Cutbacks and your car....

[daves87rs]

With things looking rough, everybody is looking for ways to cut back.

At this point, even our cars will be affected...

I've started a few things....

Cheaper oil and air filters (gotta love private brands-both are made by Wix)

Changing my own brakes and rotors (something I have not tried yet)

I got lucky and found some good deals on wax (mothers) to clean them up.

I'm trying hard not to cheap out on the cars....gotta shop smarter.

Is there anything you guys are doing on cutting back?

[z28luvr01]

Only thing I'll cut back is I'll start doing more of the non-warranty work myself (my ext. waranty goes to 7/70K bumper-bumper). I'll still get OEM quality or better equipment for it. I'll go to work in a burlap sack and eat spam every night before I cheap out on the parts I use for my car. I have a set of AC Delco cross drilled/slotted rotors and ceramic-metallic pads waiting for a free Saturday. I'll be adding rear shoes and front struts to that list soon.

[Intrepidation]

I expect photos of the job Z!

If but "cut back" you meaning buying a more powerful engine, oil cooler, planning to have the a/c fixed, installing leather seating, and chrome accents, then yes I'm cheaping the hell out.

[Camino LS6]

Are you kidding?

No.

[Intrepidation]

Also, I don't qualify finding a deal on a quality product as cutting back...I just call it shopping smarter.

I go OEM or better besides things like hoses or lifetime guaranteed parts (like the Shadow's waterpump from Autozone).

Or I get things like interior trim and such from the junkyard.

[A Horse With No Name]

Actually I'm paying off one car and trying to pay off the other.

But hopefully if things get better I'll go 20K in debt and buy a nice Solstice GXP.

Chris

[Cory Wolfe]

Cutbacks? That would be assuming I spent much money on my car in the first place. Besides repairs and maintenance, zilch has been spent on the Cobalt thus far. Besides a set a floormats and some little things, the same goes for the Jetta as well. You can't really cutback on that sort of stuff without harming your car.

[Intrepidation]

Also, doing whatever work you can yourself is a great way t save money.

[Sixty8panther]

If anything I've been doing a lot of catch-up on the small repairs on the 500SEC.

Today on my lunch break I finally disassembled, repaired & reassembled the

glove box door, including the hand-cut wood trim... & I added a Mercedes benz

emblem (the aluminum silver-dollar style one) to the outer egde.

[daves87rs]

Are you kidding?

No.

Why?

[daves87rs]

Cutbacks? That would be assuming I spent much money on my car in the first place. Besides repairs and maintenance, zilch has been spent on the Cobalt thus far. Besides a set a floormats and some little things, the same goes for the Jetta as well. You can't really cutback on that sort of stuff without harming your car.

That is the nice thing about new cars....

[daves87rs]

And I am not getting cheaper parts, just shopping smarter.

[Daryl Z71]

I didn't really cut back at all. Still using Mobil 1 oil and Filter on the truck (costs me about $45.00 every oil change). Ive always done the mechanical work either by myself or with my dads help. Always washed my own vehicle too. I have cut back on accessory buying though.

[Robert Hall]

Saving money by not buying a new one. Though I'm very tempted to buy a new car, but since I don't have an extra garage space currently (wouldn't want anything outside in AZ) coupled w/ the uncertainty of the economy, I'd rather keep my Jeep going another year or two. Going to go get an oil & filter change and new battery on Saturday (the first 100 degree days have weakened my 4 1/2 yr old battery).

Edited April 24, 2009 by moltar

[balthazar]

>>"Cheaper oil and air filters (gotta love private brands-both are made by Wix)"<<

While the buy-in price may be lower, WIX quality is excellent, so there- it's not 'cheaper' at all.

Haven't cut back on anything, and I continue to do what work I can & have time for. Last weekend; wife's GP - new rear rotors. Oil & trans fluid change due on the 2500HD- no time right now.

[Camino LS6]

Why?

Because cheaping out on my cars is not something I'm willing to do.

[Lamar]

If anything I've been doing a lot of catch-up on the small repairs on the 500SEC.

Today on my lunch break I finally disassembled, repaired & reassembled the

glove box door, including the hand-cut wood trim... & I added a Mercedes benz

emblem (the aluminum silver-dollar style one) to the outer egde.

You either have a really long lunch break or a turbocharger built into you somewhere.

Either way, I envy you, sir.

