Cleveland shop won't repair SUVs
 

Cleveland mechanic lusts for a clean environment

By Brennan Lafferty
Automotive News / June 13, 2005

CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, Ohio -- Consider yourself warned: Don't take your Lincoln Navigator to the Lusty Wrench.

Oh, this two-technician garage in a suburb of Cleveland might work on your SUV, especially if you've failed the state's emissions test. But owner Sam Bell will want to know why you drive a gas-guzzling, emissions-belching SUV.

If Bell doesn't like your answer, his response will sound something like this:

"We generally don't service this type of vehicle because we feel they are environmentally irresponsible," says Bell, 55. "In fact, we'll go so far as to say they're environmentally reprehensible."

He jokes that he has had to "fire" customers who don't agree with his philosophy. Others come to his shop because of his viewpoint, including more than 20 people who drive hybrids. "Most people realize that I do this out of my real concern of the environment and the rest of the people on the road," Bell says.

Data fly from Bell's mouth while he argues that SUVs are unsafe for occupants and fellow drivers. He cites high rollover rates and the damage that SUVs do when they collide with cars.

The Lusty Wrench works on only two SUVs on a regular basis. Those customers really need SUVs, Bell says. One is a salamander-chasing biologist who four-wheel-drives his way in and out of marshes. The other has a family of seven and uses the SUV to cart the entire clan.

'Stupid and wasteful'

"We don't need SUVs," Bell says. "We don't need four-wheel drive in the city. It's stupid and it's wasteful. You're carrying around all this extra weight of transfer casing, extra driveshaft, extra differential, extra drive axles for 45 minutes' use a year."

Bell figures that's how long someone needs 4wd to navigate the snows of a Cleveland winter. But he really believes that time frame could be reduced to zero minutes if drivers stayed off the road during snowstorms or until crews cleared the way.

Minivans get a pass from Bell, but he recommends buying one with a small engine. Large pickups are fine in his book, too, provided they are work trucks that haul tools and equipment.

Not limited to SUVs

Bell's concern for the environment isn't limited to bashing SUVs. His shop also reuses auto parts when appropriate, and recycles cardboard, metal and oil.

But don't confuse environmental leanings with a lack of business savvy. Bell has operated his shop for 26 years and says he handles 30 to 35 cars per week.

He's also a teacher certified by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency to teach a course for trainers, who then go out and instruct people how to become emissions specialists.

He has written or edited seven books for the state agency. And he has organized a consortium of local garages to share the cost of diagnostic equipment for several brands of vehicles.

What does this anti-SUV father of two drive around town?

He allows himself 30 miles per week in his 1995 Ford Escort. But, he says, "Most of the time I ride a bicycle."
:lurk:

Well, that's him losing business; being discriminitive...


Aside from that; "F" him, and his philosophy... I bet that 95 Escort is belching out more harmful emmissions than my 2003 Expedition.

Oh well to each his own I guess.

Wonder if has the same hatred towards Gov't vehicles, dump trucks, school busses, etc ...

He might lose business but whos to say there isn't plenty. Most garages I know of are busy busy busy.

Will he work on my boat for me??? :devil: I really dont have a reason as to why I have it. But like my SUV's yes (V's) as in plural as well as my truck I pay the taxes, licenses, gas, insurances, and maintanence on all of them and the boat. So I don't have to give... NO I retract that, I won't give an explaination to anyone as to "why I have them" unless they are willing to take over those expenses and resposibilites for me.
I'm afraid with that atttitude he would do a lot that might not need to be done AND charge extra for it. Because the fact that he wants to know "why" before he will work on it and is only doing 30-35 cars per week after 26 years of operation in Cleavland..? That says a lot about his work ethic or lack there of. In our little town of 20,000 people there are 8 dealerships, about 20 fully equipped shops, several small garages, and multiple shade tree mechanics moonlighting in thier garages. The smallest or youngest of them (not counting the shade tree's) the rest all turn out atleast 10 cars a day or more 6 days a week!

If I'm broke down in Cleavland I hope that I dont end up in his shop! I would
1: Be aggrevated because I was broke down.
2: Aggrevated because I would be paying him for a job and he want's to ask ignorant irrelevent questions that's not getting me back on the road.
3: If he kept talking under those circumstances I might would go Jamzwayne on him.

I like how he says no one needs 4WD because, even if it snows, you should just wait for the snow plows.

At least this is confined to his own shop, where he can run his business any way he wants to.

I don't like folks judging me based on the kind of car I drive. I don't need to defend my choices to anyone in a free society. So, I would choose to service my truck elsewhere if I lived there.

Good thing I don't live in Ohio
 

Do you think he would have a problem with my husband and I using our trucks to haul race engines and a race car?

Alright... I have another one.
IF Trucks and SUV's are so dangerous to other cars..... Why would I want other cars that would put me and my family in danger if hit by an Truck/SUV? It's survival of the fittest on the road ways now a days. Armor up or die!

Credit where it's due for a marketing gimmick. I wonder if he only uses water based paint on his cars too. (Yes-it really does exist and it sucks to work with).

I like the idea of a 4WD only bodyshop that stays away from body putty and adhesives and lays down a few extra layers of clear coat and stone guard for the sake of durability.

hmm.....

-Fatz

30-35 cars a week...it's a miracle he can keep the lights on and his technicians paid.

eh well, I'll just keep fixin stuff myself.

Adrianspeeder

Refer back to my first post about replacing parts that don't need to be changed and charging extra for them.
It also says that he uses old parts from around the shop when he can..... He probably didn't even touch the part he just tells his customers that he put a used part on to replace thier supposedly worn part... Yet it's the orginal part that came on thier vehicle he may not have even layed eyes on it. :lol:

He sounds like a jackass to me. I don't care what it is, if it floats, flies, or drives, I'll work on it. Money's money.

You do have to give the guy some credit, at least he's standing by his beliefs. Doesn't like what he considers "not environment friendly vehicles" so he won't work on them and doesn't drive one.

Hell of alot better in my book then Hollywood nutjob or politician who tells me my Lightning is a gas guzzler hurting the environment and then jumping on their private jet to fly off somewhere.