A long time ago, I had a friend who worked at a dealership. He told me that the mechanics can be real jerks. One example was that you have your car in for some reason. The mechanic puts a little battery acid on the distributer. A few weeks later, the acid finaly eats through whatever it was put on, and presto... a repair is needed! Enough time has passed that you don't make the connection.

When I first heard that story, I thought what the hell, I can believe that. Who knows?

A couple of weeks ago, I had my car in the dealer for it's oil change. Two weeks later my check engine light comes on and they replace the MAF. It was covered under the extended warranty, but still reminded me of my buddy. I'm not saying they did something, it just make me wonder if that sort of thing actualy happens.

 

Funny thing is that everyone slams dealerships, they're overpriced, then technicians suck (don't know what they're doing) so on and so forth. Back in the day, there was a real problem with things like this going on. Nowadays, it's nowhere near as bad. But the technicians have to deal with that black eye from yesteryear.

Not that I'm saying that all techs are perfect, I'm sure there's hacks and crooks out there but there's for the most part two trains of thought on what goes on:

Example, you have a problem and take your car to the dealer; CEL, odd noise, no start/ no crank, whatever, it doesn't matter. 1.) the tech finds the problem and fixes the problem sends the car on it's way and sometime later you have another issue. The tech is going to fix your problem and nothing else. You may be aware of only one thing and there are probably 15 other "pending" DTCs. He's only gonna fix your problem and that's it. If he's smart, somewhere on the RO those pendings should be listed (CYA).

2.) Second way is he thoroughly looks your car over to see what kind of money he can make, fix as many problems as possible. I mean problems and not just throwing parts on the car, diagnosis is real money; any monkey can throw parts on the car. He comes back after an hour diag ($70-80 an hour) and he tells you that you have a laundry list of problems with your car. You knowing nothing about cars; what's your first thought? "These guys are trying to take me for a ride, I don't have any of these problems."

Point is, the flat rate system can be "worked". Example: You bring your car to Garage X. You're only coming for an oil change. So I, as your tech look over the car while it's still on the ground, "what can I sell this guy" The easy stuff, that I can see and feel. Fluids, wiper blades, etc. Looking at fluids I can tell different problems simply by color, trans, oil, and coolant.

Next, the car goes up on the lift and then the tires come off if you wanted a tire rotation. This is golden. While tires are off, I'm looking at brakes; linings, calipers, rotors and for any leaks. Then the look, listen, and feel on everything undercarriage (minus the exhaust for all those smart@$$es out there). Bent suspension components, body mounts, shocks, etc. All this is happening while the oil is draining out. All in all less than probably 20 minutes of work and I got:

0.4hr tire rotation
0.3hr oil change
0.5hr diag time with flowery english for all looking I was doing
If there's any coolant flushes, trans flushes, etc is time on top of that.


Like I said, the flat rate system can get worked. You can be a crook, a hack and you'll have to move every 6 months. Good service gets noticed and people talk. Bad service gets noticed and people talk, only quicker. Build up a great reputation and some people will trust you with a blank check. Just treat them well and don't rip them off. All cars are junk, when I say that I mean they all need to be fixed at some point, some a little more and some a little less than others. The only car that isn't junk in my mind is the one that never breaks down, never needs maintenance, gets great mileage and is cheap insurance. If you can find one of these beauties let me know. I'll buy two.


Justin

 

I believe they are called Honda Civics.

 

Honda Civics do not fit the qualifications listed.....


Thanks for playing

Justin

 

1996 Toyota Avalon

 

Haven't changed the oil in 12 years??? Can't be running to well now, if at all.


Even though the last part of my little story was to be taken in fun for there is no such vehicle out there, none of these ricers fit the bill.


Justin

 

I believe we all have owned what we consider to be a 'good' car, and the ones we did not feel were 'good' cars we unload them as quick as we can. I am sure we have all lost money on a rolling pile of doo......but the 'good' ones we keep for awhile.

Don

 

If mechanics were working for minimum wage, and the flat rate was $12 an hour everyone would want everything possible done to their vehicles. Parts and labor are very expensive now as compared to the past. This is why people moan and groan when then receive large maintenance and repair bills. If you drive your car hard, more than likely you will be paying big bucks to keep it in good working order.

I usually keep my regular vehicles about three years or so, but some longer. I'm faithful to oil and oil filter changes every 3000 miles. My wife is currently driving a 2006 GMC Envoy (currently 21K on the clock). She's had it for almost three years and we've only done the typical G, O, & F. No tires, no brakes, no tuneups, no trans fluid changes, no exhaust work, etc.

