- Jan 4, 2006
- 1,660
- 1
- 76
Once again I call on the collective knowledge of AT when I am in dire need....
Here is the situation:
I drive a 1999 Ford Escort ZX2 2.0l DOHC Manual. I drive about 300miles /week
Its a PA inspection if that matters, also I know next to nothing about cars. I ahve never been to this location before either.
I brought it in for inspection today thinking everything would be fine, except I knew my sway bar in the rear needed 2 new bolts to hold it on.
When they called to tell me about the car, the guy ended up quoting me a price of $869 for all the repairs AND 2 tires or $1149 for 4 tires.
The bare minimum I could scrape by inspection with is $569 + the $110 I already spent on inspection.
I told him I did not have that kind of money at the moment (full time student and work close to full time doing student teaching and things make money very tight. he instantly suggested I get their credit card 6 months no APR, and he could have me approved "in minutes." This gave me a really skeevy feeling. I ended up just paying the $110 for inspection and picking up my car while I figure out what to do, or see if their prices are reasonable.
Here is what he said was wrong and the costs.
Required for inspection:
2 Rear Tires - $223.14 installed
P185/65R15 Goodyear Assurance 86T - $79.95 each
4 tire total is 444.95
My old tires were only $36 each at walmart, they were only 30,000 mile tires, he said there were no cheaper tires.
Rear Sway Bar Links:
Stabilizer Bar Control Link - Remove and Repair Both Sides - $163.66
He said they had rusted, I guess this also includes the bolts for the sway bar I had told him I needed?
I had pepboys take a look at the sway bar thing a few weeks ago (Pepboy in New Jersey) and he said I did not need it for inspection if I did not mind a bit rougher ride, he also quoted me about $100 to put the 2 bolts in.
Valve Cover Gasket:
Valve Cover Gasket - Remove & Replace-O.H.C-DOHC - $180.99
He claimed that I was leaking oil "like crazy." I replied that I park in a garage and have never seen the slightest hint of an oil leak, I also got my oil changed a few weeks ago and it was nowhere near low (I checked the dipstick before I got it changed, and the service record does not show low oil) He claims I don't see an oil leak because it "drips onto the radiator and is evaporated" and said my car may start smoking sooner or later and its a fire hazard unless they fix it and that is why it is required.
So total cost for all required inspection things would be $677.79 (including the $110 I already paid)
Recommended Service:
Air Filter:
Replace Air Filter -$31.64
is this something I can do myself easily?
Clean and adjust rear drum brakes:
Ensure tighter and firmer brake pedal, and ensure tighter parking brake -$67.22
This just sounds like extra shit to me, I have no issue with my parking brake / brakes they seem responsive and I have narrowly avoided a few crazy accidents in the last few months just fine with my current brakes (crazy drivers on 95 heading towards Camden)
Four Wheel Alignment:
Road test, check suspension, tire pressure, ride height, alignment condition, etc - $100.20
Cliffs:
Read over the charges and tell me if I am getting ripped off? I know it may be hard seeing as none of you can physically see the car, would it help if I scanned the service bill pages with all their details and put them in a .pdf?
Here is the situation:
I drive a 1999 Ford Escort ZX2 2.0l DOHC Manual. I drive about 300miles /week
Its a PA inspection if that matters, also I know next to nothing about cars. I ahve never been to this location before either.
I brought it in for inspection today thinking everything would be fine, except I knew my sway bar in the rear needed 2 new bolts to hold it on.
When they called to tell me about the car, the guy ended up quoting me a price of $869 for all the repairs AND 2 tires or $1149 for 4 tires.
The bare minimum I could scrape by inspection with is $569 + the $110 I already spent on inspection.
I told him I did not have that kind of money at the moment (full time student and work close to full time doing student teaching and things make money very tight. he instantly suggested I get their credit card 6 months no APR, and he could have me approved "in minutes." This gave me a really skeevy feeling. I ended up just paying the $110 for inspection and picking up my car while I figure out what to do, or see if their prices are reasonable.
Here is what he said was wrong and the costs.
Required for inspection:
2 Rear Tires - $223.14 installed
P185/65R15 Goodyear Assurance 86T - $79.95 each
4 tire total is 444.95
My old tires were only $36 each at walmart, they were only 30,000 mile tires, he said there were no cheaper tires.
Rear Sway Bar Links:
Stabilizer Bar Control Link - Remove and Repair Both Sides - $163.66
He said they had rusted, I guess this also includes the bolts for the sway bar I had told him I needed?
I had pepboys take a look at the sway bar thing a few weeks ago (Pepboy in New Jersey) and he said I did not need it for inspection if I did not mind a bit rougher ride, he also quoted me about $100 to put the 2 bolts in.
Valve Cover Gasket:
Valve Cover Gasket - Remove & Replace-O.H.C-DOHC - $180.99
He claimed that I was leaking oil "like crazy." I replied that I park in a garage and have never seen the slightest hint of an oil leak, I also got my oil changed a few weeks ago and it was nowhere near low (I checked the dipstick before I got it changed, and the service record does not show low oil) He claims I don't see an oil leak because it "drips onto the radiator and is evaporated" and said my car may start smoking sooner or later and its a fire hazard unless they fix it and that is why it is required.
So total cost for all required inspection things would be $677.79 (including the $110 I already paid)
Recommended Service:
Air Filter:
Replace Air Filter -$31.64
is this something I can do myself easily?
Clean and adjust rear drum brakes:
Ensure tighter and firmer brake pedal, and ensure tighter parking brake -$67.22
This just sounds like extra shit to me, I have no issue with my parking brake / brakes they seem responsive and I have narrowly avoided a few crazy accidents in the last few months just fine with my current brakes (crazy drivers on 95 heading towards Camden)
Four Wheel Alignment:
Road test, check suspension, tire pressure, ride height, alignment condition, etc - $100.20
Cliffs:
Read over the charges and tell me if I am getting ripped off? I know it may be hard seeing as none of you can physically see the car, would it help if I scanned the service bill pages with all their details and put them in a .pdf?