Interesting read about Merlin Auto Shops & some facts

JStudrawa

Registered User
Presto! Merlin Muffler & Brake Changes will now be called Merlin 200,000 Mile Shops
GENEVA, Ill.--May 3, 2006--Twenty years ago, not even a magician like Merlin could help cars reach the 200,000 mile mark. But modern cars, minivans, SUV's, and light trucks have been built to last longer, and with regular maintenance (and proper driving habits by their owners) these everyday vehicles can reasonably reach that mythical plateau. In order to reflect this evolution and emphasize a company-wide commitment to helping their customers get the most from their vehicles, Merlin Muffler & Brake shops across the country are changing their name effective May 1, 2006 to Merlin 200,000 Mile Shops.

The name change is meant to better communicate the chain's long-term strategy of dominating a poorly served market within the auto maintenance and repair industry and capitalize on a major consumer trend, according to Frank Smola, president of Merlin's Franchising, Inc.

"We believe our new name explains our commitment to long-term customer relationships yet it does not confine us to specific automotive technologies. It quantifies what we are trying to do for our customers, which is to help them receive the full life of their automobile," Smola said.

For too long, car and light truck owners have been prematurely trading out of their cars and taking on unnecessary debt because they have had little idea that their vehicles will last and perform well beyond 100,000 miles. But Merlin shop franchisees and managers understand the true mileage potential of today's passenger vehicles and facilitate this quest for longevity during the course of every business day.

"Our shop franchisees and managers see cars almost every day with 150,000 or even 200,000 miles on them," Smola said. "They are telling their other customers that they can go farther and that there is a better place for their money than more car payments."

A 200,000 Mile Shop provides both repair and prevention services as well as tires -almost anything automotive a consumer would need during the first 200,000 miles of their car's life (except car washes, major engine, transmission, and collision repair).

What makes Merlin excel is their proprietary maintenance product - "The Drive for 200,000" - which is a comprehensive program of regular inspections, scheduled maintenance and preemptive replacement that is far more cost effective for the consumer than many car dealer's maintenance programs. Merlin's "Drive for 200,000" eliminates certain unnecessary services that may characterize competitors' programs. Its purpose is to help vehicles last beyond 300,000 miles.

One of the fastest growing groups of automobile owners are those keeping their cars beyond 125,000 miles. A National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) study released earlier this year reported that typical passenger cars are now lasting 150,000 miles or more, while pickups and SUV's are lasting 180,000 miles or more. The report noted that 79 percent of 10 year old passenger cars are still on the road, an increase of 7 percentage points over the same statistic from NHTSA's 1995 study.

"Following 'The Drive for 200,000' and delaying another 60-month round of car payments can mean a better life. Based on an average car payment of $400 a month or $4,800 each year, minus $750 a year in regular maintenance (oil changes, tire rotations etc.) and $900 a year in routine repairs (brakes, mufflers etc.), we estimate a customer can save over $3,000 a year by keeping their car, extending its life, and avoiding new car payments. And just think of what you could do with that extra money," said Smola.

"We've been helping our customers win the battle against premature car payments for years," Smola said. "Our new name and 'The Drive' program will equip us to deliver on that promise in a much better way. And while we are helping the motoring public go farther, we will also be assisting our franchisees and shop employees to also go farther and maximize their full potentials."

About Merlin

Merlin 200,000 Mile Shops offer a neighborhood approach to automotive maintenance and repair. Founded in 1975, the company is ranked fifth among nationally franchised undercar service chains. Merlin is headquartered in Geneva, IL and has 70 shops located in Illinois, Georgia, Michigan, Texas and Wisconsin.

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(c) 2006 eNR Services, Inc. All rights reserved.
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They're a mile down the road from my new office, so I decided to find out if they're any good. They'll install my parts, have a decent hourly labor rate, and discuss my options rather than saying "here's our price, take it or leave it" which is what most chain shops I have talked to do.

Hoping this is reasonable...

$53 for Moog inner tie rod (He argued that Duralast tie rods rarely fit perfectly?????)
1.7 hours @ $75/hr for install and alignment ($127.50)

So $180 for the deal.

Thoughts?
 
I have 239,8xx miles on my SC and drive it every day. That doesn't sound too bad for an inner tie rod assuming they are also going to align the car afterwards. Any time you mess with the tie rods you need to get the car realigned. I changed one on my girlfriends car a few weeks ago, and I barely loosened the jam nut, put the new tie rod on and tightened the jam nut back up exactly as it was. The car pulled to the left. The new tie rod must have been slightly longer than the old one. So we brought it in to work on the following saturday and put it on the alignment rack and realigned it. It is fine now.
 
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