[myamoto1]

Why even have an hourly rate, if everything is treated as a fixed bid agreement? I would expect to be billed based on actual hours worked. If they expect to go over the original estimate/quote, I expect a phone call.

I just had to replace the valve cover gasket on my wife's Kia Sedona. I was quoted around 7 hours of labor plus parts from 2 different dealerships. I spent the $35 in parts and spent 3.5 hours doing the job myself. No shop, no fancy tools and no manual. If it takes a trained tech nearly 4 hours more to do the same job, I have limited faith in our trade schools.