Several years ago, I took my pickup to the shop. I usually
do repair work myself but I had a minor engine problem that I couldn’t figure
out. I thought they would diagnose the problem and give it a quick fix—for a
nominal fee. Instead, I was told the engine was shot. They said I could expect
it to go at any time. But, they were happy to offer to sell me a rebuilt engine
and install it for only $4,000.
At the time, the truck had roughly 100,000 miles on it. I
chose to ignore their “advice,” had them put it back together and kept driving
it.
A few years later, I again took the pickup to the shop—a
different shop—this time for a transmission issue. After taking apart the
transmission, they told me it was worn out and I would need to get a new one.
Wouldn’t last more than a couple of thousand miles, they said. They quoted me a
price of $2,500 to have it replaced.
By this time, the truck had 175,000 miles. Again, I chose to
ignore their “advice,” had them put it back together and kept driving it.
Then, a couple of weeks ago, I started having more problems.
The truck wouldn’t shift right. I tried a few cheap fixes but nothing worked.
At first, I was stubborn and chose to keep driving it. Then reluctantly, I
admitted it was maybe time for a new pickup. After all, I can’t expect a
vehicle to last forever. Still, I wasn’t happy about it.
But then I found the perfect truck, almost a duplicate of my
old one but four years newer. So, I bought it and kept the old one for
parts—and partly because I just didn’t want to get rid of it. Yeah, I’m still a
little saddened that it broke. But I can’t say I wasn’t warned the transmission
and engine wouldn’t last. They were right too, I suppose—sort of. Did I mention
the pickup now has 317,000 miles? And aside from the annoying shifting issue,
it is still going. I’m thinking both places were just trying to rip me off,
which is why I prefer to do my own mechanic work. ~
Bruce
A. Borders is the author of more than a dozen books, including: Inside Room 913, Over My Dead Body, The Journey,
Miscarriage Of Justice, The Lana Denae Mysteries, and The Wynn Garrett Series. Available in ebook at www.amazon.com/Bruce-A.-Borders/e/B006SOLWQS
and
paperback on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Books-a-Million. Bruce A. Borders
is a proud member of Rave Reviews Book Club.
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