Joe Boulay, a mechanic from Richmond, N.H., and author of If That Car Could Talk: How to Locate and Maintain a Good Used Car, is dedicated to reviving the honesty and integrity that he says used to be the hallmark of a good car repair shop.
After putting in more than 25 years as Keene-area mechanic, Boulay said he wanted to impart some of what he learned about cars and auto repair to those who might not be quite as savvy. His book, published in 2012 and available throughout Windham County, let him do just that.
“I wrote the book based on what I've learned over the past 25 years, and my honesty,” he said. “The way I recommend people service their cars in the book is the same way I service my family's vehicles. I wrote the book with that same feel.”
He said he believes that used car buyers generally buy the seller's problems. Boulay dedicated one of the chapters in his book to this topic.
In his view, the three most important things to ask for when buying a used car are “service records, service records, and service records!”
A car that's not been regularly maintained by its previous owners is a car that should be avoided, he says, adding that any car that is bought on emotion, rather than intellect and information, will be a constant source of headaches.
Boulay also recommends having a good relationship with your mechanic. If you can't talk honestly with your mechanic and get an honest answer in return, that's a red flag.
“Out of six mechanics, it only takes one to make them all look bad,” he said. “But that one bad egg won't lose his job, because he makes [his garage] too much money.”
The book also covers what used car owners should budget for annual maintenance, how to spot small problems before they turn into major repairs, and when it's time to part with your car. Spoiler alert: it's generally when the repairs cost more than the car is worth.
Boulay said the book's success has pleasantly surprised him.
When asked whether the level of honesty, leavened with humor, that his book contains has “ticked off” others in the automotive business, Boulay said it hadn't to his knowledge.
“I have not received any negativity from any car companies,” he said. “I suppose if someone does not like my book, perhaps it is because of the individual or entity is not honest. I do not point fingers at any car manufacturers for dependability. I basically point out that how an individual maintains a car affects someone that may buy it used. In other words, the dependability of a car relies mostly upon how the previous owner treated the car.”