Recent content by bakechad

Actually I think it may be the opposite. The two mechanics I deal with are always booked for weeks with long term customers. Very customer relationship based. No mass advertising or coupons, just strong word of mouth and generational business. I think they just spread those diagnostic costs...

This has been a great discussion! A few thoughts after reading all the replies: While I have never previously paid for diagnostics, I just assumed those costs were rolled into overall costs of everyone's repair. Paying directly for the diagnostics on my vehicle makes a whole lot of sense...

This made me think of something else. The two repair shops I normally deal with are usually running at capacity and their average customer tenure is decades. All the ones I have called in the last day or two, have next day appointments and are getting a lot of their business through coupon...

Wanted to get some opinions here to see if I'm crazy or not. I have a 2006 Honda CRV and deal with an independent mechanic and have a backup for when the primary is booked up. Both of them are backed up for weeks. It is a throwing a P0325 knock sensor code and I need it fixed before my kid...

Napa Gold in my Forester Had the air box replaced in my CRV and the mechanic put in a Hastings.

2016 Subaru Forester 2.5L Kirkland synthetic 0w-20 Napa platinum filter

St. Charles, IL 5W-30 only

+1 Techron

I've had an SRM-225 for years. Works great, starts every time. Just changed the plug and filter about an hour ago. Could be in my head, but I do think it runs better with an Autolite plug.

+1 Seafoam

I took my 2016 Forester to a local shop for just a tire rotation, that's it. Owner calls me and says, "you're all set, tire rotation and oil change". I'm like whoa, no oil change. He dumped my Pennzoil Platinum and Napa Gold filter and replaced with Petro Canada synthetic and a Napa Proselect...

Been in the auto insurance business for 25 years. That car is not worth carrying full coverage on. But the one upside is that if someone hits your vehicle and totals it and you have full coverage, your carrier will chase the other persons insurance or the individual themselves if they don't...

Originally Posted By: Astro_Guy The best conventional 5w20 is the synthetic 5w20 that is on sale. Run the numbers... +1

Originally Posted By: Jetronic Subaru is toyota owned... Toyota owns 8.7% (as of a few months ago) and is limited on how much they can own due to Japanese anti-trust laws. If you own an International balanced fund or index fund, you probably own part of Subaru (Fuji Heavy Industries) as...

I would suggest Mint 17 with xfce. All distros run pretty fast, the desktop is what makes it faster or slower. For general browsing, office stuff, etc., xfce is great. Thunar is the the stand file manager which works really well. Even if you install gnome apps on top of it, it still runs like a...