Couple Money » Cars and Road Trips

2nd Opinion From Mechanic In

Elle — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 23:48:01 +0000

For those who have been curious about our car drama, I’m happy to report we got an update to share. If you remember from my original post, my husband took his car in to get the air conditioning fixed. With the heatwave it became even more important to get this done. However, we were blown away by the shop’s call.

1st Mechanic – Replace or Repair

After we dropped off the car to his regular shop, my husband was expecting a phone cal telling him that the repairs had been completed and he could pick up his vehicle. Instead he received a list of what was wrong with the car.

Here’s a rundown of the original mechanic’s diagnostic:

New A/C Compressor and Clutch Needed
Replace Serpentine Belt
Replace Radiator
Replace Head Gasket

Total estimated cost for parts is about $2,000 and then there’s labor. So we’re looking at $3,500 to repair a car that cost less than that. Needless to say, we were stressed and worried about having to replace the car while we expecting to have a baby any day.

2nd Opinion – Much Cheaper

When the baby arrived, the car drama took a back seat. After things settled down somewhat we took the Toyota down to the shop a friend recommended to get a second opinion.

My husband got the update from the mechanic about the diagnostic’s results. According to the shop, we DON’T need to replace the head gasket. There are some repairs that have to be made, though, and the estimate to get our car running fine is….around $300.

I thought I misread the message my husband sent. $300?! That’s less than 10% of the original estimate. I did find out that the estimate was preliminary. They were going to recharge his car’s air conditioner system, but it may not work. However, they wanted to start with the easiest (and least expensive) solution.

My husband was ok with the repairs, so we’ll wait and see what happens next. I’m so hoping that we get this finished soon and back to two cars.

Thoughts on Car Mechanics

Depending if this second mechanic can come through, we’ll switch mechanics. I know Sam has found a great mechanic; how about you? Did getting a second opinion on car repairs pay off for you? Did you switch mechanics?

Photo Credit: JASON ANFINSEN

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Big Car Repairs Needed for the Toyota

Elle — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 12:30:40 +0000

It’s time to repair the Toyota Celica. Before I get into the numbers, let me catch you up on how we ended up with a large car repair estimate.

Air Conditioning Out and It’s a Heatwave

In case you’ve been missing it, it has been extremely hot where we live, with temperatures reaching 100 and the heat index much higher. Well, my husband car had the air conditioner just stop working. Great timing, right?

He’s been busy at work and my schedule was bit hectic as I’m trying to get everything ready before the baby.

Last week we dropped off the car in the evening so the mechanic could look at it first thing the next morning. He was going to call my husband with an estimate about why the A/C was broken and how much it would cost to fix it.

Looks to Be More Complicated Than We Thought

My husband called me during lunch to let me know that the car needed more repairs than we anticipated. Here’s a rundown of the mechanic’s diagnostic:

New A/C Compressor and Clutch Need
Replace Serpentine Belt
Replace Radiator
Replace Head Gasket

Total estimated cost for parts is about $2,000 and then there’s labor. So we’re looking at $3,500 to repair a car that cost less than that. It definitely soured my husband’s mood. He didn’t think that his car needed that much repair and having it so close the baby’s due date is a bit stressful.

However, we’re not going to just accept this estimate, we’re going to see if we can get a second opinion.

Hunting for a 2nd Opinion

First thing I thought was we needed a second opinion from someone familiar with his car’s make and model. We also wanted to check out the itemized bill a little bit more.

We also started digging around to see if we could find parts at much more reasonable prices. Using Advnaced Auto’s site with my husband’s car information we found part for approximately 30-40% cheaper than the estimate. For example, we were looking for an A/C compressor and clutch, the repair shop quoted us $560 and Advanced Auto said it would be about $250-$350.

I then went on Facebook and asked friends if they could recommend mechanics. I called and found a shop that could check it out this week. Hopefully we’ll get some good news with that.

