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Car Articles:
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Kyle Busch is a car enthusiast, consumer advocate, and author. He has written numerous transportation articles. Two of his articles are included below (Lowering Vehicle Repair Costs and An Exceptional Upper-Level Sports Car). You have permission to reprint these articles electronically or in print as long as the bylines are included.
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The Real Deal:
Get professional guidance by ordering your copy of "Drive the Best for the Price..." at:
If you can’t wait, buy the ebook now:
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Lowering Vehicle Repair Costs
By Kyle Busch, author of:
"Drive the Best for the Price..."
The cost of vehicles and their related repairs are expensive. Although the tips provided in this article will not eliminate such expenses, they will help you to take control of vehicle repairs and thus lower their costs.
We have all seen commercials on TV touting the "great vehicle service" provided by dealer service departments. They know your vehicle better than anyone else, they use original replacement parts, etc., etc ... But at what cost is such great service available? Well, usually at about $75-$95 per hour.
In many instances, vehicle repairs can be completed for substantially lower hourly rates. Many independent garages employ ASE certified and licensed mechanics. These garages generally charge about $40-$50 per hour.
If you are unfamiliar with independent garages in your area, it can be useful to talk with your friends about which garages and mechanics have repaired their vehicles. Be on the lookout for the names of garages that are recommended over and over by numerous people.
Next, visit a few of the garages, talk with the owner, and ask about the hourly rate charged for vehicle repairs. Be sure to inquire if the rate charged for the repairs is a "straight hourly rate" or a "book rate."
A straight hourly rate involves the amount of time that it actually takes a mechanic to do a vehicle repair. On the other hand, a book rate involves the customer being charged an amount of time the book specifies a repair should take.
For example, installing new front and rear brake pads on a vehicle could take one hour. Using a straight rate of $50 per hour, the repair would cost $50 for labor, plus the cost of the brake pads. The book rate might
specify that it "should" take the mechanic 1.5 hours to do the work. Thus, the customer would be charged $75 for the labor, plus the cost of the brake pads.
When using the book rate method, even if the brake job takes the mechanic only 55 minutes to complete, the customer is still charged for 1.5 hours of time. The book rate method of doing vehicle repairs generally benefits the garage and not the customer.
If the garage owner seems to squirm when you ask about the billing method used for vehicle repairs, it is best to visit other garages. Mechanic ASE certification, licensure, and the garage owner's response to billing practices will go a long way in your identifying the garage that is right for you. Last, but not least, observe how neat and orderly the repair shop looks. This is a straightforward indication of how the garage is operated.
In most instances, garages "mark-up" the price of parts used for vehicle repairs. Garages purchase parts at wholesale prices and then mark-up the parts used for repairs. Although it is becoming rarer and rarer today, some garages will allow a customer to purchase the parts that will be used to repair their vehicle. Such garages will quote the customer on just the cost of labor to install the parts.
It can be to a customer's advantage to get a quote on both the parts and labor prior to having their vehicles repaired. If the customer is so inclined, he or she can check on the cost of parts at retail parts stores such as Auto Zone or Advanced Auto. In many instances, even better prices on parts can be obtained by getting on the Internet and visiting websites such as:
www.stopshopanddrive.com.
When it comes to vehicle repairs, taking the time to ask some questions and establish a good relationship with an independent garage can really help to lower vehicle repair costs. Identifying a garage and a mechanic with whom you are comfortable makes all the difference in the world!
Kyle Busch is the author of: "Drive the Best for the Price...."
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Get The Book:
Get professional guidance by ordering your copy of "Drive the Best for the Price..." at:
If you can’t wait, buy the ebook now:
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An Exceptional Upper-Level Sports Car
By Kyle Busch, author of:
"Drive the Best for the Price..."
Over the past 40 years, Porsche has developed and refined one of the most successful sports car ever, the 911. The flat-six boxer engines have gone from air cooled to water-cooled; from non-turboed to twin turboed; from rear-wheel drive to four-wheel drive, etc. In the beginning, the engine had about 120 horsepower and today it can have over 450 horsepower.
In recent years, car offerings from BMW, Lexus, Infiniti, and others have been pushing up against the 911's horsepower advantage. Porsche was starting to encounter the limits of the flat-six boxer's horsepower capabilities.
A few years back, it was rumored that Porsche had considered a flat-eight boxer engine for the 911. However, even the flat-six hung off the car's rear axel. The car's weight distribution was highly rear-biased, and thus the 911 has had and continues to have unique and somewhat challenging handling characteristics.
A flat-eight boxer engine would have certainly enabled Porsche's 911 to pull away from competitors with horsepower. However, the greater weight and power of the engine would have increased the 911's negative handling characteristics. Consequently, Porsche would have had the 911 in a conundrum of more power being a plus, but increased inappropriate handling characteristics being a minus.
Recently Porsche has introduced a "mid-engine" hardtop sports car named the "Cayman." It shares the same floorpan and some other components with the convertible Porsche Boxster. This has enabled Porsche to spread the cost of production between the two models, thus lowering the Cayman's cost of production. Given today's increasingly competitive automotive environment, Porsche will be better able to maintain an acceptable profit margin on the Cayman, but also sell the car at a reasonable price.
Is $50,000 for a Cayman 2.7 reasonable pricing? The Cayman's lap times at Nurburgring have been right on the heels of the more powerful 911. What the Cayman lacks in horsepower to the $80,000 911, it closes the gap with its superior handling. Look for the Cayman to overtake the 911 as it gains the 911's more powerful engines. Because of competitive pressures, in the future, it is likely that Porsche will basically keep the price of the Cayman stable while offering more powerful engines.
What if the competitors continue to increase the horsepower of their cars? Porsche has the ability to put a flat-eight or a flat-ten cylinder engine in the Cayman, and because of the mid-engine design, the car's handling would remain exceptional. Overall, the Cayman has the shape of a great sports car. The driving experience is smooth and refined with precise shifting and excellent brakes. Last, but not least, the Cayman gets about 20 mpg in the city and about 28 mpg on the highway.
With the Cayman, Porsche has jumped out in front again! The almost endless possibilities to add more power, great handling, and reasonable production costs are a fabulous combination for Porsche. In the future, buying a Cayman in the used car market at a 25%-35% price reduction will be a fabulous opportunity for consumers too!
Kyle Busch is the author of: "Drive the Best for the Price...." He accepts transportation questions from consumers worldwide at his auto web site:
www.DriveThebestBook.com.
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