car repair rant
 

OKAY last week it cost me $375.00 for new brakes and rotors. Yesterday the temperature light went on in my car and it looks like it could be anything from a leak in the fluid lines to something with the radiator. I can't afford a new car or even newer used car + insurance at this point but these costly repairs are starting to get out of control! ARGGGGGWWWWWWW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I know how you feel, girlfriend! Trust me.
Plus, I'm Miss Paranoia when it comes to lights so I'm immediately trying to figure out what went wrong.

Around here places like Auto Zone will check the light for free and they should be able to pin point problems. It saves time and money. Is there anything like that over there?

Also, ask around for good reputable mechanics. Sometimes the better ones work out of their home garages, because paying rent and employees goes too far. That is how my dad found the mechanic that works on my car and believe me after all thats gone wrong with my car, he knows it like the back of his hand. He is a lot cheaper and gets a discount on parts at places like Auto Zone.

I hope this helps! Stay calm and speak nicely to your car, I am very convinced they have feelings too!

I hear ya! I have started using the mechanic at the end of my block. That way I can just walk home if need be. I am lucky that I have public transportation around here. I do kind of need a car for my job however since it involves extensive fieldwork and going from one end of the city to the other by public transportation can sometimes take hours and I don't have time for that in crisis situations. If I didn't need to travel for work I certainly would have given up the car by now, it is good to have one in the city for convenience purposes but that is about it. I am trying to get ahold of the mechanic right now but the line has been busy. I hope it isn't something too major as I really don't feel like dipping into my savings account and I hate hate hate using credit cards because it seems that once I pay off a huge balance on them, another one pops up and then the costs never seem to end!!!!!

This thread reminds me that I really need to get my oil changed.

I know it's somewhat random, but my parents were going to have it done in January when I went back to school (since I wasn't allowed to take my car), but I don't think they ever did.

/rant

Take it to the bronx - like hunts point area. If you can find someone hispanic to go with you, it won't hurt. You can bargain and probably buy a rooster there too. They do decent jobs and their prices are much lower.

-Rudey

Cars blow. Im taking the shuttle next year. :rolleyes:

Update: I just found out it is my water pump AND timing belt. I spoke with the mechanic and it is going to be like $650 for the job. Mechanics get like $90 an hour in NYC for labor. I swear as soon as I start saving money stuff like this happens! I give up!

$90 an hour for labor isn't bad. Go to a dealership and they'll charge you $125/hour.

Just had to replace $30 worth of parts in my windshield wipers. Totalled $200 because of the labor involved

:(

can't wait until i can afford to buy a new car

Sorry, but this piece of Crap is costing you a Fourtune!

The Mechanic dudes are killing you!

Get a different Car, NOW! The sooner The Better.

They used to be called programed cars,,,, Hell, they are used cars.

Do it now or just keep paying:mad:

Have a fun time, and do not lease a car, been there and it sucks!

unfortunately i cannot afford a new car or even a newer used car. i just can't take on another payment and the car insurance rates with collision in nyc would kill me, especially cuz i haven't had a car in almost 4 years i have been placed back in a "high risk pool". one of my friend's has a fairly new car and she pays like $300 a month in car payments and $400 a month in car insurance. it isn't worth it right now, especially cuz i live in ny where people will hit your car trying to park then take off. it's not worth the aggravation.

Last week my water pump just locked up, and threw my serpentine belt off. $889.13 to fix everything and replace some old hoses and stuff. I've purchased cars for less than that. Why are cars so freakin' expensive?

Great. The mechanic told me that the price to fix my car would be "around" $650 so that probably means it could be higher too!!!!!

I don'ty know what kind of car you have but I had a water pump fail on my camry it is did a ton of damage. It cost me almost $1000 to get it fixed. The dealer never replaced the water pump when they replaced the timing belt a year ago. I hate dealers!!

It hasn't totally gone yet so that could be the difference in price. I still haven't gone to pick it up yet though so it could turn out to be higher. I'm glad I pay attention to red lights. If I decided to wait I could so see it dying in the middle of the LIE during rush hour traffic which would have sucked!

OKAY it cost me $667 for the job. I'm still bummed but it could be worse I guess. The mechanic was like "boy you sure have the worst luck with cars lately". No Sh%* sherlock. I'm paying your rent this month I was thinking..............

I'm feeling your pain on the car deal right now. Mine is in the shop even as we speak getting the brakes fixed and an oil leak located and repaired. I shudder to think what it's gonna cost.:(

I think I should have gone into car repair instead of Social Work. I'd be rich and be able to help save the world by donating some money to society that way.

Yeah, either car repair or plumbing!! They seem to rake in the dough.

This thread is stressing me out! I cant wait until I can take the shuttle every day!

my POS 03 explorer sport...

-the mirror falls off when i turn the music up loud
-the pasenger window makes noise when it goes up
-if I make a sharp right, it squeeks
-power lock on drivers door just broke.. i broke the handle off messing with it

screw ford. I can't wait until I get my new QX4

I just had a dream, more of a nightmare, last night of more stuff going wrong with the car.

My friend the mechanic calls them "Exploders".

Winneythepooh,

Girl, I feel yah. I just fixed my car for the millionth time for the same damn problem: Coolant system. I'm tired of putting more money in a car than I bought it for.

Your lucky you have a good public transit system, and only Canadians will feel me when I say I miss the TTC!

So the car that I just paid $889.13 to fix a week ago... now it won't start. Just got towed to the AAA garage, which is closed on Sundays. So tomorrow they can tell me how outrageously expensive it will be to fix whatever is wrong now... the towing guy's educated guess was the fuel pump or a module.

Why didn't I just go buy a Honda?

Is this a trend with not being able to start the car? The past 2 days my car has had trouble starting up in the morning. I am thinking the starter is going now. I am going to begin pricing newer used cars this weekend I believe. Either way, I am getting screwed with all this money so if I decide to purchase a newer vehicle it will still be the same amount of money for insurance/car payment that I am shelling out every month anyways for repairs. What are the pros and cons though? I know that if I get a used car, I can be taking on someone else's problems. If I keep this older car, I am going to continue to run into problems as more miles are put on it. I cannot really afford a brand new car. I am just annoyed because I really don't want to take on another bill especially with the school loans kicking in in a couple of months!!!!!

Well.. it was a fuel pump this time. And a new battery, because my perfectly good battery was run down from all of the effor it put into trying to start the car. Anoter $515.68. I really should have just bought a new car. :mad:

As far as the pros/cons of new vs. used.... you can purchased warranties on them either way if you go through a dealer. I bought my car "as is" so I don't know how expensive that would have been. I do know it's the first car I bought from a dealer, and it's given me more problems than any of my other 7 cars I've owned. Those were all purchased "from some guy down the street" for around $500-$900 each.

I've decided that if the cars goes, then that is that for now. I live in NYC so I guess I will just have to be like the majority of the rest of the residents and use public transportation. My job also has cars we can use to see our clients but it is a PITA to arrange!!! (and matter of convenience to just use my own). UNFortunately, I just reviewed my finances and when the loans kick in in a few months, I just won't be able to handle the cost of a new car:( I was just venting with one of my sisters and it seems like the more educated we become, the more qualified we are to become waitresses and shot girls and not make any money if that vent makes sense?!!