The Absent Uncle: Autos

You know we just can’t live without them. In last week’s column I mentioned the 1962 Volkswagen bus I drove almost cross country in 1978. It was a great old car. With idiosyncrasies galore, and the need to fix it quite often. I did both minor and sometimes major (with help from experts) repairs. With no money, the need to get to work and school, what choice did a guy have but to figure it out? 

Skip forward to today. My wife and I have downsized from three vehicles to one because we didn’t really need yhree vehicles and the expense of maintaining and insuring cars we didn’t really use all that much made no sense.

But today, I find myself taking in the sole survivor of the three – a 2003 Saturn Vue that we bought new (our only brand-new car for both of us before and since) for an undiagnosed brake problem. At 20 years old, the car looks almost showroom, has had an impeccable service record, and about 156,000 miles on the odometer.

When we moved to the Houston area I needed to find an auto service/repair shop (along with dentists, doctors, a good pizza place, etc.). I chose this one not only for its reputation, but also the mechanic is a bit older. A mechanic or two used to my vintage of vehicle. Not a classic muscle car – but a family car, made by the millions and hopefully filled with previously repaired experiences.

So, we shall see – undiagnosed brake problem – almost time to take it in. 

Update. We have a right front caliper locking up. (My thought as well) We have to change rotors, pads, one caliper, and the brake hose to that caliper, plus labor, all the other current niceties that go along with the job. Our 20-year-old vehicle continues to amaze me. Just the second front brake job in 156,000 miles and the rear brakes are still the original! And by the way, they could not find a left caliper for it. Luckily only the right caliper was malfunctioning!

I could argue (discuss is the better word) the charges on this repair. But I would be looking at it from a time that has passed. I can’t fix it myself; the shop I selected has given me their computer generated estimate – probably the same I would receive from any other reputable shop.   

Go ahead, fix it. And we are back on the road.