Comments on: My $850 Car Wash & Other Thoughts on Car Dealerships http://www.mapgirl.net/mfc/2007/03/21/my-850-car-wash-other-thoughts-on-car-dealerships/ Just tidbits about money and finance. Thu, 04 Dec 2008 04:27:00 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: AskDong » One Topic: Cars and Driving http://www.mapgirl.net/mfc/2007/03/21/my-850-car-wash-other-thoughts-on-car-dealerships/#comment-149476 AskDong » One Topic: Cars and Driving Sun, 16 Sep 2007 19:44:38 +0000 http://www.mapgirl.net/mfc/2007/03/21/my-850-car-wash-other-thoughts-on-car-dealerships/#comment-149476 [...] Mapgirl’s thoughts on Car Dealerships [...] […] Mapgirl’s thoughts on Car Dealerships […]

]]> By: Rob Carlson http://www.mapgirl.net/mfc/2007/03/21/my-850-car-wash-other-thoughts-on-car-dealerships/#comment-14240 Rob Carlson Wed, 28 Mar 2007 15:01:45 +0000 http://www.mapgirl.net/mfc/2007/03/21/my-850-car-wash-other-thoughts-on-car-dealerships/#comment-14240 @Mapgirl Because they were replaced as preventative maint, not because they were having any problems. For their size (the box of four is 3x3x4") and price its worth keeping the old part around in case one of my new plugs goes bad and I need to swap it out short term (something I can potentially do) before I can get to the mechanic for a new one. @Mapgirl

Because they were replaced as preventative maint, not because they were having any problems. For their size (the box of four is 3×3x4″) and price its worth keeping the old part around in case one of my new plugs goes bad and I need to swap it out short term (something I can potentially do) before I can get to the mechanic for a new one.

]]> By: bugly http://www.mapgirl.net/mfc/2007/03/21/my-850-car-wash-other-thoughts-on-car-dealerships/#comment-13723 bugly Tue, 27 Mar 2007 08:22:45 +0000 http://www.mapgirl.net/mfc/2007/03/21/my-850-car-wash-other-thoughts-on-car-dealerships/#comment-13723 You could do the work yourself to save money; dealership shop time is about 65 dollars an hour. If you don't know anything about cars, cultivate a friendship with a friendly gear head that will teach you. Besides, it's good to know about the technology simply because it "bears your ass" (zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance) You could do the work yourself to save money; dealership shop time is about 65 dollars an hour. If you don’t know anything about cars, cultivate a friendship with a friendly gear head that will teach you. Besides, it’s good to know about the technology simply because it “bears your ass” (zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance)

]]> By: fivecentnickel.com http://www.mapgirl.net/mfc/2007/03/21/my-850-car-wash-other-thoughts-on-car-dealerships/#comment-12800 fivecentnickel.com Sun, 25 Mar 2007 03:16:15 +0000 http://www.mapgirl.net/mfc/2007/03/21/my-850-car-wash-other-thoughts-on-car-dealerships/#comment-12800 <strong>Weekly Roundup - 03/23/07...</strong> Here’s a quick look at some of the articles that caught my eye over the past week… Jim writes about the possibility that no-free balance transfers from Citi might be coming to an end. So… There’s not better time to apply for a 0% bala... Weekly Roundup - 03/23/07…

Here’s a quick look at some of the articles that caught my eye over the past week…

Jim writes about the possibility that no-free balance transfers from Citi might be coming to an end. So… There’s not better time to apply for a 0% bala…

]]> By: mapgirl http://www.mapgirl.net/mfc/2007/03/21/my-850-car-wash-other-thoughts-on-car-dealerships/#comment-12749 mapgirl Sun, 25 Mar 2007 01:25:08 +0000 http://www.mapgirl.net/mfc/2007/03/21/my-850-car-wash-other-thoughts-on-car-dealerships/#comment-12749 Rob, Why do you ask for the spark plugs? To see if they were or were not worn out or fouled? Rob, Why do you ask for the spark plugs? To see if they were or were not worn out or fouled?

