8/15: So I've spent a lost of time the last week or so tinkering with the little minor things: stereo, storage, positioning inverter/charge controller. I'm starting to get short on time and the important stuff needs to start getting done: #1: getting the car in trip ready shape (tires and engine-wise). A few months ago, I took my car to the dealership because I had a brake recall for the salt corrosion that occurs out here from the salt in the roads for ice and snow. While I was there, I had them manually close the sunroof, that had a broken clip and was stuck slightly open. The sunroof would need to be changed in order to be repaired - $1500 just for a little plastic clip that broke....I don't need a sunroof that bad; I actually hardly ever used it.

While I was at the dealership, they did an inspection. One of the items that they said needed to be repaired was a cracked CV boot. They said repair wasn't urgent but said should be done moderately soon. So I went down to the friendly Good Year Tire place where I liked their customer service and where I had gotten an oil change before. I got an estimate for the work a few weeks ago and figured I'd schedule time as soon as I was out of work. So I had planned on going in Monday. I wanted to go in today, to schedule the appointment in person and make sure they ordered the parts required and had them ready for the Monday morning repair I wanted to schedule. While I was in the office, I persuaded the service agent to pull the car in and verify that the work needed to be done and in fact I had my information right that it was the front right axle. Surprise surprise! He said he didn't know what the dealership was talking about. There was no evidence that any of the boots were cracked (or that there was any clicking). The original diagnosis was done at the end of May and I had been driving on it all this time. I was expecting by now I was gonna hit one of the many pot holes while driving and my axle was going to snap in half and my cartoon tire (like in Rodger Rabbit) was gonna fall off and roll away. I think I might of mentioned that in my head everything plays in cartoons from an areal view.

Great news for me! That's $250-$350 saved. So then I started getting a quote for some recommended service. Keep in mind that besides oil changes and tire rotations, my car doesn't get serviced regularly. I figure between those services, they would make sure to let me know if my fluids needed topping off or if there was any major issues. In preparation for this trip, I want to make sure my car is in tip top shape. So he came up with a list of recommended maintenance for the 120k miles by the factory. Keep in mind I got the car at about 125k and got some initial maintenance done (for which I am still trying to locate the records) and now I am at 162k. I wouldn't have questioned their estimate and recommended service, if I didn't see the following: 1. The oil change is estimated at $75. When I last got my oil changed there or anywhere, I haven;t paid that much, even when I paid extra for the tire rotation. 2. The air filter change is quoted for $45. I have actually changed that out myself and still have the receipt for the air filter - $13.99 and I can;t imagine I spent even an hour on that one. I am guessing probably like 20 min and probably cause it took me 10 to figure out how to release the catch on the hood since it had been so long since I last did it! 3. They quoted me $285 to change the auto transmission fluid when the dealer charges $154. Since when have you known a dealership to charge almost 50% less than an outside repair shop? 4. I am not sure if this is a real reason, but the spark plug change is $421 and recommended to be done every 30,000 miles. That seems kinda pricey for something that should be done (for what I consider that frequently).

So now I am in a bind. For sure I don't want to go to the dealership, but I also don't want ot get ripped off by Good Year. I guess the next step is: I've ordered all new tires from Costco. Right after I get that installed, I am going over to Firestone to get a lifetime alignment package (I've already gotten an alignment done on this car 2 times in 3 years). Since my tires are wearing unevenly, even after I got the new tires and alignment done 3 years ago and alignment done 2 years ago for struts replacement, I think I am past due for another one and at this rate I should probably get them done once a year? I should have known with the size of the potholes in DE that I'd needed it done to save my tires. While I am there getting the alignment, I will have them quote me for the same work that Good Year has and I will see who is better?

#2 Major project that I need to focus on is getting the apartment packed up. I have about 11-14 days counting today to get it all done before the POD gets dropped off and I start loading it up.