Ahhhhh
" Also at the time I was facing upcoming major maintenance, tire and brake replacement, which was an expense I wanted to avoid."
Wow. PLEASE don't take that wrong. Absolutely no insult intended Just "surprise" that this kind of attitude is way more common than I thought.
While sitting in the dealership waiting room (looking at my drivers window it was not working properly)
I was STUNNED when a rep came in and asked for so and so to give the report on his car and that he needed brakes.
over $300. My jaw damned near hit the floor when he not only accepted such an ass raping but did so with a smile and his only real concern on signing was "how long"
not. why are you charging me 10 times what it costs?
Brake pads. $30. 30 minutes later your done.
**** it takes longer to dig out the jack jack up the car and remove/reinstall the wheel than it does to replace the brake pads.
Simply mind blowing. If a rep came up to me and asked if I wanted them to change my brake pads for $300 I am not joking I would laugh out loud at them and go "ARE YOU MAD" NO I do not want you touching my brake pads at $300 !!
Caliper? what? $50? Pads? $30 rotor? $30 or $40 ?
even if I have to replace everything its under $100.
and he smiled as he signed away over $300 to swap out front brake pads.
Since I could never DREAM of affording to (what I consider) blow money that way I simply assumed no one else could either. boy was I wrong.
a little hint.
BRAKES AND TIRES ARE NOT MAJOR MAINTENANCE. they are "core" common yearly "consumables" that need to be replaced on ANY car on a regular basis.
Traction battery is major maintenance. Gear Reduction unit is major maintenance. OBC or Drive Motor replacement is major maintenance.
Brakes and Tires are NOT major maintenance.!!!!!
Folks who PAY OTHERS to fix their cars and then complain about gas prices???. What??. trust me if your paying OTHERS to fix your car on a regular basis GASOLINE is not your largest budgetary concern.
Sorry for the rant it was simply mind boggling to see so much MONEY go "poof" like that!!!
Tires? $20 a pop. used tires. sometimes $10 for the smaller (metro/tracker) tires.
On my leaf I just might buy new! tirerack has a pretty slick deal. $104 a pop for ecopia's and 2 year warranty. full coverage even for cut/puncture!! considering I will put 60,000 miles on a set of tires in 2 years and there is no mileage limit.
Yep. that is where I am ordering my tires