My SO and I have a 1999 Lexus ES 300 with low miles (ca. 80K). We use it mostly on the weekend for errands. The car is in more or less good driving condition, but parking on the streets and Boston winters are taking their toll cosmetically. Dealership recommended $5100 in repairs on its recent checkup--nearly the value of the car--and we're wondering which repairs are worthwhile, which are overpriced and should be done elsewhere, and which can be skipped.
[more inside]
posted by Calamity Jen
on Mar 5, 2013 -
20 answers
My car's brake pedal slowly depresses almost all the way to the floor while my foot is resting on it at a stoplight. It never used to do this. What's going on?
[more inside]
posted by killdevil
on May 27, 2012 -
30 answers
I used to know of a website where people could report on their vehicle breakdowns, repairs, etc so that other people could research on the reliability of various automobiles before making a buying decision and so forth. I'm sure the site is still around but I cannot find it for the life of me.
Anyone got a clue what this website is?
posted by purefusion
on Jul 18, 2010 -
14 answers
What factors do you consider when thinking about getting rid of your old car and buying a new one?
[more inside]
posted by reenum
on May 13, 2010 -
17 answers
I'm replacing the 6.5" door speakers on my 1999 Chevy S-10 (regular cab) and I have two questions.
[more inside]
posted by carsonb
on Feb 13, 2009 -
5 answers
So, on Monday I went to move my car, after 4 days of being parked in the same place, only to discover that my front windshield is
all cracked up and I have a lot of questions.
[more inside]
posted by nooneyouknow
on Apr 30, 2008 -
21 answers
This car is a '97 Toyota and it was was functioning well when parked. It had a flat tire and has been parked in my driveway for three weeks. When I went to change the flat today, I could not get the wheel off. To be clear, the lug nuts all came of relatively easily, but the rim seems to be melded/rusted onto the axle. What do I do? Crowbar? Chisel? Dynamite?
posted by OlderThanTOS
on Nov 1, 2007 -
30 answers
Did this mechanic try to "trick" me into a repair that costs more than the car is worth?
[more inside]
posted by hootch
on Nov 2, 2006 -
9 answers
Why does my 2006 Toyota Corolla LE make so much noise when I start the car in the morning?
[more inside]
posted by jadanzzy
on Aug 30, 2006 -
6 answers
Hey! Know a good subaru repair shop in Palo Alto? What about the Mission side of SF?
[more inside]
posted by metaculpa
on Dec 9, 2005 -
9 answers
Mechanics: I've got a 1964 chevy bel air which is my daily driver that needs some work. I'd like to do it myself, but I'm sorta a car newbie. What online communities and resources will be useful to me? Do you have any specific anecdotes, tips and tricks for working on old cars?
[more inside]
posted by fishfucker
on Dec 7, 2005 -
25 answers
AutoFilter: In a moment of terrible mental absence this morning, I drove about half a block in second gear with the hand brake engaged. While the right rear wheel smoked and the brake glowed visibly red, there seem to be no other consequences an hour after the fact. Does this merit a call to the mechanic to check it out if other malfunctions haven't arisen?
posted by Verdant
on Dec 16, 2004 -
19 answers
Found out last night that my car (96 Saturn with 108k miles) has a leaking head gasket, which will set me back about $1200. Before I spring for the repair, I want to be confident that the car will stick around long enough to be worth it. How long can you reasonably expect to keep a car on the road? Is this a sign that she's crossed the line into being an unreliable money sink?
posted by COBRA!
on Dec 16, 2003 -
11 answers