]]> By: Rob Carlson http://www.mapgirl.net/mfc/2007/03/21/my-850-car-wash-other-thoughts-on-car-dealerships/#comment-12678 Rob Carlson Sat, 24 Mar 2007 13:39:15 +0000 http://www.mapgirl.net/mfc/2007/03/21/my-850-car-wash-other-thoughts-on-car-dealerships/#comment-12678 I always ask to keep parts like sparkplugs when they are replaced. They are legally obligated to give them to you. I always ask to keep parts like sparkplugs when they are replaced.

They are legally obligated to give them to you.

]]> By: scantee http://www.mapgirl.net/mfc/2007/03/21/my-850-car-wash-other-thoughts-on-car-dealerships/#comment-12543 scantee Fri, 23 Mar 2007 15:52:19 +0000 http://www.mapgirl.net/mfc/2007/03/21/my-850-car-wash-other-thoughts-on-car-dealerships/#comment-12543 I think it is a complete toss-up: Some dealerships are great and some private garages are great while some of each are terrible. I try to go by reputation rather than the type of garage. I used to be a dealership loyalist but then had a terrible experience with my dealership. They did some work on my transmission and didn't close the hood fully so when I got on the freeway it snapped back. They refused to take responsibility for this and I had to fight them for a long time to get them to cover the damage. I think it is a complete toss-up: Some dealerships are great and some private garages are great while some of each are terrible. I try to go by reputation rather than the type of garage. I used to be a dealership loyalist but then had a terrible experience with my dealership. They did some work on my transmission and didn’t close the hood fully so when I got on the freeway it snapped back. They refused to take responsibility for this and I had to fight them for a long time to get them to cover the damage.

]]> By: Gaspar http://www.mapgirl.net/mfc/2007/03/21/my-850-car-wash-other-thoughts-on-car-dealerships/#comment-12528 Gaspar Fri, 23 Mar 2007 14:32:13 +0000 http://www.mapgirl.net/mfc/2007/03/21/my-850-car-wash-other-thoughts-on-car-dealerships/#comment-12528 I just had to get a tune-up too. Even tho I had changed my spark plugs I hadn't changed the wires connecting the plugs and they get worn and can cause misfiring especially when it gets wet. So they did that and replaced the distributor cap and rotor as well. There's also air and fuel filters, but I think the wires and cap were probably what was causing my car the most problems. Between that and having to replace my alternator that seized recently, I hope no more problems for a bit too. I just had to get a tune-up too. Even tho I had changed my spark plugs I hadn’t changed the wires connecting the plugs and they get worn and can cause misfiring especially when it gets wet. So they did that and replaced the distributor cap and rotor as well. There’s also air and fuel filters, but I think the wires and cap were probably what was causing my car the most problems. Between that and having to replace my alternator that seized recently, I hope no more problems for a bit too.

]]> By: Debt Hater http://www.mapgirl.net/mfc/2007/03/21/my-850-car-wash-other-thoughts-on-car-dealerships/#comment-12490 Debt Hater Fri, 23 Mar 2007 03:35:57 +0000 http://www.mapgirl.net/mfc/2007/03/21/my-850-car-wash-other-thoughts-on-car-dealerships/#comment-12490 Since I know nothing about cars, I prefer going to the dealership for major work... but thankfully I haven't needed any up to now. My cousin's husband replaces my brake pads and I go to Jiffy Lube for oil changes. Since I know nothing about cars, I prefer going to the dealership for major work… but thankfully I haven’t needed any up to now. My cousin’s husband replaces my brake pads and I go to Jiffy Lube for oil changes.