[Intrepidation]

You either have a really long lunch break or a turbocharger built into you somewhere.

Either way, I envy you, sir.

Or he's done it before and can do it blindfolded. I can take my entire dash apart and put it back together in about 20 minutes.

[Camino LS6]

You either have a really long lunch break or a turbocharger built into you somewhere.

Either way, I envy you, sir.

If you ever meet 68, you will soon discover that he is, in fact, turbocharged!

:AH-HA_wink:

[Intrepidation]

If you ever meet 68, you will soon discover that he is, in fact, turbocharged!

:AH-HA_wink:

Especially if you ask him to tell you a story.

[daves87rs]

I didn't really cut back at all. Still using Mobil 1 oil and Filter on the truck (costs me about $45.00 every oil change). Ive always done the mechanical work either by myself or with my dads help. Always washed my own vehicle too. I have cut back on accessory buying though.

Still using M1 for the wife's Cav, but I have changed the filter, as I used to buy Wix, Napa Golds, or M1s.....

I've switched to partmaster filters, which are made by Wix, but they only cost 4-6 bucks...

This weekend's oil change should be about 30 bucks (instead of 40)

[daves87rs]

>>"Cheaper oil and air filters (gotta love private brands-both are made by Wix)"<<

While the buy-in price may be lower, WIX quality is excellent, so there- it's not 'cheaper' at all.

Haven't cut back on anything, and I continue to do what work I can & have time for. Last weekend; wife's GP - new rear rotors. Oil & trans fluid change due on the 2500HD- no time right now.

Yep, and the oil is in such better shape longer with the Wix than the delcos...

Her car suffered through a nasty winter, a tad over 4k miles, and the oil still looks decent....

[gm4life]

Hell, no. If anything I will be adding another one to the fleet, like the '01 GP Coupe I have my eye on. Why would I want my cars to suffer? Especially my Pontiac's?

[capriceman]

nah. I just dont clean my cars anymore..

put brakes on the vibe for 51.23 in parts duralast gold ceramics

[Satty]

I'm going to pour money into the Buick once the engine gets put back in. Its going to get new tires and a new stereo. The other cars get work done at the dealership, at least until the maintenance plans run out.

[REDO1GPGT]

No change. Basically all repairs are covered under extended warranty until 107K anyways. Basic maintenance (oil changes, brakes, etc.) and the like are still all done at the dealership. The service I get there is hard to match so no reason for me to go elsewhere or attempt to do it myself when I don't have to time or desire.

[XP715]

My vehicles are paid for, meaning I have ample funds for any need that may arise. And seeing as how I need the Burb seven days a week, I would never think of giving it anything but the best quality stuff possible. So far, it's returned the favor by never letting me down.

[daves87rs]

nah. I just dont clean my cars anymore..

put brakes on the vibe for 51.23 in parts duralast gold ceramics

Not bad.....how are they?

[Intrepidation]

I just picked up my 3.5 HO engine and plan to go get an oil cooler. What is this "cost cutting" horse &#036;h&#33; you speak of?

[daves87rs]

Hell, no. If anything I will be adding another one to the fleet, like the '01 GP Coupe I have my eye on. Why would I want my cars to suffer? Especially my Pontiac's?

Nah, pontiacs don't suffer, they fight back.

[pow]

Right now it's more about a lack of time than funds. Oil change for the Passat was due 500 miles ago, and I have a cabinet full of synthetic oil and filters I stocked up on when they were cheap. Handling dirty oil is such a messy PITA.

[trinacriabob]

No. Not really. While I am always scouting for deals (see ocn's comments on how cheap I am), I still keep my quasi-absurd maintenace schedule (oil changes every 2,500, trans fluid every 20,000 and tune-ups every 30,000 to 40,000, regardless of fluid color or spark plug condition) for the Regal. In fact, tomorrow AM it gets its oil changed. I feel that I'm economizing by stretching out the car's longevity.

[capriceman]

Not bad.....how are they?

They are great. very smooth and supposed to be dust free

[daves87rs]

They are great. very smooth and supposed to be dust free

may have to look at those...

[Daryl Z71]

Or he's done it before and can do it blindfolded. I can take my entire dash apart and put it back together in about 20 minutes.

Lmao! Sounds like you have too much time onn your hands DF!

[Intrepidation]

Lmao! Sounds like you have too much time onn your hands DF!

