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If people just learned the basics of maintaining and repairing vehicles they'd save themselves thousands of dollars by buying auctioned off used cars and repair

If people just learned the basics of maintaining and repairing vehicles they'd save themselves thousands of dollars by buying auctioned off used cars and repairing it. Same thing for taking it for a shop for maintenance...

mywittyname 8y ago
Some states require dealers licenses to participate in auctions. But if you know a guy with a license, you can score amazing deals (which are only amazing because of the limited pool of bidders). I think knowing how to fix cars is valuable, but I don't think doing maintenance yourself generally pays off. I'm pretty handy with a car, but the only maintenance I do myself are brakes and batteries. Tires require special tools, so those are out for the shade-tree, same with suspension (which requires alignments after installation). I've found that oil changes, air filters, wiper blades can be done at the dealer for about the cost of parts (at least for my Ford and Toyota). Now, as far as fixing repairs. Most mechanics, especially at dealerships, will toss parts at the problem. So knowing how to research the problem can help save you a boat load of money, even if you do none of the physical work yourself, since you can come in and ask for them to perform some specific fix. Additionally, lots of sensors are easy fixes if you can follow direction on YouTube/forums.
- b1r6 8y ago
  A good point - a buddy uses certain commercial entities which will bid for you, for a little price of course. Apparently it's rather casual!
- zerohp 8y ago
  Suspension maintenance is not out of the question for the home mechanic. You can align the suspension to an accuracy that's safe to drive for short distances at low (not highway) speed. All you need is a level, a tap measure, and a little bit of high school math. I have saved quite a bit of money doing this. Edit: Of course, you'll want to drive it to an alignment shop right away.
  - justtopost 8y ago
    I routinely win bets with alignment guys doing string and plumbob alignments on level concrete. Its not hard, as much as it is laborous.
- CapricornNoble 8y ago
  "but I don't think doing maintenance yourself generally pays off." Kinda depends on how much an hour of your time is worth. Maybe an oil change is worth paying someone for (most shops don't charge much for an oil change). If you are really mechanically savvy you can save hundreds of dollars though. I bought an extremely-cheap Evo X (like ~$5k cheaper than average)....the car came with a bad Active Center Differential Pump, which is a $1500 part. I ordered the part at Mitsubishi then put my car on jack-stands at my home and changed the part myself. Then ran the computer software necessary via my laptop and a specialized cable to flush the pump fluid as well. Took me a Sunday afternoon but saved me hundreds of dollars in labor. Plus I now have a car with a brand-new pump that still cost me THOUSANDS of dollars less than any other Evo X that was on the market here.
deleted 8y ago
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mywittyname 8y ago

Some states require dealers licenses to participate in auctions. But if you know a guy with a license, you can score amazing deals (which are only amazing because of the limited pool of bidders). I think knowing how to fix cars is valuable, but I don't think doing maintenance yourself generally pays off. I'm pretty handy with a car, but the only maintenance I do myself are brakes and batteries. Tires require special tools, so those are out for the shade-tree, same with suspension (which requires alignments after installation). I've found that oil changes, air filters, wiper blades can be done at the dealer for about the cost of parts (at least for my Ford and Toyota). Now, as far as fixing repairs. Most mechanics, especially at dealerships, will toss parts at the problem. So knowing how to research the problem can help save you a boat load of money, even if you do none of the physical work yourself, since you can come in and ask for them to perform some specific fix. Additionally, lots of sensors are easy fixes if you can follow direction on YouTube/forums.

b1r6 8y ago
A good point - a buddy uses certain commercial entities which will bid for you, for a little price of course. Apparently it's rather casual!
zerohp 8y ago
Suspension maintenance is not out of the question for the home mechanic. You can align the suspension to an accuracy that's safe to drive for short distances at low (not highway) speed. All you need is a level, a tap measure, and a little bit of high school math. I have saved quite a bit of money doing this. Edit: Of course, you'll want to drive it to an alignment shop right away.
- justtopost 8y ago
  I routinely win bets with alignment guys doing string and plumbob alignments on level concrete. Its not hard, as much as it is laborous.
CapricornNoble 8y ago
"but I don't think doing maintenance yourself generally pays off." Kinda depends on how much an hour of your time is worth. Maybe an oil change is worth paying someone for (most shops don't charge much for an oil change). If you are really mechanically savvy you can save hundreds of dollars though. I bought an extremely-cheap Evo X (like ~$5k cheaper than average)....the car came with a bad Active Center Differential Pump, which is a $1500 part. I ordered the part at Mitsubishi then put my car on jack-stands at my home and changed the part myself. Then ran the computer software necessary via my laptop and a specialized cable to flush the pump fluid as well. Took me a Sunday afternoon but saved me hundreds of dollars in labor. Plus I now have a car with a brand-new pump that still cost me THOUSANDS of dollars less than any other Evo X that was on the market here.

deleted 8y ago

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