How do people pay for their car repairs?

[Darth K'Trava]

There's a guy at work who was told by some shop that it'd cost $2100 to replace the master cylinder on his brakes/axle.

 

[BOZ]

that sort of talk makes me want to cry.

 

[Darth K'Trava]

that sort of talk makes me want to cry.

Or decide to rely on public transportation....

 

[Lonely Tylenol]

... except that it's much easier to fix a car when you've got a lot of expensive tools and equipment that aren't cost-effective to keep around unless you're an auto mechanic.

Actually, I know a good mechanic. He's retired. I figure if I buy his tools from him I might be able to get him to finally quit working and relax for a bit. But first I have to find the time to take a course to learn to use the tools...

 

[Kid Socrates]

I have a 1992 Mustang LX (read that: Ford car that wants to grow up and be a REAL Mustang one day!) that has no end of problems, I'm sure. It's got about 120,000 miles on it, the door handle on the driver's side broke off during a cold snap, it's overheated and lost oil pressure twice in the last three months, I think I have a coolant leak somewhere, it's got no acceleration, it skids like crazy after a rain, it wheezes like an old man, and my brakes are undecided on efficiency.

However, my morning commute to work is all of five blocks.

I haven't taken it in, not because I don't trust Firestone mechanics, but I paid $1500 for this car three years ago and last year put about $500 in repairs when the battery cables dissolved, the starter in the steering column went fiz-att, and my turn signals wouldn't work until the car had been on for twenty minutes. I do not believe in paying my car's cost again in repairs, plus I know what'll happen if I take it in.

Mechanic: "Son, I've popped the hood and taken a look over her, and I think I see what your problem is."
Kid Soc: "Oh? What's that?"
Mechanic: "Your car does not actually have an engine."

Better to just run it until it gives up the ghost. By then I'll have enough money to get a real car, one with payments!

I don't even -have- $3,500 for car repairs. I have no idea how people do it.

 

[Larcen]

Check out real quality data like J.D. Powers instead of believing the myth: Honda's break down just as often. Well, nearly so, anyway.

Which is why I don't buy either one of those. I stick to Toyotas.

 

[Rel]

"Don't be downhearted. We can fix it for you, sonny.
It won't take too long. It'll just take money..."

I'd do some calling around about the cost of a "factory replacement engine". On this Car Talk exchange, they discuss having an independant party put in such an engine for 2-3K so you might be able to save a grand that way.

 

[Angel Tarragon]

I have e very good friend that has years of experience. He used to want to restore a Mustang he had. Fortunately, he has a connection and can get auto parts at wholesale. So whenever my family needs repairs, they just go to him.

 

[Dagger75]

Trade it in get a new car, you might have to go upside down on the payments but thats one option. With the end of the year sometimes dalerships have deals with no matter what car you $x for the car. Just a thought.

I had a pickup truck, I could sit in the hood and get anywhere to fix it. Changed the starter,alternatios, belts, hoses, oil filter and almost tackled putting a new radiator cause it had a hole but those bottles of hole sealers did its job. I know nothing about cars, I bought a book that had all the pictures and remembered where everything went. It still ran when I traded it in for my Neon.
I don't even know where the oil filter is now, I can't see anything. It sucks. I want a car that I can fix bloody thing if I want to.

Also you can rent tools at some AutoParts stores.

 

[orchid blossom]

Not really. Timing Chains have an average life span of 80,000 miles. If you've only had one break, you're on the really lucky end of the spectrum, but they're one of the things that eveyone should have planned on their "expected maintenance" list. Because if yours snaps, especially at high velocity, you can expect a whole bunch of crap to happen to your engine. (as evidenced above).

My husband and I were doing about 75 on the NYS Thruway when the timing belt snapped. What happens is, that belt was controlling all the moving parts in the engine, so that the parts don't collide with each other. No belt = mechanical chaos in your engine. Picture a ballroom of dancers waltzing vs. a mosh pit. Mosh pits are bad for your engine.

He has a new (used) car now.