Car Question

[LivingAlmostLarge]

I am getting another estimate. I didn't like either shop. They just literally gave me a paper and said it would cost $x and didn't explain anything to my DH. He doesn't like either place so we aren't driving the car and just trying to decide where to take it to.

It is a v6 gls model the more expensive one to repair. I don't know the breakdown of parts versus labor which we don't like. Is it rude to ask for oem part numbers?

I like the idea of buying parts but I don't know how to ask for that. I don't mind also asking for breakdown but I'm not sure I like either mechanic shop

[cypher1]

Is it rude to ask for oem part numbers?

I like the idea of buying parts but I don't know how to ask for that. I don't mind also asking for breakdown but I'm not sure I like either mechanic shop

You wanted to know the actual OEM part numbers or just wanted the shop to use OEM parts? Asking to use OEM parts isn't a bad idea, depending on what parts or repairs. For example, timing belts I'll go with the dealership for ordering, as sometimes those parts can actually be less expensive.

Buying aftermarket parts yourself isn't wrong either, but the shop probably won't warranty them if something fails or defective. Just something to keep in mind. You can definitely get cheaper parts online, but quality/warranty is always a risk. I'd still go with a reputable auto store.

It can't hurt to ask just for quotes on labor, as long as you understand their labor policy vs using their parts. Again, I would only consider this if I already had the parts with me, and I trusted the mechanic/shop. Otherwise I wouldn't be surprised if they mark up the labor for quote.

[Jluke]

Just called dealership and we're not under warranty. 10 year/100k warranty is only for original owner. All Hyundais get 5 year/60k warranty but we are way beyond that.

If you're not the original owner, how much did you pay for the vehicle? I've seen 2k thrown around for the repairs so just curious what % of your sale price that represents?

General Question aside from this issue: Could this possibly be a good reason to buy a vehicle new as the original owner gets the 10YR/100k warranty?

[greenskeeper]

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[LivingAlmostLarge]

Will ask but I thought most shops aren't thrilled to just do the labor.

We bought the car in 2012 for $10k used with 56k miles. 20% of purchase price. I guess it could be a reason to buy a new car.

[maynard]

No shop will let you provide the parts and just let you pay labor, (unless its a family friend or relative). They mark up parts just like any other business marks up what they sell. A pizza place isnt going to make you a pizza if you bring in the ingredients. They have payroll, taxes, insurance, electricity, gas, water, rent, landscaping, advertising, garbage pick up, snow removal, cleaning, epa disposal fees, employee benefits, oil, coolant, grease, misc shop supplies, building maintainace, IT maintainace, etc all needs to be paid in order to keep their business going. Marking up parts is partially how they pay for all that.

80k miles is nothing on a car. Fix it and drive it for 5 more years.

I paid $5500 for a G6 with 82,000 miles and immediately put $2200 into brakes and suspension repairs. Its been trouble free for 2 years since and ill keep it for as long as it holds together. At least 3 more years.

Why do you have to sell this car in 6-12 months?

[JoeP]

Is there a high school or trade school in town? You might be able to provide the parts and then let the students perform the actual labor for experience. You might also ask around to see if anyone knows of a shade tree mechanic who does work out of their personal garage.

For all repairs, it doesn't hurt to look at youtube and see what's involved. Sure, some will be complex, dangerous, and require special tools. Others are surprisingly simple.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

I will call local high school and check. We went to dealership and repairs were control arm brushings and engine valve leaking $1800 repairs.

[cypher1]

We went to dealership and repairs were control arm brushings and engine valve leaking $1800 repairs.

Now was that for BOTH front control arm bushings or just one side? EACH control arm replacement probably goes $100-130 retail (online much cheaper), and labor maybe 2-3 hours top for BOTH. Just looking at the DIY online, a mechanic should be able to do it in half that time.

And if they stated it’s the just the valve cover gasket leaking, that's a lot cheaper/less labor than doing timing chain/gasket. For a V6= 2 gaskets, so maybe $40-60 for both, plus 3 hours top for labor.