Thoughts on Big Car Repairs

For now, we’re going to share my VW Jetta as much as possible, especially with this horrible heat. Since the baby is due any day now, I’m not really driving around town as much anyways. Hopefully we’ll find a solution this week and get my husband’s car fixed.

What has been the biggets car repair you’ve made? How much would you put into your car before you decide to look for a new one?

Photo Credit: RJL20

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Car Replacement Project – Mid Year Update

Elle — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 13:18:57 +0000

Since I’ve already shared our progress with increasing our savings, I wanted to quickly highlight what progress we’ve made so far this year with another financial goal of ours. Earlier this year I mentioned that we wanted to work on building up our savings for our next car.

We would really like to avoid taking on a car loan for our next vehicle. Did you know that the average car loan being around $26,300 ? Comerica Bank frames it as almost half of an average person’s annual income. That $26,000 car has a monthly payment of around $464. For us that would be a big obligation – we’d much rather have freedom with our monthly budget.

To do this, we know we need to sock away a sizable amount of money to get a good car and not just a beater. We specifically want to save $5,000 in 2011 to our car replacement fund. Repairs are still sparse on the VW Jetta, but they are getting to become a bit more frequent. While the labor isn’t so bad, the parts for VWs seem to be more expensive than for our other car. We’d rather prepare now and have the money ready than wait until the car dies to save up.

The Car Replacement Fund Plan

Where do we stash our savings? We use ING Direct and have a sub savings account to help us keep track of our progress. If you’re looking for a savings account that works for you, you can compare saving account rates right here on Couple Money.

The key to success with this goal is automating deposits straight to the car replacement fund. I’ve set up an automatic transfer of $400 to be deposited into the the joint savings account each month. This month’s deposit, however, will have to be rescheduled – I had some estimated taxes to pay that threw off my budget just a bit.

Otherwise we’ve been doing well this year with the transfers and our goal is to continue to save until we find a car that fits our needs. I believe the VW can handle until then. We’re also planning on selling the Jetta in a separate transaction to get additional funds.

Looking at Car Makes and Models

Our next step was looking at possible candidates for our next family cars. It start with listed what we need and wanted:

Car Style: While we are looking for something bigger than what we have now, I don’t want to get a minivan. I’m looking for a family sized sedan or possible a crossover vehicle.
Gas Mileage: Getting better gas mileage
Repair Reliability: We’re buying a used vehicle so we’re hoping to minimize the chance of repairs by focusing on highly rated vehicles. We also used tools like Edmunds True Cost to Own calculator which allows us to get an idea if a car would be a good deal in the long run.
Safety: Seeing as this will be the main family vehicle, we’re looking at safety test results for all the contenders.

I then started looking at local car dealerships to get an idea of what we can expect to pay for a car that fits our needs. We’re looking at some cars that are 2007-2008 modesl and are in good condition. I’m hoping that as we continue to build our savings, we can pick from more options.

Another option besides dealerships is buying a car from a private seller. If we do decide to go that route, I’d have to set aside some money to get a thorough inspection from a trusted mechanic or two. While we can potentially save some cash with this channel, I’m a bit more worried about getting a dishonest seller. With dealerships, we’d be looking for a certified used car to cover us. If you have any feedback based on your own personal experience, please let us know. It’s a big purchase and we’d like to minimize the risk of getting a lemon.

Replacing Your Car

I know there are other personal finance bloggers that have already gone the car and cash route. How have you’ve done it? How many of you will be replacing your car in the next year or so? What’s your game plan for buying?

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Tips and Ideas to Get Ready for Your Road Trip

Elle — Mon, 23 May 2011 13:19:58 +0000

Update: This post was included in the Best of Money Carnival over at Sustainable Personal Finance!

Summer is quickly approaching and for some couples and families it’s vacation season. Flying to your destination may not be feasible, but that doesn’t mean that a long and hectic road trip is on your agenda. Driving may be a great way to enjoy your vacation – as long as you’re prepared.

