[PizzaMan5000]

I thought the browntrout post was a little harsh myself, but hey we all get into bad moods some times... We should give him the benefit of doubt. However....... Don't call me sexist for this- But we ARE in the WOMEN's forum, in a topic about being ripped off by mechanics who are TAKING ADVANTAGE of women. So it's kind of stating the obvious that the person who started this thread doesn't know about cars.

That's like going to a battered women's shelter and saying "you all should know how to fight".

[browntrout]

Originally Posted by FlaDankster

Did this post ^^^ come about because of this post?




Just wonderin there brown trout.

No lol, didn't even read that one. Nothing wrong with doing a little fishing. I grew up in a machine shop but started learning about cars on my own, project car is coming along.

BT

[justpassnthru]

Thanks for posting, fellows. I do appreciate reading of all car issues and enjoy learning, even if I am bit old. Of course, the grey hairs are probably part of the reason they wanted to get me to pay more on repairs than the car is worth.

Everything is very interesting. As long as, we discuss cars and repairs..all is good here and it doesn't matter what gender you are, for this thread. just didn't want any other gals, falling for car repair rip-offs.

I was pretty lucky in finding the ultimate repairman in our little country town. Ultimately, I put in a low mileage transmission, radiator and had the rear main seal(didn't need it but, I requested it, since it was so close to the trans) changed out with the transmission. All for the same price the previous mechanic wanted for just the trans issue! I feel like I finally hit the jackpot with the last mechanic. jpt

[stoned-trout]

some shops take advantage of everyone ... its just generally women know less about cars..hell you could make up shit that dont exist and say its gone bad and they wouldnt know in alot of cases.. find a good trustworthy mechanic and keep with them... if you go price shopping bad things can happen... if i got the tools and machinery i can do everything but transmissions ,rear ends... those i just r and r...remove and replace.....

[D. B. Doober]

Everyone knows not to get repairs done at the dealership. Always bs price and work you don't need.

[justpassnthru]

Originally Posted by D. B. Doober

Everyone knows not to get repairs done at the dealership. Always bs price and work you don't need.

That should be true and I never went back to dealers in the past. Until, I bought my new Toyota in '86; I was in an angiogram and mentioned I went back to Longo Toyota in El Monte for service's. The M.D. performing the angiogram and the assistent said, go to Valley High Toyota, right here in Victorville.

The doc said he was driving a 25 yr old Honda. Said he had an issue with the brakes, it handled bad and a few other things. He said he was prepared to entirely rebuild the front end, transmissions and brakes. They phoned him and told him, he only needed new brake pads and tires. He was thrilled. The assistant had a similar story. So, I tried that dealer and kept going there forever.

Valley High Toyota in Victorville, CA is one honest dealership..for repairs. They didn't even want to change the hoses and belts when I wanted to. I requested it anyway, as I was taking a trip across country.

Win some and lose some. I didn't price shop, the last shop could have charged me any price and I was ready to pay, was pleasantly surprised. Found a winner for my future repairs. jpt

[tokersmoke]

Not all dealers are scam artist overcharging bastards.With technology the way it is small shops will soon not be able to handle model specific diagnostics.That is mostly true today really.

[stoned-trout]

you got to invest cash.. i used to have snap on scantool...which could help diagnose about any car....looking into a hookup for my laptop now....i went back to school specifically to keep updated with all the newer bs.... its all actually easier now , before everyone had diff shit...i used to have huge piles of manuels of diff companies systems. the more i learned the more i want pre smog/obd cars/trucks again.....hoping for old chevy truck 350 as their about the cheapest with most after market stuff....

[PizzaMan5000]

Yeah, older folks (no offense, I'm just young) seem to always be annoyed by electronic things on cars. In my opinion they make keeping a car in STOCK running condition quite easy. Smog is what throws me for a loop personally. Now, the electronics make MODIFYING a car difficult... But once you learn how to INTERACT with a stock computer, things become much easier and you can tune an engine much better than you could in the past by ear.

Think of it this way, how many modern cars do you see that won't start when it's very hot or cold outside? NONE. Hybrids are a joke however, same with the "Cash for clunkers" eco theme. Hybrid's use huge batteries that are manufactured in a INCREDIBLY dirty way, producing acid rain and bad shit like that.... And they are shipped from continent to continent for labor, tax, and ecological impact restrictions. Then they go bad after only 5-10 years. Keeping an old car running well (even if it isn't very efficient) is better for the environment than buying newer more efficient cars due to the manufacturing.

Besides!!!! Name one new car made within the last TEN YEARS that came equipped with VELOUR AND ASHTRAYS....You can't.... Or how about automatic seatbelts? Those made me feel like my car actually loved me and wanted to keep me safe
I settled for a caddy, has leather and 3 very nice- well lit ashtrays; all of which have their own lighter. Very cool.

[dddaver]

Speaking of hybrids, I read an article once that said that considering all the materials that go into making one and then how materials have to be shipped to be assembled, even driving a Prius for twenty years still wouldn't even come close to generating less than the the huge amount pollution generated in the when making that car. Therefore driving a Prius is actually WORSE for the environment than driving some big old gas guzzler. I have no idea if that article was true, but it does make sense.