Auto repair is for people who actually want to protect their current mode of transportation and avoid spending more money than necessary to keep it up and running.
When it comes to needed auto repair,
most car owners know that it usually pays to get the work done right, the first time. However, there may be extenuating circumstances that keep that general rule of thumb from applying to your particular situation.
To help you determine whether quality, professional auto repair by a trusted brand is the right route for you, here are two possible scenarios in which you may want to consider putting off or hiring sub-standard repairs.
1. You really want an excuse to buy a new car, anyway.
Simply ignore that glaring "check engine" light and the constant "ding-ding-ding" or whatever other sound your vehicle uses to alert you that something is amiss under its hood. Of the many possible problems that these warning signs can indicate, some are minor and will be inexpensive to repair. However, some are extremely hazardous to your engine's health.
While a mechanic can read the code and find out what kind auto repair will be needed, you simply won't know what's going on if you don't take it in. If, instead, you ignore the warning, in time, it's fairly likely that unless you want to hoof it around town or try to bum rides off your friends, you'll need to purchase a new vehicle. Take heart, though: If the vehicle whose warning signs you neglected still runs, you'll probably be able to get about $500 out of it, to use as a down payment on your next set of wheels.
2. You're pretty sure your cousin's friend knows what he's doing.
Who couldn't stand to save a few bucks, especially these days? Besides, the money will go toward a good cause—your cousin's friend's college tuition. (Well, maybe it will go toward his newest tattoo, instead, but either way, you'll save some dough.) When you pull up to his "shop" (really, his dad's driveway), you notice that he doesn't have many tools. And as he begins to tinker around under the hood, he needs to constantly reference your vehicle's handbook.
Then he scratches his head and gets out his cell phone. It doesn't really seem like he knows what he's doing. Oh, well, you're out only twenty bucks, right?
When amateurs attempt to fix cars, they can sometimes do more harm than good, causing more severe problems that require more extensive (and expensive!) auto repair than was initially needed.
If you want to keep your car in working order and spend as little money doing it, as possible, the safest thing to do is to have it serviced right away by a trusted professional mechanic who has been trained and experienced in auto repair work.