]]> By: LivingAlmostLarge http://www.mapgirl.net/mfc/2007/03/21/my-850-car-wash-other-thoughts-on-car-dealerships/#comment-12451 LivingAlmostLarge Thu, 22 Mar 2007 22:11:26 +0000 http://www.mapgirl.net/mfc/2007/03/21/my-850-car-wash-other-thoughts-on-car-dealerships/#comment-12451 We take ours to the dealership. We had a really bad experience once with a garage. They replaced DH's platinum spark plugs with normal ones, they misfired and the engine had to be completely recleaned/tuned to the tune of $600. Never again, we thought it was the fuel pump, took it to a dealership and they said someone had replaced the spark plugs. Considering we hadn't paid to get the spark plugs changed anywhere, well it had to have been the garage that had done his last "service." Arrgh, now we just go to the dealership so we can easily point a finger at them if something goes wrong. We take ours to the dealership. We had a really bad experience once with a garage. They replaced DH’s platinum spark plugs with normal ones, they misfired and the engine had to be completely recleaned/tuned to the tune of $600. Never again, we thought it was the fuel pump, took it to a dealership and they said someone had replaced the spark plugs. Considering we hadn’t paid to get the spark plugs changed anywhere, well it had to have been the garage that had done his last “service.”

Arrgh, now we just go to the dealership so we can easily point a finger at them if something goes wrong.

]]> By: Heather B http://www.mapgirl.net/mfc/2007/03/21/my-850-car-wash-other-thoughts-on-car-dealerships/#comment-11688 Heather B Wed, 21 Mar 2007 16:50:53 +0000 http://www.mapgirl.net/mfc/2007/03/21/my-850-car-wash-other-thoughts-on-car-dealerships/#comment-11688 I know a really good private mechanic, Gills Automotive, but they are in Sterling. I will give you the contact info if you would like. I try to go to them for everything cause I can actually trust them. I took my car to a place last year by my work, Curry's, they said I had a cracked intake manifold and that it would cost +$1000 to fix. I took it to Gill's and they told me that was not the case. All that needed replaced was some pump and a belt. It only cost about $200. I never trust mechanics (could have something to do with my shady ex being one), but these guys are really good. ~Heather I know a really good private mechanic, Gills Automotive, but they are in Sterling. I will give you the contact info if you would like. I try to go to them for everything cause I can actually trust them. I took my car to a place last year by my work, Curry’s, they said I had a cracked intake manifold and that it would cost +$1000 to fix. I took it to Gill’s and they told me that was not the case. All that needed replaced was some pump and a belt. It only cost about $200. I never trust mechanics (could have something to do with my shady ex being one), but these guys are really good.

~Heather

]]> By: Karen http://www.mapgirl.net/mfc/2007/03/21/my-850-car-wash-other-thoughts-on-car-dealerships/#comment-11634 Karen Wed, 21 Mar 2007 14:44:33 +0000 http://www.mapgirl.net/mfc/2007/03/21/my-850-car-wash-other-thoughts-on-car-dealerships/#comment-11634 Dh just had similar done on his truck. Including new tires and new brakes. Two weeks later the thing overheats. Now we may be dealing with a warped head gasket. Can you say $$$. Dealership admits no fault, says truck is 100% fine. Details inside and outside for our "inconvenience." We drive it from service over to sales and trade the thing in. Got the highest KBB value b/c truck is now spotless and in PERFECT shape. Hope the next sucker doesn't have to deal with a blown head gasket, but at least it'll be under warranty for them! If you're interested, you can read about it here: http://www.pediascribe.com/20070208/my-day-in-a-nutshell/ Dh just had similar done on his truck. Including new tires and new brakes. Two weeks later the thing overheats. Now we may be dealing with a warped head gasket. Can you say $$$. Dealership admits no fault, says truck is 100% fine. Details inside and outside for our “inconvenience.” We drive it from service over to sales and trade the thing in. Got the highest KBB value b/c truck is now spotless and in PERFECT shape. Hope the next sucker doesn’t have to deal with a blown head gasket, but at least it’ll be under warranty for them!
If you’re interested, you can read about it here:
http://www.pediascribe.com/20070208/my-day-in-a-nutshell/

]]>