highway robbery

I took my car to the dealer last week. Before you scream, “you eediot!!”, read on. The air conditioner was not working (it hadn’t worked all summer actually) and it was still (barely) under warrantee. We dropped it off and the next morning they called and said that a rock must have put a hole in the condenser and that the Freon had leaked out. It was covered by the warrantee so we only owed the $50 deductible.

Then they tell me that since the car is near 50,000 miles, the transaxle and transmission fluids should be changed. We own a Jeep Liberty, so both suggestions make sense. I ask how much. They say (are you ready?) “$319 plus tax.” I politely declined their offer to complete the work.

A week later, I took the SUV to the local Firestone shop for the inspection and emission tests. The Liberty passed, but the guy told me the brakes are close to failing. He told me they could replace the brakes for about $250 for parts and labor. Again, I declined. After I declined, he warned me that they should be changed in about 2,500 miles or I may damage the rotors.

We leave for vacation on August 12th. I wanted to get the transmission fluid changed along with flushing the coolant since I am looking at a 1,400+ mile round trip to Hilton Head Island. My dad uses a car shop on the South Side and I gave them a call. I asked only for what the dealership had told me I needed: transmission and transaxle fluid changes. He told me about $120 for both including tax. That’s $200 cheaper than the dealer. Freaking criminals.

Wait, because it gets better. I took it to these guys today. Not only did I have them change the transmission fluid and the transaxle fluid, but I also asked that they rotate the tires, flush and fill the coolant, and check the brakes.

They did it all. Turns out the brakes were only halfway through their useful life. No danger to the rotors like the guy at Firestone had told me. More freaking criminals.

Total charge for all of these services? Are you ready?? $203.37. That’s still over $100 cheaper than the dealer’s quote on the transmission and transaxle fluid changes. That’s about $50 less than the brakes I didn’t need. Screw the chains. I’m going back to R&R K’s on 10th Street in the South Side next time the car needs to be repaired.