Good ol' car repairs

The advantage of a late-model vehicle is you shouldn't have to pay for repairs beyond routine maintenance. There is nothing worse than the double indignity of a car payment plus excessive car repairs. The advantage of having a fifteen-year-old car is no car payment, but the disadvantage is wear and tear starts to add up.

I was due for an oil change and tire rotation, and I noticed my car was starting to run a bit rough. I decided to drop it off at the shop today to see what needs to be fixed. At this point, if I have more repairs beyond a simple oil change or tune-up, I expect the bill to be at least $1K. That seems to be par for the course.

I received a report from the shop, and I called them to get the details. It appears the engine mounts need to be replaced. Rubber doesn't last in the desert. Also, something called a CV joint has to be replaced. Finally, the brake fluid is due for a flush. Add all these repairs to the routine maintenance, and next thing I know, it's a $1700 bill. Oh well, what am I going to do, not have a car? Maybe some people can get away with that, living in a big city with mass transit, but that won't fly where I live.