Car vibes please?

[vanillasugar]

My dad took my car with him today, because we needed a headlight assembly replaced (for the second time) and he can do it with more savings than we'd get at the shop here. We just had our front brakes replaced last week ($500) because they had to be done urgently, but we waited for dad on this job. While he had a look over the car, he called me with the bad news. My car needs a new transmission. She's an old car and not worth a $4000 repair, so we aren't replacing it with a new transmission to save some $$, but the two my dad ordered in today failed the testing so he's still looking for one that he'd actually put in my car.

We're about tapped out when it comes to car repairs. We can't take much more of this. But we can't really afford another car right now either. Can I please ask for some car vibes that this will be our last major repair for a while? (Our rear brakes are at 40%, and my summer tires are in rough shape, but other than that nothing else please!)

 

[maxfox426]

(((((((((((((((((((VIBES)))))))))))))))))))))

That is rough. I was in a similar position a few years back with the minivan I had through college. Paid bunches of money to replace all the brakes, and then the transmission just fell apart in the middle of the interstate on my ride home from work. WHY do these things only happen at the same time???

 

[Renee750il]

WOW! $500 for brakes? $4000 for a transmission? *shakes head*

No. Freaking. Way.

*faints*

 

[96 GTS]

WOW! $500 for brakes? $4000 for a transmission? *shakes head*

No. Freaking. Way.

*faints*

That's not out of line at all. Most shops charge about $100/hr for labor. A $500 brake job is actually pretty cheap, depending on what was replaced.

 

[Renee750il]

Not here.

A completely rebuilt transmission for my parents 4WD Passport, with a year warranty, was $1200. Anyone who tried to charge more than $250 for brakes . . . I got the brakes on my dad's 4WD F150 done for $189 from an extremely reputable mechanic. Even I trust him, and I am hard on mechanics.

I've lucked out though, lol. I see a guy who worked for Daniel Paransky for years

 

[noludoru]

It's a Volkswagen. . . Parts are ridiculously over priced. One of the many reasons my next vehicle will not be a VW.

Nilla, many vibes for Greta. <3

 

[vanillasugar]

It's a Volkswagen. . . Parts are ridiculously over priced. One of the many reasons my next vehicle will not be a VW.

Nilla, many vibes for Greta. <3

Yup, VW parts are stupidly expensive. Our next car has to be a bigger vehicle, for multiple reasons, so it won't be a VW since the Tiguan and Tourareg do not meet our criteria (and are stupidly expensive). Greta will be my putter around car, and then when she finally dies and I can have another car I'll see how we feel about having another VW.

 

[Moth]

I feel your car pains...up until now I have always had old clunkers

They get past a certain age and one repair just seems to run into another.

Good luck!

 

[SaraB]

Expensive parts is reason #112 why hubby made me get a subaru to replace my Vdub.

 

[Renee750il]

Part prices put VW out of a lot of markets, sadly. I've been really pleased with how reasonable BMW parts are, especially wear parts, even for the 750il. Volkswagen needs to remember that VWs are NOT Porsches and they will lose their market if they keep pricing aftermarket stuff that way.

 

[96 GTS]

Right, I forget cars here follow a different reality than the real world. I've never heard someone complain about VW parts prices and say BMW parts prices are reasonable, I about fell off my chair.

P.S. $4k is probably for a NEW trans, find one rebuilt or used, it's is probably less than 1/4 of that. What's the year/make/model?

Also, to be more productive, check RockAuto.com, they have a great selection of parts, I guarantee you can find a trans for way cheaper than $4000. For instance, I just searched for a 2003 Jetta automatic, and found a trans for $1300 shipped.

 

[vanillasugar]

Right, I forget cars here follow a different reality than the real world. I've never heard someone complain about VW parts prices and say BMW parts prices are reasonable, I about fell off my chair.

P.S. $4k is probably for a NEW trans, find one rebuilt or used, it's is probably less than 1/4 of that. What's the year/make/model?

Also, to be more productive, check RockAuto.com, they have a great selection of parts, I guarantee you can find a trans for way cheaper than $4000. For instance, I just searched for a 2003 Jetta automatic, and found a trans for $1300 shipped.

Thanks 96 I did tell my dad right off the bat that I couldn't afford a new tranny (knowing the $4000 price range) and he immediately started looking for a used one for me. One was installed into my car this morning, should be in the $1500 range for all the work, which is still a lot, but better than I'd been worried about being hit with!

(For the record, she's an 02 Bug)

 

[Renee750il]

Best advice I can give you on your next car . . . learn to love a straight shift

 

[InLimbo87]

Best advice I can give you on your next car . . . learn to love a straight shift

Or just buy a Honda.



:lol-sign: I kid, I kid (sort of)

 

[jess2416]

that sucks Nilly hope things get worked out for you soon


*I would never buy a straight drive... I HATE no I DESPISE them

 

[Renee750il]

Or just buy a Honda.



:lol-sign: I kid, I kid (sort of)

I would hope so. My parents have had to spend more on that POS than they've ever had to spend on a car, and the parts are astronomical. Every bit as expensive as Toyota parts.

 

[InLimbo87]

I would hope so. My parents have had to spend more on that POS than they've ever had to spend on a car, and the parts are astronomical. Every bit as expensive as Toyota parts.

Huh? Are you referring to a Honda? If so, your experience is quite out of the norm IMO.

 

[RedHotDobe]

Right, I forget cars here follow a different reality than the real world. I've never heard someone complain about VW parts prices and say BMW parts prices are reasonable, I about fell off my chair.

P.S. $4k is probably for a NEW trans, find one rebuilt or used, it's is probably less than 1/4 of that. What's the year/make/model?

Also, to be more productive, check RockAuto.com, they have a great selection of parts, I guarantee you can find a trans for way cheaper than $4000. For instance, I just searched for a 2003 Jetta automatic, and found a trans for $1300 shipped.

So I'm not the only one who is wondering why people think VW parts are so expensive. Lol. I paid $50 for my rear rotors and pads, $100 for a new caliper, about $100 for a new belt tensioner and belt, $20 for a coolant temp sensor...

I browsed the classifieds for a trans (I assume it's an automatic), and I couldn't find anything. Just manuals. You really should be able to find a trans for well under $4000.

Here's to hoping nothing else decides to break!

 

[Jules]

I hope it all works out for you!

Car problems suck and it is so hard when it is an older car !

 

[Renee750il]

Huh? Are you referring to a Honda? If so, your experience is quite out of the norm IMO.

Yup. It's been a POS from the get-go. Not that it ever had much get-go to speak of, lol, but I'm probably a bit more hard to please in that area than the average driver. Oh, and it handles for crap. The F150 has better handling.