any "car people" around?

[seXieleXie]

okay, i have to take my mom's car in to get 2 new tires. when ever i talk to a mechanic about the car i get talked down to and probably ripped off, or i at least spend more than i have to. i don't know very much about cars. i know the basic principles on which they function, i can change the oil and the tires, but that is about it. the mechanics can smell this on me i think, and the fact that i'm female doesn't help.

does anyone else have this problem? how do you deal with it? for people who know a lot (or at least more than i do) about cars, do you have any words of wisdom for me?

thanks

 

[SexyChele]

Well, now I have a mechanic that I have been going to for years, and I have developed a trust with him and I know he doesn't rip me off. (Also helps that I work with his cousin, AND he lives in the same housing track!)

But, back before I established this relationship, I used to go in with a wedding band on and would tell the mechanic that my "husband" sent me in to get the car serviced. If the mechanic quoted a price that I felt was too high or a procedure that I had suspicions about, I would tell him I would have to call my husband first. In almost all cases, the idea that a man might appear on the scene usually caused the mechanic to change his mind and suggest a different price or tell me the procedure could wait.

 

[Guest]

Yes. Fortunately, I grew up with a father that's a mechanic. I spent days watching him fix cars. He recommends the Chilton auto repair manuals. They can be located at most local libraries and may even be online.
All you can do is read. If you have any friends that are mechanically inclined, have them accompany you.

 

[AskACumSlut]

It's really quite simple.

1. Always watch the guy fixing your car, don't just sit there and read a magazine. I know it's monotonous but do it.

2. Say NO to everything suggested by the mechanic other than what you came there for. If it's really that urgent or costly, get a written estimate and come back to get it done after checking the price and necessity elsewhere.

3. Get educated on your car. Your car is the second most expensive product you'll own. Would you let just anyone do repairs on your home after such a brief consultation?