So you take your car in. You hate taking the car in because it's always twice the cost you had anticipated. You always get the feeling that if you had the know-how or a friend in the business, you'd have saved half the price. When I went in and explained the issue, I really tried not to have my "sucker" face on. (You know, like I'd do this piddly little repair myself if I had the time.) I always feel like when I'm at the mechanic that "please rip me off" is written on my forehead. They called us a couple hours after I dropped the car off. Seems the pipes are all corroded that hold the power steering fluid and according to them, this also affects the pump and so they have to change the whole system. I was hoping to get out of there for a couple hundred bucks, but just guess how much to replace a little old pump and a couple of pipes. No really, guess. Have it in mind, do you? Eeh eye gee aitch tee hundred, that's how much it cost. Over a week's salary, poof! I told Serge that with the set of winter tires and this repair, it will have cost more than a transit pass for the entire year. We've had the car for 8 months. Arggh. I really have gotten used to the ease of popping over to the market to shop with the car, but I don't know if we'll keep it (in shape) too long if repairs of this magnitude become de rigeur.
It's only money. This is the one line that really helps me deal with times like this. I learned it from my friend Dee who over the years helped me to hone my frugality. I was always surprised when some big cost would affect her and she would just say, "It's only money." It surprised me because I'd seen her get upset over 25 cents on more than one occasion, but when a big five hundred dollar thing happened, she was able to just shrug it off. So I do that too now. It helps reduce the angst. Plus I'd much rather have a bad car diagnosis than a bad health diagnosis. Money is just fictitious anyway, I'm just a little shorter on fiction, badum dum tsh.
When I walked back over to the garage to pick up the car, I was morose but ready to shell out. I wondered whether the figure quoted on the phone included tax. Probably not. Ugh. I wondered how I could maybe flirt my way into a discount. I thought about how they would handle it if I just got in the car and left without settling the bill. (It crosses the mind, but not into the realm of real possibility.) I approached the counter and a man told me to hang on, they were changing shifts. Then an old guy appeared, a customer, shouting in English about something. He was really fired up and was saying, "I asked him for my keys and he says they're in the car. Then I go to my car and it's locked. So I come back and he tells me he can't help me because the keys are in the car. But you locked the doors! What is this some kind of joke? Is there a hidden camera somewhere?" First I started to chuckle but then it dawned on me that these knuckleheads had worked on the car! Not too comforting. Then a little bang rang out behind us at the entry doors. A small child, maybe 2 or 3, started wailing such intense shrieking that I was waiting for the florescent tubes to burst. Seems the poor little guy bumped his head on the door. The high pitched crying was quite distracting but then someone appeared to wait on me and uttered, "It's the end of the world," as he rolled his eyes and nodded in the direction of the poor kid and his mother gently stroking his head. Shrieking children always bring a smile to my face (pity too, I swear) and I was standing there smiling as the man brought up my bill and then a tatooed dykish clerk sauntered by and cracked, "Can somebody get the kid some candy?" I burst out laughing, perhaps a little too loudly. Then the nice man printed out my receipt and I saw that the phone price was the total price including tax. I actually felt relieved. (Still, I suspect this relief was crafted from their evil capitalistic plan.) Then I got in the car and it was like a new car! I guess the power steering really was bad because now the steering is so responsive I think I could steer it with my dick. No lie! (Would "limp dick" have been funnier there? I can't decide.) Anyway, at least I can see the difference from the repair, it mildly assuages the fact that I could have gone to Cuba for a week with all expenses paid for that price.
23 comments:
I grew up in a family where all repais were at least attempted prior to engaging the services of a garage. Now, it is impossible to do repairs on most vehicles one's self it seems, either that or my hands have grown too large to fit into the components of vehicles as they did way back then.
I try to avoid large ticket items these days myself, mostly because I am a stickler for the really good deal and the best quality for the best price.
The car isn't a Pontiac is it? My mom's Pontiac has more miles vertically than horizontally. It's main problem is that it has a design flaw that causes the anti-theft light to come on and shut down any attempts to allow it to start. (the dealer says it thinks it's being stolen) It has not been officially recalled so therefore all expenses must be out of pocket. After telling the powers that be that she will never ever own a Pontiac again and paying thousands of dollars the anti-theft light still comes on at the most inopportune times. Wanna buy a car? Ed
I refer to car repair prices in "units." $500 = one repair unit. I budget (and expect) two to three units a year for my 14-year-old car. But in the suburbs, going without a car is not an option.
