One thing I know nothing about but have always wished I knew everything about is cars. I love driving and I love cars, but I hate the industry. I hate that one person will get a different price than the next person. I hate that I always feel auto repair shops will try to gouge you any chance they get (and I am not alone here), because like buying a car, repairing one means you'll get a different price than the next guy.
I had a problem with my spark plugs last year and needed to get them replaced. I was quoted around $250-some to replace the set. Before I had given the go-ahead to the shop, I had called a mechanic friend I went to high school with. He said the spark plugs were the easiest thing to replace, would cost less than $40 for the parts and about 15 minutes of my time. He even said he'd do it for me for free, although the guy at the parts store said he would do it for $40.
Last year my brother needed to get a transmission flush and he took it into a shop, then soon after needed to get his power window fixed so he took it to another shop. The second shop told him he needed to get his transmission fluid flushed because the first shop had not done it . So my brother took it back to the first shop and complained.. the guys denied it and called my brother a liar and were very rude. Then my brother asked them to check it and yeah, they didn't do anything. I heard this is pretty common with oil changes too.. they just figure it's free money and don't bother doing anything. Then your car comes up with other problems and you pay for those later. So basically when you think you're getting your oil changed, you're just paying for parking!!
The only reason for this rant is... two nights ago, my brother's car broke down. To make a long story short(er), he towed his car to a shop and they gave him an estimate for $1,200!!
This is a copy of the suggested repairs itemized:
Can anyone who knows about cars tell me what is a ripoff here (meaning I should be able to find it cheaper elsewhere without having to have to do it ourselves)? My brother drives a 2000 Ford Escort ZX2.
I had a problem with my spark plugs last year and needed to get them replaced. I was quoted around $250-some to replace the set. Before I had given the go-ahead to the shop, I had called a mechanic friend I went to high school with. He said the spark plugs were the easiest thing to replace, would cost less than $40 for the parts and about 15 minutes of my time. He even said he'd do it for me for free, although the guy at the parts store said he would do it for $40.
Last year my brother needed to get a transmission flush and he took it into a shop, then soon after needed to get his power window fixed so he took it to another shop. The second shop told him he needed to get his transmission fluid flushed because the first shop had not done it . So my brother took it back to the first shop and complained.. the guys denied it and called my brother a liar and were very rude. Then my brother asked them to check it and yeah, they didn't do anything. I heard this is pretty common with oil changes too.. they just figure it's free money and don't bother doing anything. Then your car comes up with other problems and you pay for those later. So basically when you think you're getting your oil changed, you're just paying for parking!!
The only reason for this rant is... two nights ago, my brother's car broke down. To make a long story short(er), he towed his car to a shop and they gave him an estimate for $1,200!!
This is a copy of the suggested repairs itemized:
Can anyone who knows about cars tell me what is a ripoff here (meaning I should be able to find it cheaper elsewhere without having to have to do it ourselves)? My brother drives a 2000 Ford Escort ZX2.