There were a few quirks with Amy's car when she bought it. Overall, the car was solid and had reasonable mileage at a good price. Mike worked on her car and thought that he had solved the problem. She got stranded at Walmart and had to walk home. Michael worked on her car and thought that the problem was solved. Amy got stranded 30 minutes from the house. Mike worked on the car and thought that the problem was fixed. Amy was stranded 20 miles from home. Amy refused to drive her car until it was completely fixed. I asked Mike to take it to a mechanic to fix the stalling issue.
Mike to the car to a local mechanic (right down the street from our church) and told them what he had done. The mechanic said that Mike had done the right things and offered to give Mike a few more suggestions. Mike told them to find out what was wrong and give an estimate. The mechanic called late the following day. They couldn't get the car to stall! I offered to send Amy down, but Mike went instead. He took the car out and the mechanic followed in their truck. After it stalled, the mechanic said that it was one of two electronic gizmo. He used the correct name, but I've forgotten what they were. Mike was quoted a price of $175 to fix the car. Mike gave them approval.
The following day, I took Amy to the shop to pick up her car. The final bill was $90. The mechanic had changed both electronic gizmos and discovered that one of them didn't need replacing. He put the original back into the car and charged Amy for the one that needed to be replaced.
Obviously, they have our future business. How refreshing to find a mechanic who isn't out to over charge or replace unnecessary parts. The mechanics in this shop look a little scary. Their language is foul. The signage on the building is poorly hand painted. That old expression of not judging a book by its cover is very applicable in this instance! It would have been easy to drop Amy's car off at the local Ford dealership, but we've never had good experiences with dealerships for car repairs. Instead, Mike took a chance and we found honest workman with an entrepreneurial spirit. Amy's car has been running perfectly and she's almost lost her fear of being stranded. I figure another week and she will feel reasonable secure in her cute little Ford.
Showing posts with label car repairs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label car repairs. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Cars
Amy purchased a car recently. It's a Ford mid-size sedan...I don't remember the model. She was so happy to finally find something reasonably priced and in good condition. The car has actually been in storage for the last 9 months. We drove around and found insurance for her. (Mike and I have decided that the adult children will have their own insurance policies.) There are a few minor things wrong with the car, but it's a great deal.
Katie also found a car last week. She purchased an older model Volvo. The owner came down to almost $1000 under Kelley Blue Book value. The car has really low mileage and should be a good first car for her. We took her to get insurance and she was shocked at the cost. Our agent spent some time and eventually found a policy that was $400/6 months less that originally quoted. When Mike and I got information about our policy without the girls, we we thrilled to discover that we're going to pay $1300 a year less for our insurance. Yahoo!!!!
Today, Mike drove to a nearby park to pick Joe up from cross-country practice. The Mountaineer didn't start. So he called me to come get them in his Altima. Mike's Altima is on its last legs. He has put 400,000* miles on it. The exhaust fell off a few months ago and we don't want to invest any money in that car. So whoever is driving the Altima needs to remember to coast past police cars, so the car isn't ticketed for lack of an exhaust. I try to avoid driving Mike's car.
While I was getting dressed, Amy called. She was in Kalamazoo with Katie. Her car had stalled and wouldn't start. I told the girls to push the vehicle off the road and Mike would be by to pick them up soon.
When I reached the park, we tried to jump start the Mountaineer. It didn't work. So we all piled into the Altima and drove back to the house. Mike dropped Joe and I off, then headed to Kalamazoo. I called the girls and explained what was happening. Mike wanted them to keep trying to start Amy's car. When he arrived, they got it started and drove back to our small town. They stopped off at AutoZone and had a diagnostic test ran on Amy's car. The discovered that a wire had become unattached. It was an easy fix and everyone was quickly on the road again.
Mike drove out to the Mountaineer and pulled the battery, which he brought home to charge. The battery wasn't the problem. Mike then pulled the started and took it to AutoZone for testing. We were praying that it wasn't the starter. Mike discovered that it was a simple $2 part.
The day has been hectic and stressful, but God is so good. None of the repairs were expensive and everything was put right. I think that we will have an early night tonight and hope tomorrow is an easier day.
