Dream car preview

Here’s a bit of irony: everyone dreads the experience of flat tires, engine problems, radiator issues, transmission failures, and dead batteries. Yet, few people invest the time to inspect their vehicles on a regular basis. A lot of the parts-related problems that frustrate drivers can be prevented with a little ongoing maintenance. It doesn’t require a significant amount of time or expertise. In fact, anyone can perform a routine maintenance check within minutes.

Consider these numbers: $1500 for an insignificant scratch on the bodywork; $3500 for a new exhaust valve; at least $150 for a new trunk-release switch cover. These aren’t figures from the realm of fantasy, but actual repair expenses that drivers have provided to AOL Autos after having coughed up these amounts for repair jobs that only seemed small. The alternative is to do the job yourself, or buy a new car. That seems extreme, right? So just pay up like a good citizen and suffer in silence, seems to be the mantra.