Deciding on the Destination

First up is deciding on where to go for your next road trip. If you’re not quite sure of where you want to go or you’re looking for things to do, here are some wonderful sites:

I love trying out different cities and seeing what they have to offer. This fall we’re planning on going to Chicago, so I’m using some of these sites to get some places to check out.

Preparing Your Car for Your Road Trip

The last thing you want to worry about is your car breaking down and costing you an arm and a leg to repair. We prefer renting a car for our longer trips, but if that’s not your plan then make sure you’re ready.

Make sure your fluids are taken care of. Double check your motor fluid levels, windshield wiper fluid, transmission, and your engine coolant.
Check to see if your tires are properly inflated. Under-inflated tires can increase tire wear, increase your chances of being in an accident, and increase your gasoline costs.
Prepare for emergencies. If you haven’t already, make sure your emergency kit is ready and it’s packed in your trunk. To make it easier to prepare for road problems, there are some pre-made emergency car kits to get you started.

Planning for Stops

If you plan it correctly, driving to your destination can be a wonderful adventure in itself.

If you need it, get your maps ready. Having a GPS is handy, but I still like having a physical map in my hand. We’re driven through locations where we lost signal and it’s frustrating. If you have a kids it’s a great way for them to get familiar with an area and to learn to read maps.
Find the right spots to grab a bite. Don’t just stop at a fast food chain. Discover new spots by using sites like RoadFood. It’ll break up the long drive and you may discover a new favorite meal.

Keeping Your Gas Costs Down

There are ways you can keep your gasoline expenses lower this summer.

Be consistent with your driving speed. Don’t have a lead foot when driving. Stop and go driving decreases your fuel efficiency. Try to maintain your speed when you’re driving on the highway. Try to use cruise control when it you can to help you be steady with speed.
Keep your car light. Less weight means better mileage, so remove any junk in your trunk. Having a heavy load can take its toll as you drive around town.
Take advantage of your smartphone. Check apps like GasBuddy and AAA TripTik Mobile can help you find the best gas prices locally. I remember one gas station was ridiculously higher than another station less than a mile away. since it was closer to the exit, most people stopped at the pricier station which was a rip-off.

These tips have saved us some money at the gas pump. I hope they can help you too.

Thoughts on Road Trips

I’m hoping we can a weekend trip or two in before the baby arrives. I love the beach and the weather has been gorgeous lately. How many of you go on road trips for your getaways? What are some tips that you have for those traveling? If you’re parent, do you have tips on keeping everyone sane?

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5 Lifestyle Changes to Save Gas

Kay Lynn — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 12:00:46 +0000

Last week the gas stations nearest our home crested the $4 a gallon price for regular unleaded gasoline. It was the tipping point for me.

I decided it was time to cut back on gas consumption and started thinking about changes we could make to cut back on gas use. One plane of attach is to increase gas mileage.

Another tact is to make lifestyle changes to cut consumption. I came up with this list that is fairly easy to put into action.

Pack Lunch

Living close to the office has the added benefit of getting to go home for lunch every work day. Even though I wasn’t buying lunch out, it probably was using 2-3 gallons a week. I’m going to start brown bagging it one day a week initially.

Combine Errands

On the weekends I try to combine errands mostly for efficiency sakes. Now, I have my wallet to think about and will try to make sure there are at least two tasks that can be accomplished on every trip.

Walk Instead of Drive

We do live close enough to stores, banks, and restaurants that it is feasible to walk. It may take more time than driving, but you get in your exercise time along with finishing tasks. I wouldn’t do this for large shopping trips but for when you need a few small items.

Consider Gas When Making Plans

Last weekend we went out to breakfast and were debating the restaurant selection. All factors were pretty even except for location. When we figured out it would use $6 worth of gas to get to one choice that helped point us to the closest restaurant.

Shop Online

I like to shop online to avoid the malls and ease in finding desired items. A big benefit is that your purchase is delivered to you instead of using your gasoline. Don’t waste gas driving to the store and then circling looking for a parking spot. Let your mouse drive you.

A few simple adjustments can make the difference in your monthly budget. Have you made any adjustments due to rising gas prices?

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