Katie also found a car last week. She purchased an older model Volvo. The owner came down to almost $1000 under Kelley Blue Book value. The car has really low mileage and should be a good first car for her. We took her to get insurance and she was shocked at the cost. Our agent spent some time and eventually found a policy that was $400/6 months less that originally quoted. When Mike and I got information about our policy without the girls, we we thrilled to discover that we're going to pay $1300 a year less for our insurance. Yahoo!!!!
Today, Mike drove to a nearby park to pick Joe up from cross-country practice. The Mountaineer didn't start. So he called me to come get them in his Altima. Mike's Altima is on its last legs. He has put 400,000* miles on it. The exhaust fell off a few months ago and we don't want to invest any money in that car. So whoever is driving the Altima needs to remember to coast past police cars, so the car isn't ticketed for lack of an exhaust. I try to avoid driving Mike's car.
While I was getting dressed, Amy called. She was in Kalamazoo with Katie. Her car had stalled and wouldn't start. I told the girls to push the vehicle off the road and Mike would be by to pick them up soon.
When I reached the park, we tried to jump start the Mountaineer. It didn't work. So we all piled into the Altima and drove back to the house. Mike dropped Joe and I off, then headed to Kalamazoo. I called the girls and explained what was happening. Mike wanted them to keep trying to start Amy's car. When he arrived, they got it started and drove back to our small town. They stopped off at AutoZone and had a diagnostic test ran on Amy's car. The discovered that a wire had become unattached. It was an easy fix and everyone was quickly on the road again.
Mike drove out to the Mountaineer and pulled the battery, which he brought home to charge. The battery wasn't the problem. Mike then pulled the started and took it to AutoZone for testing. We were praying that it wasn't the starter. Mike discovered that it was a simple $2 part.
The day has been hectic and stressful, but God is so good. None of the repairs were expensive and everything was put right. I think that we will have an early night tonight and hope tomorrow is an easier day.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
He Loves Me!
Amy's car died over the weekend. We aren't sure if we're going to get it fixes or if she's going to save up for a new vehicle. In the mean time, she's borrowing my van or Mike's car to get to her jobs. Mike's car has 400,000 miles on it and my van also needs some work. Both of our cars need tires. Mike has been pumping one of his rear tires each morning because it becomes flat overnight.
Today, Amy was getting ready to go to work and Mike tells her to take his car, because he's taking my car to get tires. He doesn't want me driving on bad tires or having to change a tire while on the road. What as act of selfless love! It got me thinking about ways that people show their love for one another. Mike and I aren't "mushy" people. We prefer cards that make us laugh to ones that are sappy sweet.
In general, most men are less verbal than women. Women like to vocalize their feelings. Men act on their love by doing things. When Mike comes home and makes dinner, he's telling me that he loves me. Other acts of love include starting the van on cold mornings, getting out of bed to help a vomiting child and letting me sleep, suggesting and accompanying me on a letterbox outing, fixing the drawer in the bathroom vanity that Allie broke by standing on it, never asking what I've done all day when he comes home and the house is in disarray.
Don't feel too bad for him though. He's getting new tires tomorrow. And I'll probably iron his dress shirts this afternoon. Women can show their love by actions as well.
Today, Amy was getting ready to go to work and Mike tells her to take his car, because he's taking my car to get tires. He doesn't want me driving on bad tires or having to change a tire while on the road. What as act of selfless love! It got me thinking about ways that people show their love for one another. Mike and I aren't "mushy" people. We prefer cards that make us laugh to ones that are sappy sweet.
In general, most men are less verbal than women. Women like to vocalize their feelings. Men act on their love by doing things. When Mike comes home and makes dinner, he's telling me that he loves me. Other acts of love include starting the van on cold mornings, getting out of bed to help a vomiting child and letting me sleep, suggesting and accompanying me on a letterbox outing, fixing the drawer in the bathroom vanity that Allie broke by standing on it, never asking what I've done all day when he comes home and the house is in disarray.
Don't feel too bad for him though. He's getting new tires tomorrow. And I'll probably iron his dress shirts this afternoon. Women can show their love by actions as well.
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