Here's my story:
I foolishly went to an auto shop in town that claimed to be a Land Rover specialist. The Dealer first, but I quickly got tired of their massively inflated prices and terrible customer service. But where I got really screwed was trying to get away from them and not doing my research. I ended up at Columbia, who claimed to be 10 years old, but later found that to be a lie. Actually, its 2 years. Do your research.
They tried to tell me that I had bad compression, and had a bad engine, that I should sell my car to them for $400 in parts, or spend up to $9000 replacing the engine. They claimed that happened all the time on Rovers and had a wall filled with dead engines to prove it.
Their reasoning behind my bad engine was unsatisfactory to me, and I began asking around for another opinion. I had enough to know they wern't being completely honest, and after a friend told me to try PDX, I brought my vehicle in 4 months ago.
Wow! The experience I had off the bat was completely different. Instead of being treated arrogantly, as if I was supposed to spend thousands of dollars to register on anyone's radar, I was greeted like family, and enjoyed several hours of great conversation with Steve, Andrew and the staff as they compression tested my engine and had it inspected.
Unlike Columbia, they allowed me to go see my vehicle and everything they were telling me with my own eyes, and I knew they were about keeping me as a customer in the long run, through honesty and good service, than taking my money and running.
These folks are legit, a family business, and they actually have been around since the early 90's. I feel foolish for having not found them first, and also, very lucky. As it turned out, my engine was ok, that it was displaying a few leaks yes, but ones that could be addressed for a reasonable price, and with warranty, and a long lifespan for the vehicle.
I trusted them, and they had my vehicle for several days, and in addition to fixing my car, they just took genuine care of me, giving me a ride home, calling me with every update I asked for, and not letting me push them in to cheapo-chinese fixes for the engine. Like a doctor they genuinely take pride in their results, and refuse to do less.
After my engine work, the vehicle ran like a dream, and I drove it for a month without issue. As luck would have it, I started leaking coolant again. My instincts tingled, as my experience with the Dealership and Columbia had me braced for yet another large dollar sign repair.
PDX Rovers had me rush in for a diagnosis, and found a coolant hose that had not needed to be replaced before was now leaking, unrelated to the previous work. They didn't have to, but they gave me the hose at no charge, as they could tell I was strapped for cash, and just wanted to... take care of me?
Ever since that hose, I haven't had a single incident, and have only had to come back in for an oil change. Now that my vehicle is in a clean state of happiness, I'm pondering vehicle modifications.
It's nice to take pride in my Rover, sit back, and feel confident that she's in actually good shape and isn't going to bleed me dry, just because its an expensive luxury vehicle.
PDX Rovers played a huge part in that confidence and contentedness with my vehicle, and if it weren't for them, I think I'd be selling me vehicle for less than its worth, or if I was really foolish, perhaps I would have already sold it to Columbia for $400... Thank God I checked around!
Thank you PDX Rovers.
more