Official Austin Chat Thread (San Antonio, Lakeway: commuting, company, cross country)

[ashbeeigh]

Umm. I just a buy a new car if it needs all that work. (I actually really want a blazer or bronco but can’t swallow the change in mileage).

[Need4Camaro]

It’s not as bad as it sounds. Rack & Pinions pretty much bolt out and in. Sometimes there’s issues with finding the right ones if the vehicle has performance package options available like my Z28. My rack & pinion costed about $500 installed in the Z28. Old one was leaking Power Steering fluid like a faucet.

Water Pumps and serpentine belts (not timing) I just change myself. Real straight forward and easy. The timing belt or timing chain is usually behind the valley cover which is behind the water pump and other engine accessories. Those are a bit harder.

Shocks and Struts are among the few items I refuse to touch myself due to how dangerous they can be it mishandled. (They can literally take your face off if they were to suddenly unspring while you’re handling them)

[Trainwreck20]

Originally Posted by ashbeeigh

Umm. I just a buy a new car if it needs all that work. (I actually really want a blazer or bronco but can’t swallow the change in mileage).

My wife would buy a new one. Problem is that the vehicle has <100k and the engine is running like a champ. The interior and exterior are both in great condition, so it doesn't look awful (albeit a bit dated). A new car would set me back 40k minimum, I suspect, and I am always doing the retirement math in my head. Also, the van is so damn useful but I don't want to buy another van next time a I get a vehicle, so I will stretch this one out until it is not needed.

[ashbeeigh]

Originally Posted by Trainwreck20

My wife would buy a new one. Problem is that the vehicle has <100k and the engine is running like a champ. The interior and exterior are both in great condition, so it doesn't look awful (albeit a bit dated). A new car would set me back 40k minimum, I suspect, and I am always doing the retirement math in my head. Also, the van is so damn useful but I don't want to buy another van next time a I get a vehicle, so I will stretch this one out until it is not needed.

I understand. I feel like I just need to lease my next one. Mine only has 26k on it now, so I think I can get out even, or with a little extra given how the market is. But, to keep my mileage I’d have to pay about 35-40k and this one was about 28k out the door.

[Need4Camaro]

I wouldn't ever be able to lease given how many miles I drive.

I actually considered renting a car from lyft / uber to do the Gig vs buying a whole new car but you can only use their rentals specifically for their gig and not any others it costs like $200 per WEEK.. PLUS any additional mileage when using it for personal use ...which is ridiculous... That is like $800 per month just to work. I came out cheaper literally buying another car.

[ashbeeigh]

Originally Posted by Need4Camaro

I wouldn't ever be able to lease given how many miles I drive.

I actually considered renting a car from lyft / uber to do the Gig vs buying a whole new car but you can only use their rentals specifically for their gig and it costs like $200 per WEEK.. ...which is ridiculous... That is like $800 per month just to work. I came out cheaper literally buying another car.

I'm right around 13-14k a year. I'd pay a bit but nothing too outrageous. I drive to San Antonio frequently and occasionally trek a bit further (coast or Hill country). Even this last year I ended up with about 13k despite covid.

Also, you're an anomaly with how much driving you like to do.

[Trainwreck20]

Originally Posted by Need4Camaro

It’s not as bad as it sounds. Rack & Pinions pretty much bolt out and in. Sometimes there’s issues with finding the right ones if the vehicle has performance package options available like my Z28. My rack & pinion costed about $500 installed in the Z28. Old one was leaking Power Steering fluid like a faucet.

Water Pumps and serpentine belts (not timing) I just change myself. Real straight forward and easy. The timing belt or timing chain is usually behind the valley cover which is behind the water pump and other engine accessories. Those are a bit harder.

Shocks and Struts are among the few items I refuse to touch myself due to how dangerous they can be it mishandled. (They can literally take your face off if they were to suddenly unspring while you’re handling them)

I called around on the R&P and for my vehicle/trim it was $1800-$2000 at every place. The struts/shocks were the next biggest chunk. The water pump was strictly a 'while you are in here' type thing with the timing belt- they basically added it on for cost of the part.

[Trainwreck20]

Originally Posted by ashbeeigh

I'm right around 13-14k a year. I'd pay a bit but nothing too outrageous. I drive to San Antonio frequently and occasionally trek a bit further (coast or Hill country). Even this last year I ended up with about 13k despite covid.

Also, you're an anomaly with how much driving you like to do.

My van literally had <1,000 miles on it this past year+.

Next vehicle I buy will likely be a truck or something that can pull the boat or a trailer, but damn they are expensive right now .

[Need4Camaro]

Originally Posted by Trainwreck20

I called around on the R&P and for my vehicle/trim it was $1800-$2000 at every place. The struts/shocks were the next biggest chunk. The water pump was strictly a 'while you are in here' type thing with the timing belt- they basically added it on for cost of the part.

I'm guessing it costs considerably more due to it being a semi-heavy duty vehicle compared to mine.

What year is the vehicle anyway? it may have one of those Electric Power Steering assists like many new vehicles these days do. My 2017 Camaro SS has it (and it failed within 3,000 miles brand new out the factory, that actually lead to me suing GM because they failed to repair it under multiple attempts and had the car under downtime for over 2 months while they literally flew in an R&D engineer to inspect it. It's now a recall)

[Trainwreck20]

Originally Posted by Need4Camaro

I'm guessing it costs considerably more due to it being a semi-heavy duty vehicle compared to mine.

What year is the vehicle anyway? it may have one of those Electric Power Steering assists like many new vehicles these days do. My 2017 Camaro SS has it (and it failed within 3,000 miles brand new out the factory, that actually lead to me suing GM because they failed to repair it under multiple attempts and had the car under downtime for over 2 months while they literally flew in an R&D engineer to inspect it. It's now a recall)

They had to move a bunch of 'stuff' to get to the system. I have a 6 cyc. 2010 model Honda Odyssey; if I had a 4 cyc model, it apparently would have been 1/2 as much (or less).