My vehicle and I are at a critical juncture.
I realized this as I sat waiting Thursday afternoon in Hermantown Transmission and Exhaust for repairs on my muffler/exhaust system.
I took my 1999 Honda CRV to the dealership Tuesday afternoon, expecting they would change my oil, give it a routine 21-point inspection and fix my muffler, which had become noisy over the weekend and was hanging awkwardly by one clip.
Their inspection revealed I needed a new tie-rod in a very bad way, I had acquired an oil leak of unknown origin, and some belts needed to be replaced. Oh, and the muffler work would require a $1,500 replacement of the entire exhaust.
I felt as if I had gone to the doctor for a sore throat and come away with a diagnosis of something that requires expensive surgery. Time for a second opinion.
After having the dealer fix my tie-rod and oil leak, I found my way over to Hermantown Transmission and Exhaust for an estimate. The owner put my car up, took a look and came back with a couple of repairs they could do on the spot -- for $170.
What a relief! My husband and I had spent the morning getting estimates on a new or near new car, as well as trade-in values for our two aging vehicles.
Leaving the exhaust shop, I pocketed the owner's business card. He mentioned that he knows a number of good service professionals who could help me with other repairs should I need them.
I've been very happy with the performance of my CRV and with the service the dealership has provided. But the older my car gets, we're not going to be able to afford to repair it to dealer specifications.
I thought about my previous mechanics -- Woody at Downtown Service, who worked on my 1976 Cadillac Sedan Deville, and Rick at Hermantown Service, who worked on my 1986 Pontiac Grand Prix. I liked both men and trusted the advice they gave me and the work they did.
Maybe this milestone won't be so bad after all.
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