Most frequently asked question on a car lot. “What’s the lowest payment I can get?” I once had a preapproved loan for 3.99% for 3 years. The dealer tried to get me to change to 4.99 for 5 years. I almost walked out.
Her list meanders a bit… oil pump (a MAJOR issue) would be done along with the oil pan seen near the bottom of the list, and if you do that, you might as well do the pan gasket, or even the timing cover, and then the timing chain/belt (the list can keep growing)… I never heard of a “voltage ra…tor”, unless she was meant to be saying “voltage regulator”, which is in many modern cars, built into the alternator. :-)
Take it easy, folks. Your car may need all those things, but until those things start causing a problem, you can relax in the aura of true ownership. Congrats.
Made a bad last week. Had a vibration in the front-end and the garage took a couple days checking the suspension. They recommended getting the tires balanced, that was it. Back in the days of bias-ply tires, that would have been my first guess. I think this is the second time since 1972 that I’ve had a radial tire go out of balance!
We nursed our last-to-this-one car for many, many years. Our mechanic finally told us all we needed now was a “gas cap replacement”. “I’ll hold the gas cap, and you drive a new car under it. Then I can replace the gas cap.”
Happened to me. Less than 6 months after we paid off our last car, it needed repairs that were more than the car was worth. THAT said my wife of 45 years, was the last American made car we will ever buy
For my mom’s car, she used inheritance to buy it, after few years as its Oldsmobile engine went out with the Head gasket, after repair years alter the alternator went out repaired. My mom past 3 years ago, since then another repair with coil pack, and now sits on our driveway gas pump is out. 28-year-old car. Also leaks water inside the car.
jagedlo over 5 years ago
Murphy’s law strikes again!
David Huie Green LoveJoyAndPeace over 5 years ago
Nice while it lasted.
Enter.Name.Here over 5 years ago
Small payments = old car when paid off. Make ’em as large as you can handle, and then add a wee bit more.
PoodleGroomer over 5 years ago
Oil pumps should be well lubricated and never fail.
Olddog1 over 5 years ago
Most frequently asked question on a car lot. “What’s the lowest payment I can get?” I once had a preapproved loan for 3.99% for 3 years. The dealer tried to get me to change to 4.99 for 5 years. I almost walked out.
sheilag over 5 years ago
Her list meanders a bit… oil pump (a MAJOR issue) would be done along with the oil pan seen near the bottom of the list, and if you do that, you might as well do the pan gasket, or even the timing cover, and then the timing chain/belt (the list can keep growing)… I never heard of a “voltage ra…tor”, unless she was meant to be saying “voltage regulator”, which is in many modern cars, built into the alternator. :-)
preacherman Premium Member over 5 years ago
Take it easy, folks. Your car may need all those things, but until those things start causing a problem, you can relax in the aura of true ownership. Congrats.
jpayne4040 over 5 years ago
That’s about right!
brick10 over 5 years ago
With autos, you either have car payments or service/repair bills.
marykatie Premium Member over 5 years ago
Didnt she just get a huge raise to run that fancy medical center? Figured their $$$ worries were taken care of.
phileaux over 5 years ago
At least labor rate is reasonable
david_42 over 5 years ago
Made a bad last week. Had a vibration in the front-end and the garage took a couple days checking the suspension. They recommended getting the tires balanced, that was it. Back in the days of bias-ply tires, that would have been my first guess. I think this is the second time since 1972 that I’ve had a radial tire go out of balance!
Dani Rice over 5 years ago
We nursed our last-to-this-one car for many, many years. Our mechanic finally told us all we needed now was a “gas cap replacement”. “I’ll hold the gas cap, and you drive a new car under it. Then I can replace the gas cap.”
STACEY MARSHALL Premium Member over 5 years ago
garysmigs over 5 years ago
…and DOWN goes your credit rating!
timbob2313 Premium Member over 5 years ago
Happened to me. Less than 6 months after we paid off our last car, it needed repairs that were more than the car was worth. THAT said my wife of 45 years, was the last American made car we will ever buy
Thorby over 5 years ago
Boy, ain’t THAT the truth!!!
greatgrannyszoo over 5 years ago
Traded my car in when I had to replace the radiator, New car and any thing goes wrong they fix it… mine was 11 yrs old.
Daniel II over 5 years ago
Cars always seem to start going bad just after the warranty runs out then again right after the last payment.
kab2rb over 5 years ago
For my mom’s car, she used inheritance to buy it, after few years as its Oldsmobile engine went out with the Head gasket, after repair years alter the alternator went out repaired. My mom past 3 years ago, since then another repair with coil pack, and now sits on our driveway gas pump is out. 28-year-old car. Also leaks water inside the car.
Snolep over 5 years ago
Old school, writing out checks and mailing. Do people still do that?
ninstar over 5 years ago
There has GOT to be a way to disable the micro-explosive charges that they detonate as soon as the payments/warranty stop.