- Prices are set by the market in a market based market.
- A lotta people seem to think they don't make enough but others make too much.
- Some cars cost more to buy and operate than others.
DIY auto repair means not having to deal with obnoxious auto repair shop prices
- Thread starter pacem
- Start date
Yeah. Change egr or a PCV valve on a little corolla/or civic? Yeah pop it on and you are done.
Audi? Oh yeah we swapped the exhaust and intake on a V engine and you will need to remove 5 miles of vacuum and fuel hoses an oil cooler more line smore sensor the turbo/supercharger and the exhaust headers to do the same thing.
No fun. I have no desire to own a German car. They are beautiful, but way too many maintenance horror stories.
On the other hand, everyone has a great Corolla story.
Lets be real here. Not counting stupid people who are poor because they are stupid the Audis are great cars.
A guy who can spend 90 grand on a fun car has no problems dropping 5-10 grand on a timing job or a turbo or whatever else.
People who complain about maintenance costs are the ones who had no business of buying them first.
Not sure I agree with your business logic. That may be your reality, but not mine. I prefer quality.
Our 2006 Acura TSX needed an alternator, 1 coil and regular maintenance in 220K miles. It was in the shop exactly 1 time, for the coil. I could not work on it at the time. The car is perfect. How many Audis that you have owned can say that?
Each to their own.
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I know quite a few people with multiple millions who are some of the most careful people I know with their money. As a guy who can relatively easily drop $90K on a fun car, I have to say dropping $10k here and there for repairs and exorbitantly high maintenance costs is still not trivial to me, and that'd be factored into my decision to buy or not buy the car.
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Agreed. One of my small engine customers owns 7 companies. He can buy pretty much any car he wants. He drives a 2008 Toyota Highlander. Most people who have a lot going on in their lives don't want to mess with high maintenance cars.
Some of us got where we are through years of working hard and keeping our personal financial obligations streamlined and small. Everything was calculated and there was little on the margin. Beans and rice, save and invest, avoid debt, paid off car maintained yourself, make prudent choices that benefit long run, enjoy frugal adventures. Buy wrenches at the flea market and pawn shop so you can work on your own house/car/mower/mailbox/wheelbarrow.
20 years later life is better and we have a family. There is room for some fun in the budget but the old habit of cringing at three and four figure repairs dies hard.
I have no problems with good mechanics running a good business and doing well. I do have an issue with a bunch of neck-beard hacks that can't manage to control their shop costs and passing it on to me...telling me their shop rate is $150 an hour and hitting me up for book hours while they cut corners (swollen lug nuts) on simple jobs I could do myself in less time than it takes to arrange pickup and drop off. You cutting corners and skipping best practice steps is very different from "the tools, experience, and expertise" allowing you to do it faster than book time.
Don't tell me the now-dead TPMS sensor in the wheel/tire I brought to you (working) yesterday for a tire plug is a coincidence, and will be $150 to replace/program. Your guy should've been more careful when he pulled the tire. Don't tell me the Interstate battery you sold my wife ($160) that died in month 25 will only be $160 to replace under the really great pro-rated warranty. No thanks, walmart 36 month warranty $95 and they are open 24/7.
I'm not your cash cow. We were good customers of yours. Were. Past tense. If you hit me up on the small jobs, I can't trust you on the big ones.
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I wouldn't pay that either and would DIY it like you did, but the Mom & Pop down the road from me is booked out 2 weeks for anything, they have good techs 9 bays and are always packed, they don't advertise either.
Yup, not what you make, it's what you keep. Seriously though, this is true for the very wealthy as well. I know a woman with tens of millions who traveled Ireland by helicopter for "the convenience" but will calculate her portion of the bill going out to have coffee with friends down to the cent.
Correct, you dont want to spend that money on maintenance. That doesnt make the audi a bad car.
Does that make it a good car?
What body part of a woman makes her attractive?
It is a matter of preference.
Sorry, I don't even know what that means.
Are you saying high maintenance costs are a good thing or not?
I definitely prefer a reliable, minimal maintenance cost vehicle. Cars cost enough to begin with.
I am saying that your preferences and priorities are not everyone's preferences and priorities. Some people are willing to deal with a downside that is a deal breaker for someone else.
IOW if you're high maintenance, you better be pretty (both girls and cars)
I sort of agree. Some cars have a long and complex maintenance schedule built in. I would be OK with that assuming I knew that going in and so long as they remain reliable if I follow the maintenance schedule.
Some cars you just drive. There usually sort of boring but thats probably the point.
Some cars you just drive. There usually sort of boring but thats probably the point.
Isn't that most or at least a lot of places now?
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