ChillForum

My Audi A4 has been shifting a bit rough for about a month now, and I keep going back and forth on where to take it. The dealer quote for just looking at it was higher than I expected, and a friend told me independent specialists are cheaper and often know the gearbox better, but I am scared of picking the wrong place and making things worse. Last night I searched around and came across the Professional Audi Transmission Repair team, and what I liked was that they seemed to explain the usual steps first, like scanning for codes and checking the fluid, before talking about big repairs. That is exactly what I want, because I have heard stories of shops saying the whole gearbox is finished without even opening anything. The car has about eighty five thousand kilometres, and the problem is mostly a small jerk when it shifts from second to third. No warning light, no strange noise. So how do you choose a place you can trust? Do you ask to see the old fluid, or ask for a written list of what they plan to do? Also, is it normal for a specialist to give a price only after checking the car, or should they tell me something over the phone? And did you notice any real difference in quality between a dealer and an independent shop? I would love to hear your honest stories, good or bad.