change. This was on Friday after I had dropped the van off that Monday.
I took the van to Leonard's Automotive Repair that afternoon. I called Leonard?s later that afternoon and was told that the axle was not bent that it was the Hub Assembly and this was a dealer part. The part cost $247; out of curiosity I asked how much a new axle from the dealer cost and Leonard's informed me it was over $1800 and that a used one was about $150. They also needed to replace some of the brake pieces that were not on the van when I brought it into their shop. My husband had replaced the parts when he repaired the van so I knew they were on the brakes when I took it to Valrico Auto.
Leonard?s called me Monday morning and told me my van was ready. The total bill came to a little over $435, which also included an alignment that was not included in Valrico Auto?s original estimate.
If you ever need repair service go to Leonard?s the staff are decent, honest professional?s who do care about your business. They basically use word of mouth as their advertising. I had used them in the past and the only reason I changed was because of my renter?s glowing recommendation of Valrico Auto and Truck repair. Wish I had checked them out first on the Internet.
I love Rottweilers, we own two of them and they are great dogs. The Rottweiler that is on a leash attached to the second desk in the office at the Valrico Auto & Truck Repair charged me and was aggressive. Beware!!!
Pros: None, I had to give them one star to post the review.
Cons: The owner will not want to talk with you if there is a issue
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