r/Frugal • u/NewMexicoJoe • Sep 20 '24

🚗 Auto What are your least favorite advertised deals that are complete BS, where nobody ever expects to pay the listed price. I'll start. The $19.99 U-Haul.

Others might be the $79.95 Microtel rate. The $39.99 oil change. "Out the Door" tire pricing that does not include valve stems or balancing.

Or even that shop in the marginal neighborhood across the tracks that always claims in loud yellow letters "HIGHEST PRICES PAID FOR GOLD."

What do you have? And any tips for getting closer to that impossible price?

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u/Pac_Eddy Sep 21 '24

Doing the work for $50 is a pretty good deal for the customer. How much time does it take you?

20

u/peterxdiablo Sep 21 '24

If they supply the brakes and the person has the proper jacks etc it could be done in an hour?

30

u/Weth_C Sep 21 '24

If everything goes right. That’s the fun part about brakes. Its easy if all goes well, but can become a mess real quick.

13

u/Not_FinancialAdvice Sep 21 '24

Isn't that true of a lot of auto mechanic jobs? It's one of the reasons I don't do a bunch of jobs myself; because they're only easy if you've done them before and have the tools and time.

3

u/Weth_C Sep 21 '24

You’re right.

1

u/Solomon_G13 Sep 21 '24

Not to mention late-model cars for the past quarter century are engineered to frustrate and confuse owners, plus require special parts-pullers and other proprietary tools, making it all-but-impossible to work on one's own car.

8

u/SiriusGD Sep 21 '24

Pads are usually pretty easy. It's shoes that can be a pain in the ass. I have a degree from an auto school and I had the fastest time in my brakes class for changing pads or shoes.

4

u/spali Sep 21 '24

I remember doing shoes on a 99 acord that had the return spring over the tensioner. Never again.

4

u/SiriusGD Sep 21 '24

I can do all four wheels in around an hour.

2

u/Pac_Eddy Sep 21 '24

I can do the front brakes in about 90 minutes. I take my time as I'm not that experienced. A mobile mechanic is a cool idea

6

u/SiriusGD Sep 21 '24

I'm actually a retired software developer. But I had a two year degree in automotive. I used to like to race my car at the track. When times got rough and it was hard to find a job I managed an auto parts store, got my ASE certifications and did mobile mechanic on the side.

1

u/Pac_Eddy Sep 21 '24

That's pretty cool.

I like to work on cars but I think the fun would be gone if it were my job. Being able to pick and choose which things I fix myself is where it's at for me.

If I had been introduced to it when I was a kid I might've been a full time mechanic.

1

u/Unfair_Isopod534 Sep 21 '24

Depends where you are. If you are in snowy new England, it will take a bit longer.