Murphy Kicks Us In The Teeth Again
So, I knew my car needed a new CV boot, and the half-shaft replaced. No big deal.
I knew my car needed an oil change and the brakes done. Also, no big deal.
The inspection is due, too.
So, yesterday, I dropped off my car at the shop to have the brakes and the inspection done. And an oil change. I had coupons that would help. I knew going in that I needed the rotors replaced front and rear, and the pads, too.
We weren't prepared to find out that my exhaust system has at least one hole in it and is rusted, and that would fail the inspection. Or the fact that the battery is dying. Or that I had a tag light out. Or that the half-shaft would potentially fail the inspection, too.
So, what was originally supposed to be a (budgeted) $200-300 job, is now a (technically) $1673.47 job.
The shop worked with me, though. We've been taking our cars there since 1992; they were very nice. We removed the items from the to-do list that *wouldn't* fail the car (which included postponing the half-shaft/CV replacement, even though technically I would fail for that). They then applied a tonne of coupons that give discounts (even though technically I'm only supposed to be allowed one at a time). So, of the 7 things on the list that need doing, 5 *must* be done. And we switched the rear brake job from complete replacement to just a padslap.
They were able to work the price down to $904.65. Much appreciated. However, still more than budgeted. It also now means that we can't pay our credit card bills this month. *sigh*
Murphy can take a flying leap.
I knew my car needed an oil change and the brakes done. Also, no big deal.
The inspection is due, too.
So, yesterday, I dropped off my car at the shop to have the brakes and the inspection done. And an oil change. I had coupons that would help. I knew going in that I needed the rotors replaced front and rear, and the pads, too.
We weren't prepared to find out that my exhaust system has at least one hole in it and is rusted, and that would fail the inspection. Or the fact that the battery is dying. Or that I had a tag light out. Or that the half-shaft would potentially fail the inspection, too.
So, what was originally supposed to be a (budgeted) $200-300 job, is now a (technically) $1673.47 job.
The shop worked with me, though. We've been taking our cars there since 1992; they were very nice. We removed the items from the to-do list that *wouldn't* fail the car (which included postponing the half-shaft/CV replacement, even though technically I would fail for that). They then applied a tonne of coupons that give discounts (even though technically I'm only supposed to be allowed one at a time). So, of the 7 things on the list that need doing, 5 *must* be done. And we switched the rear brake job from complete replacement to just a padslap.
They were able to work the price down to $904.65. Much appreciated. However, still more than budgeted. It also now means that we can't pay our credit card bills this month. *sigh*
Murphy can take a flying leap.