Comments on: Frugality In Practice: Car Maintenance Sucks! http://www.rather-be-shopping.com/blog/2008/09/08/car-maintenance/ Coupons, Frugal Living Tips, and Personal Finance Tips to Make Life A Little Easier Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:45:59 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Heather B http://www.rather-be-shopping.com/blog/2008/09/08/car-maintenance/comment-page-1/#comment-2269 Heather B Sun, 21 Sep 2008 16:17:26 +0000 http://www.rather-be-shopping.com/blog/?p=704#comment-2269 How do you pick your mechanic? 1. Do you ever take your car to the dealer for maintenance for peace-of-mind reasons? No, dealer labor fees are typically much higher than a mechanic not associated with a dealer. 2. What criteria do you use when deciding what maintenance to have done on your car? We get maintenance done when it's become necessary. Ex: new belt, new tires, out of alignment, etc. 3. Have you ever taught yourself how to do some of this stuff yourself? Recently my husband did a google search on how to change your own oil and found some VERY helpful articles. He is changing the oil in both our vehicles today actually! Something so simple you should try and do yourself, that way you are only out the cost of the oil and your time. 4. If so, do you have any websites or books that you recommend for the DIY’s? It's been our experience that you can find a lot of usefull information on the car's manufacturer's website. Refer to your manual for tips, tricks and a URL. 5. How do you find mechanics that offer free doughnuts in their waiting room? Word of mouth, seriously. Ask who has the best waiting room experience. It really pays to find one that has toys/activity table or cartoons on if you're taking your kids with you. How do you pick your mechanic?
1. Do you ever take your car to the dealer for maintenance for peace-of-mind reasons? No, dealer labor fees are typically much higher than a mechanic not associated with a dealer.
2. What criteria do you use when deciding what maintenance to have done on your car? We get maintenance done when it’s become necessary. Ex: new belt, new tires, out of alignment, etc.
3. Have you ever taught yourself how to do some of this stuff yourself? Recently my husband did a google search on how to change your own oil and found some VERY helpful articles. He is changing the oil in both our vehicles today actually! Something so simple you should try and do yourself, that way you are only out the cost of the oil and your time.
4. If so, do you have any websites or books that you recommend for the DIY’s? It’s been our experience that you can find a lot of usefull information on the car’s manufacturer’s website. Refer to your manual for tips, tricks and a URL.
5. How do you find mechanics that offer free doughnuts in their waiting room? Word of mouth, seriously. Ask who has the best waiting room experience. It really pays to find one that has toys/activity table or cartoons on if you’re taking your kids with you.

]]> By: Kyle http://www.rather-be-shopping.com/blog/2008/09/08/car-maintenance/comment-page-1/#comment-2259 Kyle Wed, 10 Sep 2008 21:00:33 +0000 http://www.rather-be-shopping.com/blog/?p=704#comment-2259 Thanks Kaye for the link! I will check it out! <img src="http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn149/sashwhy/Signature-3.gif"> Thanks Kaye for the link! I will check it out!

]]> By: Kaye http://www.rather-be-shopping.com/blog/2008/09/08/car-maintenance/comment-page-1/#comment-2258 Kaye Tue, 09 Sep 2008 18:23:30 +0000 http://www.rather-be-shopping.com/blog/?p=704#comment-2258 My hubby is NOT a mechanic by any stretch, but has turned to doing a lot of our maintenance himself quite successfully. He uses either a Hanes manual or a Chilton manual. <a href="http://mrsnespysworld.blogspot.com/2008/08/vrrooom-vrroom.html" rel="nofollow">Here's a post</a> I did about it last month. Good luck...and hope it helps! My hubby is NOT a mechanic by any stretch, but has turned to doing a lot of our maintenance himself quite successfully. He uses either a Hanes manual or a Chilton manual. Here’s a post I did about it last month.

Good luck…and hope it helps!

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