What is the personality of a GM Mechanic?

I would expect that the metaphor refers to a mechanic’s ability to make logical, informed and accurate assessments and conclusions as to mechanical cause-and-effect, to have a no-nonsense approach to detecting and correcting problems in a straightforward manner, and to be in many respects “all business”. Perhaps you are perceived as brusque to the point of (or beyond the point of) rudeness. In that respect it may not have been meant as a compliment (not “complement”), but if it’s accurate then I’d accept that with pride… unless I were, for example, a hospice worker or a kindergarten teacher, perhaps. (And if I were perceived as rude, then I might want to address that, but that does not imply that I think mechanics in general or GM mechanics in particular are in any way rude as a class.)

cheap, superficial and unreliable?

Sounds to me like someone had a disappointing experience at a GM dealership.

I’ve been a service manager at an independent auto repair shop and at an electronics repair shop. Generally, the best techs (at either job) didn’t have the best people skills. Their interest and focus at work was making ‘things’ work, not developing positive business relationships with customers. That’s one reason dealerships have service writers who are the interface between mechanics and customers. A lot of dealership mechanics work flat rate, so if they’re not turning a wrench (like when they have to talk to a customer), they’re not making any money.

When pulled off a job to talk to a customer, I’ve seen techs be surly, rude, unfriendly, and obviously more anxious to get back to their work than making nice with the customer. Not all mechanics are like that, but the techs who excel at their craft, and have excellent people skills too, are few and far between.

Just a guess.

@bossob Not exactly a guess there.

I’d call it a compliment. GM mechanics are well informed, intelligent, and highly trained. The ones I’ve known were good humored and honest, more so than so many other people.

A broken, jaded and uninspired tech fixing problems that should not occur on modern vehicles for broken, jaded and uninspired cheapskate motorist hacks that buy and drive inferior undermaintained products.

I disagree with all the Pollyannas who told you this was a good thing. I think you were insulted, based on the stereotypes of auto mechanics that have been around for years.

Obviously I wasn’t there and I don’t know the tone of voice or the facial expression of the speaker. However, from the way you described it, I would not have seen it as complimentary.

Possibly she basically meant that you have the personality of a mechanic, but, if she had a bad experience with a GM outlet, she threw that GM part in for good measure, although it(GM) may have meant something to her specifically but not so specifically to you.
Mechanics have been given a bad rap since so many stories are said about them being “rip-offs.” Criminal types. Bad guys. But being a mechanic (auto/diesel technician, actually) my experiences with them, specifically the GM mechanics (Detroit-Diesel Allison), stand as I previously mentioned.
If it was meant to be an insult, it was a poorly worded one, with little value because of it’s vagueness of meaning

I too would take it as a slur. But. there is no way of generalizing such a thing. I would ask the source for clarification out of sheer curiosity. My own take is based on deeply ingrained lifetime distrust of the operations associated with auto dealerships. You can believe all that hype about “Mr. Goodwrench” if you choose. But for my money, unless your service is covered under warranty, you’re much better off entrusting your car to a reliable mechanic with whom you’ve had a long term relationship.

I would be left scratching my head at that one. It sounds like an insult that went flat. Who knows what it means? If someone said it to my face, I would ask them to explain.

I have to say that I would laughif it were said to me. I think it reflects badly on the sayer.