From the thread about the Chevy Sonic I recently had as a rental car:
Originally Posted by GeorgeI know I should, but I'm just not ready to tackle a brake job at home, especially when the shop I've been using for years is a short walk from my office. It's a lack of free time more than anything else. I just called the shop to see if tomorrow's good for some maintenance I need done and will drop it off on the way in tomorrow.Originally Posted by TSG
This was unexpected, or maybe I just have a crappy memory: the lady who answered the phone pulled up my history to review notes for what they said would need doing next the last time I had the car in, and she told me this: "Okay, the last time your car was in, we flushed the brake lines and installed new brake pads..."
I had forgotten that, although to be fair, it was probably close to a year ago. Maybe the difference between the Sonic's brakes and my brakes is simply sixteen years of technology? Either way, I'll ask them to check the brakes tomorrow and I'll mention they feel a little weak to me. Maybe it's just a different feel in different cars. I haven't driven another car except my wife's in a long time.
Assuming the shop says I don't have lots of serious problems, I have decided to replace the very cracked windshield and drive this thing another year or two while I save up for whatever's next. The lady on the phone, while reviewing my file while I was on the phone, said, "it looks like the only problem we've identified with your car is an oil leak at the rear of the engine. It sounds like it's in pretty good shape." I'll keep feeding it its 5W-30 habit if it means I can $ave mo' money toward a car that doesn't need a piece of plywood underneath it on the garage floor.
If only my car looked a little nicer, I'd be a lot more excited about keeping it. Oh well, maybe I can make it into a rat rod someday, with dog-dish hubcaps and wide whitewalls. Either that, or just stick a ski/bike rack on the roof, which seems to make any old car look cooler.
Now put away those tools, clean up that garage, and get busy with your homework!