I don't know the cost of living in your area, so my numbers could be way off. But I think a reasonable shop quote including labor for both should around $900-1000+tax. That's even if parts marked up, and labor at $100 per hour rate. Which I personally think would still be too high for that job.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

Cypher that was for the driver front side. I can buy it online the part but I have yet to find a mechanic who will do the work and I bring in the part. They won't do it. I haven't seen the breakdown of labor and parts yet. Probably large markup on both.

I am also thinking of buying the Subaru with eyesight outback, keeping for 8 years and after 4 years DH gets another new car and I get the 4 year old outback. It'll replace the outback I drive now. So we'll be on a four year rotation of buying a new car and keeping it 8 years.

What about that?

[ua_guy]

I am also thinking of buying the Subaru with eyesight outback, keeping for 8 years and after 4 years DH gets another new car and I get the 4 year old outback. It'll replace the outback I drive now. So we'll be on a four year rotation of buying a new car and keeping it 8 years.

What about that?

It still sounds cheaper to fix what you've got versus buying a different vehicle, if that's the goal.

[cypher1]

It still sounds cheaper to fix what you've got versus buying a different vehicle, if that's the goal.

Agreed.

Cypher that was for the driver front side. I can buy it online the part but I have yet to find a mechanic who will do the work and I bring in the part. They won't do it. I haven't seen the breakdown of labor and parts yet. Probably large markup on both.

If the diagnosis is simply replacing those items, don't bother with ordering parts online and trying to get shops to do labor only. It can be done, but as Maynard stated, most shops don't do it, or will mark up labor even more.

At this point I'd simply recommend calling around to reputable auto shops in your location, and asking for estimates on replacing just the front driver side upper control arm and both valve cover gaskets for your car. Otherwise you don't need a diagnosis. So don't bother bringing to any shop until you know the estimate. At least you'll have a better gauge for those average costs of those specific repairs. Also I wouldn't bother with replace the alternator until it actually stops charging or makes noises.


While those 2 main repairs should still not be surpass $1000 IMO, do you have friends or family members who have mechanic friends willing to do side work? Couldn't hurt to ask around, and then you could order the parts online if you wanted.

[tripods68]

I am also thinking of buying the Subaru with eyesight outback, keeping for 8 years and after 4 years DH gets another new car and I get the 4 year old outback. It'll replace the outback I drive now. So we'll be on a four year rotation of buying a new car and keeping it 8 years.

What about that?

Its a lot cheaper to fix your existing car. You do have time to do some research/quotes from repair shops that will allow you to pay under $1000. These repairs is not required today. You have time.

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

What would you do with a 2006 hyundai Sonata with 80k miles that needed $1600-$2000 in repairs. One mechanic said two things needed to be repairs. We got a second opinion and he said something different needed work. Both said it would need alternator work in the near future (within 6 months I guess).

Should we fix the car? Sell it as is? Fix it minimally and drive it? Drive it and dump it when it dies? Get a third opinion.

The first mechanic we didn't like at all. But it's the closest one to where we lived. The second guy was from yelp. We were thinking maybe a dealership? Or a third mechanic? These are all free estimates.

You should have an emergency fund with $2000 in repairs for just this reason.

I had a car like this, needed new axle (which was critical), then 4 new shocks, struts and brakes, and tires. Total was quoted as over $4000 by the dealer.

I replaced the crucial part (axle) at a non-dealer shop, drove for a little bit, then fixed each part by severity. Bad axle is a huge safety issue, so that needed to be fixed immediately, bad struts and shocks made the axle bad over time, and made the car drive like crap, but I could live with that for a while, as long as I babied it. Brakes and tires had to be fixed immediately, obviously.

I managed it without any major safety issues, but it was scary driving the thing. Not sure I would recommend it. I was young and stupid.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

We sold the car over the weekend for happily $5500. Good price by kbb and no repairs done. Person buying it knew the problems guess they just wanted low mileage. So saving let's say $1500, and NO I called multiple shops in the area and they refused to do the work and I bring in the parts. I also got estimates and they were running around $1500 average.

No we were never keeping the car. My DH has a disability. He will tell you himself this is something that cannot be fixed. This is something I knew when I married him. NOT an option to keep cars anymore for him. We are leasing permanently. He has been diagnosed since childhood it's not arguable and not negotiable. And yes the new car with latest technology is necessary, not a want a need for him. Not for me. Every month we will take a hit and pay a car lease for as long as he wants to drive.