I have a 2004 Dodge Hemi Quad Cab. I've had it for 3 years and 4 months and it has only had G, O, & F and one tire rotation (currently 12K on the clock). I normally don't bother to rotate tires but because of this type of 4-wheel drive where the tires tug in slow turns when engaged, I figure it would behoove me to do so. I did do the exhaust system on my Hemi Ram when it was a couple of weeks old. Lou's Custom Exhaust cut off the brand new exhaust system and put dual exhaust on my truck. My bride said, "Your truck sounds different". I told her what I had done and she said, "Why would you do that?" I replied, "Because I can!" We both laughed.

Before the Hemi and the Envoy, I had three Jeep GC Limiteds. The Jeeps were in the 42-44K range when I traded them. Never put tires on, never did brakes, never did a tune up, etc. I just did the G,O, & F every 3000 miles. The last Jeep did develop two problems after 40K. I had the window regulator go in the passenger side door, and 5 days later the same thing happend to the driver's door. To me, that was a sign from above to trade it in, and I did and bought the Envoy.

My 90 Corvette did develop fuel injector problems at 78 K at a cost of $1800. There were some other problems coming up so I traded it in for my Crossfire Roadster. I had the Vette for 7 years and put a battery in it, a serpentine belt, ignition switch, tune up, and did the G,O, & F once a year. My only regret was not trading it before the injectors gave me a problem. I felt seven years with an old Vette with only replacing the above, was being lucky.

I have never leased a car. I have never purchased an extended warranty. My sister worked for a dealership for almost 25 years and advised me the extended warranties make the dealers extremely happy with more profit. She told every member of my family not to purchase any type of extended warranty. Salesman push these extended warranties on people striking fear in their hearts that repairs are expensive in the future and you may go broke just keeping your car on the road. I still get extended warranty offers through the mail for cars I no longer own. These warranty companies knew you once owned the car and figure you may still have it. They want to sell you insurance. They want your money. They make big profits. If they weren't making money, they wouldn't be doing it.

Ironically, the only car I had with a problem was my Crossfire. I thought I had a problem with the "low tire pressue" light in cold weather, but it turns out it was working just fine because I had a screw in a tire slowly letting the air out. My car spent the weekend at the dealership because it took them three days to get a tire for it.

I can't remember the last time I replaced a set of tires. It may have been back in the 70's or early 80's. I can't remember the last time I brought one of my vehicles in for a front-end alignment. That may have been back in the 70's. I guess what I'm trying to tell you is G,O, & F are very important maintenance. Yes, I do change the air filters every couple of years if I think of it. The Vette had a K&N, my Hemi Ram has a K&N but I must add with no improvement in mpg and performance, and the Crossfire has the original as well as the Envoy.

If you drive reasonably and don't beat the hell out of your car, it should last you a long time without any expensive repairs. There is no need to be sucked in by extended warranties and unnecessary services to your automobile. If you want to let your dealer have unlimited access to the money in your wallet, that's your perrogative.

Bob

 

There are also crooked bankers, realtors, and doctors. It ain't the profession - it's the individual.

My roadster has been trouble free for 28k miles other than the recall on the fan. The SRT6 need rotors and brakes, and is running great with 10.5k miles.

My 2003 Audi A6 was bought used with 37k and now has 118k. It needed a set of brakes, and a clutch and flywheel after I chipped it. They are well known for being unreliable but it runs fine.

My daughter has my 2002 Saturn VUE 4cyl 5-speed with 153k miles. Last summer she replaced the brakes for the first time at 142k and put on the 3rd set of tires. It was in the shop this weekend for it's first cooling system and brake system flush. It runs great.

I buy vehicles outright - often lightly used to avoid the first few years depreciation - and keep them a long time. The oil gets changed and the tires rotated regularly. I avoid potholes religiously and try to convince my wife and kids to do the same. As a result, lots of high mileage cars and generally few repairs....

2003 Audi A6 118k
2002 Saturn VUE 153k
1999 Mercury Villager 140k (sold)
1993 Mercury Village 143k (sold)
1992 Saturn SW2 146k (sold)
1990 Pontiac 6000 AWD 90k (sold-my only lemon; went thru 2 rear differentials)
1982 Jeep CJ7 96k (sold-due to third kid)
1974 Triumph TR6 95k (sold)
1963 Buick Skylark 103k (sold-first college car)