Ft. Collins Auto Repair

These days in the automotive industry there is a lot of private equity money. Groups of investors buying up independent shops. It's happening in the auto body and paint side, and it's happening in the mechanical repair side, too.  It is likely happening in other industries as well. A by-product, I suppose, of our country's demographics. The baby-boom generation is largely retired, many of them successfully and financially able to invest. And so, small independent shops of many types are becoming corporatized (new word, there).  Is this a good thing, or a bad thing? Maybe both? Maybe neither? What I feel is that when private equity happens and independent operators sell, local culture is at risk. The focus often shifts from community service and involvement, to making sure the numbers pencil out, every time. Does this make for bad business people? Not necessarily. But it might remove some of the warmth, compassion, and understanding that you used to have when doi ... read more

We recently lost one of our favorite customers, Frank Johnson. Following are reflections from our years of doing business with a great man. Sending love, thoughts, and prayers from All Tech Automotive to Frank's family and those who knew and loved him! Frank was a long-time customer at our shop, and an outstanding example of a wonderful businessman and family man. Frank's 1999 Ford Expedition saw over 360,000 miles - not because it was that reliable of a vehicle, but because Frank cared for it that well. Oil and filter changes. Pre-trip inspections. Suspension repairs. Tune-ups. Transmission replacement. Engine replacement. Failed emissions diagnostics. A lot of work, over a lot of years. He loved that truck and was most excited about taking it back to the cabin in Montana, it seems. He took care of his family in the same manner. We practically watched his grandson Austin grow up at the school down the street and then into multiple jobs, and multiple cars along the way. We h ... read more

Anne and I went to Winter Park this weekend and lucked into a powder day on Saturday. Having gone up on Friday evening we enjoyed clear roads and an easy drive. Getting up Saturday it was coming down, but with some wind. We stayed away from the top of the mountain at Mary Jane and had an exceptional day. They got 7.5 inches as it came down all day! On Sunday the sun came out and we had great snow again. It was colder because of no cloud cover, but less wind though there was some at the top. We took the Panorama lift to the top and came down the big bowl in the middle and the snow was deep and soft. That was my good fortune as I experienced my first face plant in recent memory. Anne thought it quite entertaining, and I thought it not so, but managed to ski like crazy the rest of the day. That snow will melt in few months and the payback will be when I use it to water my lawn. Thanks, Grand County for the great weekend. And thanks, good old 1988 Suburban for all these years of hauling us ... read more