I grew up in a small city where everything is accessible by bicycle. Here, biking is a life-threatening pursuit and mass transit doesn't reach us. So instead of getting my teens a good bike, I have to get them used cars. I still can't help but feel it's a magnanimous gift when in fact it's a necessity.
I want to move to a town where the sun shines and bicycle paths are everywhere. Who am I kidding? I want to go back to Sarasota!
We went without a car for about a year and a half a while back. We'd rent when we wanted to go away for a weekend or had a special errand that required wheels. What finally broke my partner down was the tedium of having to vacuum the rental cars out meticulously after weekends when our 2 large shedding dogs had been in the back.
I feel your pain, and I am glad you noticed the difference in the car. enjoy your car as the winter is not over yet.
I read Ed's comment with some interest. I guess all things are relative. Our van is a Pontiac (2002). We've had it for six years now and not a bit of problem. and We've had Pontiacs for the 12 years preceding (two sedans and another van) and had no problem with them either: gas, oil, and inspection.
But I know the feeling of dealing with "car guys", either sales or repair. I've not figured out whether it is my own sucker face, my "please rip me off" tattoo on my forehead, or the queen tiara on my head, but somehow they know. They know!
After 20 years of car ownership, I still have not been able to convince myself to go to another garage other than a dealership garage. I couldn't believe what I had to pay for my 20,000 mile check-up on my Honda at the dealership. Egads!
To me, cars are always a financial hit waiting to happen. Not as big a money pit as a home, but they can nickel and dime you, especially a used car. On the whole I'm glad the city has freed me from them. Plus that insurance! Ugh.
I had a similar steering issue recently and $600 later when I picked up my car, I almost did a 360 when turning out of the parking lot because I was so used to wrenching on the steering wheel. With two vehicles, it's always something. I wish we could get down to just one but it's not going to happen.
as the owner of a brand new economical compact and a crappy van i'd happily push off a cliff for the insurance money, i can feel the pain.
its just money. what easy little statement. for us every penny counts. teenagers, preschooler, cars, tuition, but... its just money i suppose.
I definitely don't miss the repair shop (knock on wood). Stay away from Centre de Pneu on Papineau below Mont-Royal. They are total crooks. I took it in for them to check on a noise and they blew the radiator then charged me for the new one. The noise was still there after they finished. And I think they created a leak in the heating coil with their little stunt that later cost a couple grand. Though I've always had an inherit distrust for mechanics.
If anyone follows the Car Talk segments on NPR, you'll find that annual average maintenance on a car runs $600.
I really like birdoparadise's suggestion though.
I budget for two yearly tune-ups, and one major repair per year. My truck has her own account, and she's not very good at saving. It seems she's always wanting something. The last time it was new chrome running boards ... the little hussy.
I do think "limp dick" would have been funnier. But I can see how it might be a close call.
car problems. Always the worst.
For me, the mechanic who works on my car is the husband of a good friend. He and I hate each other's guts, but I have to take my ford to him or my girlfriend gets offended. I do trust him with my car though; it's a matter of pride for him to not give me anything to bitch at him about.
I'm sorry it was expensive. I know how the money stuff bugs you.
There might be a way for you to feel less ripped off: since you use the car to get to your classes, I hope you are aware that you can deduct a percentage of ALL car expenses (fuel, repairs, insurance, plus part of the depreciation) from you taxes each year. You just need to calculate (how liberally is up to you) what percentage of the car usage is work-related, and bingo: the same percentage of expenses is tax-deductible! Oh, and did I mention this is a refundable deduction?
Oh, and this goes for the registration fee as well...
Ugh -- I have been putting off taking my car into the shop.
I had a somewhat similar experience not too long ago - except the repairs (totaling $1300.00 + tax) were to my less than 2 year old truck, and NOT covered by it's "Bumper to bumper" warranty. I'm still fighting Nissan Canada over it.
I am going to hazard a guess that this was a used car to start with. Duh.
In the summertime, you and Serge should ride bikes to the market. You can put baskets in the front and saddlebags in the back. I used to do it, and buy only what would fit.
It's a great way to get exercise PLUS you tend not to do any impulse buying.
As I was driving MY van today, I was thinking of you steering with your dick and I laughed and laughed! I'm so glad I read this post this morning because I carried it with me all day! LOL!
One has to stand back in awe on a car's ability to suck money from the owner's wallet.
Glad to read you can steer your car with your dick. Just be careful when the airbag deploys.
Limp dick is seldom funny. Especially at my age.
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