Newcastle: Which mechanic?

[Cruisecraft Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Cruisecraft]

Hi guys,
Just about to hand over the cash for an 05 V6 auto GXL. I'm located in Newcastle and wondering if anyone can recommend a good mechanic.
My two original options are All4x4 at Kotara or Cardiff Toyota as I know a friend of a friend...
Any help would be great.

[jhiace Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close jhiace]

Steve toms automotive at Adamstown are good.

[samo Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close samo]

wallsend automotive in carbine close are good as well. cheers samo

[Cruisecraft Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Cruisecraft]

Thanks boys.
Picking it up today. Needs new tyres, brakes, and a good service.
Was going to put the cooper LT at3's on and new pads. Might do the discs at the same time so I know it's all done.
Will give your guys a call to see how busy they are over the next week.
Would you get your mechanic to do the brakes or just take it to a brake specialist?

[Steve M Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Steve M]

Cruisecraft, you buying private or yard ??...... Cheers Steve

[jhiace Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close jhiace]

My mechanic did my brakes. I use Ray Prescott Automotive at Cessnock and drive there from the central coast. Good mechanics are hard to come by

[Guest Close Guest]

Front brake pads and rotors are an easy DIY job.

[Chaser Member Find all posts View Profile Close Chaser]

I can do any work you require cruisercraft, I'm a licensed mechanic with Toyota training

[jay_m_d Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close jay_m_d]

Hi, I asked a similar question here a while back and didn't get many replies. I ended up going to Adamstown Car Doctors based on a recommendation from someone else and have so far found them outstanding. They are good to deal with and have rung me few times to recommend things that didn't need doing to save money and been very helpful with a few small problems I had. Also had my partners car serviced there and been a similarly good experience

[Cruisecraft Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Cruisecraft]

Hi Steve - Private. Picked it up from a guy in Auburn. Its got a few shopping trolley dints but hasn't done any off road work and doesn't have a tow bar.
Andrew - most guys are pretty handy but I'm a male nurse. I'm better suited to changing wound dressings than anything mechanical... Plus I don't think I would trust my handywork when the family are in it!!!
Chaser - thanks mate. Are you a mobile mechanic or work in a shop around town???
Jay - thanks mate. A friend goes there as well. I'm trying to find somewhere that sees heaps of 120's. Ive got a subi as well and take it to Marshall at Autocraft subaru, that way I know he's pretty right about everything on the car.

Just drove it back up the F3 to home and am really pleased with it. Love the 5 speed auto and the engine is a cracker!!! I wondered how much I would get for a donated kidney after my first fill up with premium set me back over $250...

[Guest Close Guest]

$250 sounds about right for 150L of petrol. but the maintenance costs of the V6 is lower than the diesels and the purchase price would be lower too. Don't concentrate too much on the fuel consumption. It's better than the diesels in the long run. Just smile at the diesel owners if you ever meet any in the PP trips

[matt150 Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close matt150]

My modified diesel 150 is currently averaging 9.6 L/100km this tank, my older modified petrol 120 series would be chewing approximatley 16/17 L/100km on the same distance and load...

So diesel is cheaper.. Especially if you tow a camper or caravan.

[Cruisecraft Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Cruisecraft]

Andrew - yeah mate. I love the V6. I've only done 150kms but love it.

Matt - I like the diesel too. All my other family have diesels (200 series V8, 80 series 4.2TD, prado120 D4, and a Disco 3gen). In my price bracket ($20k) I could only afford the earlier diesel so the argument stops there. I've got the left overs of my childhood with my fathers Cruisecraft reef finder boat on a dual axle trailer plus an old Cub camper dating back to 1988. My towing wont be too extensive so I dont mind the extra fuel cost. Remind me of this post when petrol hits $2/l though...

I was amazed at the amount of 03-05 models that had extensive cracking and generally poor looking dash's. I'm off to the shops tomorrow to get a dash mate. I reckon a few of them had tried putting some products (ie. armorall) on them and it looked as though it made it worse. So i'm just going to wipe off the dust with an old t-shirt and put the mat straight on and hope mine doesn't go the same way.