More like I'm not paying someone $260 to do it for me just to change a light bulb when I could do it myself for free. :wink:

[Daryl Z71]

More like I'm not paying someone $260 to do it for me just to change a light bulb when I could do it myself for free. :wink:

Hell yea I don't blame you one bit for that.

[daves87rs]

Hell yea I don't blame you one bit for that.

+1

[Intrepidation]

It's more rewarding to do it yourself anyway.

[ShadowDog]

When it comes to expenses, I'm more likely to ramp up my appearance care with regular cleaning and waxing. I'll be moving to synthetics for them as well. I'll certainly be doing a better job than the GM dealership when it comes to scoping out preventative maintenance. The last time I took the car in for an oil change, I asked them to perform a semi-annual inspection before its 5-year-long warranty expired and check out a couple of muffler heat-shield clamps that were loose and causing a bit of a rattle at certain RPMs. My wife gets the car back and tells me that she thought she could still hear the rattle. It turns out they must not have even checked the clamps because I had to replace two completely corroded ones myself with stainless steel hose clamps. They'll probably last longer anyway.

[A Horse With No Name]

I just picked up my 3.5 HO engine and plan to go get an oil cooler. What is this "cost cutting" horse &#036;h&#33; you speak of?

Ohh....my....god.....

I LOVE the 3.5, wonderful motor.

Methinks I'll be jealous of the finished project, DF. And the pics in your sig look good!

Chris

[caddycruiser]

No changes here, whatsoever. The G8 still gets daily cleaned in between the bigger weekly washes and depending on weather, the tank still filled with Shell 93 Premium to go with the custom tune, and all service will be dealer done--when that time comes. And I'm, uh, entertaining a few more things in the way of accessories, suspension bits, etc.

As for the others, my brother's Regal is actually the opposite, with him doing everything from undercoating to new trim pieces here and there to a new gas tank and having sections of the frame replaced--daily, really, it's always something. No slowing down and a shed full of parts. Dad's Subie and Cadillac are, as always, "as they are" and ignored, and mom's Malibu is essentially sitting for a while as she's stuck at home recovering from spine surgery.

Edited April 26, 2009 by caddycruiser

[gm4life]

Nah, pontiacs don't suffer, they fight back.

Exactly, and I am even taking my Bonneville in to have the fender re-painted and a dent popped out. That won't be cheap but it will be worth is to make it look right again. It happend this past week and need to fix it, but won't happen until June prolly. I just wish I knew how it happend.

[Daryl Z71]

It's more rewarding to do it yourself anyway.

Yea id rather do my own work anyway. Gives me something to do on the weekend.

[A Horse With No Name]

Exactly, and I am even taking my Bonneville in to have the fender re-painted and a dent popped out. That won't be cheap but it will be worth is to make it look right again. It happend this past week and need to fix it, but won't happen until June prolly. I just wish I knew how it happend.

Sorry to hear about the Bonnie being injured. Someone ran into the wife's car at Columbus State the other week and drove off without leaving a note.

People are idiots.

Chris

[Intrepidation]

Ohh....my....god.....

I LOVE the 3.5, wonderful motor.

Methinks I'll be jealous of the finished project, DF. And the pics in your sig look good!

Chris

Thank you.

I can't wait to get cracking on the conversion. Originally it looked like it was going to be done by my mechanic, but he said I could help out if I wanted...so hell yes of course.

Next up are new wheels and tires and a paint job. The a cold ait intake and dual exhaust...in no particular order (wheels and tires probably first, since I need tires anyway).

Cost cutting can kiss my ass.

[gm4life]

Sorry to hear about the Bonnie being injured. Someone ran into the wife's car at Columbus State the other week and drove off without leaving a note.

People are idiots.

Chris

Indeed, well I can't get too worked up over it until summer when she gets fixed. In the mean time I have bigger fish to fry. Sorry to hear about your wifes ride getting hit.

[Daryl Z71]

Thank you.

I can't wait to get cracking on the conversion. Originally it looked like it was going to be done by my mechanic, but he said I could help out if I wanted...so hell yes of course.

Next up are new wheels and tires and a paint job. The a cold ait intake and dual exhaust...in no particular order (wheels and tires probably first, since I need tires anyway).

Cost cutting can kiss my ass.

I didn't know you could even get a CAI for an Intrepid.

[Intrepidation]

I didn't know you could even get a CAI for an Intrepid.

You sure can. I know K&N makes one.

[Intrepidation]

Here's another.