Friday, July 25, 2008

My 02 Grand Am

I have to confess. Right now, I am listening to the Prince Batman album. Sure, last night I was asking how I missed U2's Joshua Tree. It is obvious: I was listening to stuff like this.

Listening to Prince, and paying bills. More fun than a forty year old should be allowed to have. Tonight's Pizza Movie Night, Danny Devito's Matilda (1996), was sponsored by Little Caesar (Pizza Pizza). It was cute, but, after awhile, I found myself wondering how much was left. I believe the Late Night movie will be Will Farrell's Anchorman (as long as I finish this post).

I like salesmen. They are very honest. Especially if you realize that there is only one reason for your relationship with them: they honestly want to sell to you. This generates within me a healthy dose of cynicism, as I naturally distrust them, looking for "the hook." It has served me well, and has kept me out of trouble (mostly).

So, today I dropped off my Grand Am with my Dealer for a Va State Inspection (and oil change). I told my sales associate that I look forward to "the call, but please, break it to me gently."

The only reason my car failed was because of the driver's side window would not roll down. All of the other windows could be kaput, but, the driver's side has to work. And, oh yea, the manifold intake gaskets are leaking pretty bad. And, the mechanic recommends a brake fluid flush, fuel injector flush, radiator flush and a new air filter.

It then hit me: the reason that car dealerships are willing to give away a $20 dollar state inspection and a $15 dollar oil change is because they know they can plant the $2300 doubt in your mind (the price of my repairs).

Call it intervention, but my wife had just been speaking with a friend the day before and had recommended a mechanic, whom I called. Turns out, he used to work for the same place I had worked for and had named one of the sales peeps that I knew. I told him that I am only concerned about the window and the gaskets. He said he could beat $2300 by a country mile.

Peeps at work told me that, at this point, they would begin thinking about a "new" car. That stunned me. Payments on a new car would be, what, $450? So, even if I paid the dealer's price the break even would be something like five months? So, after five months I would still be paying for the next four and a half years.

The beauty is (and if you know me, you knew this was coming), because of my budget, I was able to cash flow the repairs that I needed without hitting the emergency fund. It just delays the next baby step, but, I have learned patience.

Ok, Batdance is on, and I gotta roll.

7 comments:

Kutitap said...

It's time for your car to change oil, here are some oil change coupons that you can use.

Steve said...

There is that paradigm out there, isn't there? Car starts needing a little work and we start thinking it's time for a new one. I'm like you, it's going to have to take lots of chronic problems before I trade in my car (there is a logical, objective, non-emotional point where it makes more sense monitarily to trade). Just dropped $1500 myself. Still cheaper than a car payment over a year...

Rick said...

Just wondering why kutitap decided to spam your post. And then, who would spam Steve's post on farting noises in a good bedtime story? Maybe Gas-x?

Reminds me that Jeeves needs an oilchange, too.

George said...

I fully support using a "shade-tree mechanic" instead of a the car dealership. We switched to such a mechanic years ago and have had great success and saved thousands of dollars over the years. We had quote from the Honda dealership for over a thousand dollars in repairs, took the quote to our guy, and he made the exact same repairs for around $300. We love our mechanic.

Chuck said...

George -

I have finally found my "car guy." I go to pick the car up in the morning for far less than the dealership.

George said...

Sweet! I am so happy for you both.

James said...

Oddly, I have not needed a repair in ten years. Now I am starting to worry....