Monday, June 9, 2008

GAAAHHHHH!!!! AARRRRGGGGHHHH!!!


What. The. F%#k. Don't leave your house today if you want to avoid the worst shock of your life.

Tip Of The Day: Don't drive your car again. EVER. Gas is now $4.09 a gallon in the TC.

Tip For Tomorrow: Tomorrow's Tuesday, and that means it's Fox 9 News at 5 time! I love Tuesdays.
I'll be posting my companion piece to my segment on inexpensive wedding gift ideas. Since as we all know, summertime means wedding time. For everyone but ME.

Further Elucidation Of My Cheap Deal: So there I was, toodling down Highway 96, on my way to the office, when disaster struck. There, looming over me in its nasty, loomy, way was the sign for the BP on the corner. And it read $4.09. For gas. One gallon of gas. AAAGGGGHHH.

And of course, OF COURSE, today is the day when I have to drive all over the TC, doing real estate-y type things. Like take pictures of the view from the balcony of my client's condo in Burnsville - now that the sun is FINALLY shining and the trees are in bloom.

By the way, if you know of anyone in the market for a 2 bedroom condo on the southside of town, please direct them to my real estate site (see it over there? On the right? Yeah, click on that for all your real estate needs, yo.). I really need to sell that condo. It belongs to Swimmer, and I don't want to let my buddy down. Also? I could use the commission. I'm just sayin'.

Anyhoo, today I am using a ton of precious fuel - now more expensive than crack cocaine. THANK GOD I was in Burnsville, aka Land Of Inexpensive Gas Prices. So my tip for all y'all? Go to Burnsville to fill up. It's worth the trip.

The last stop on my rounds on the southside was Richfield Bloomington Honda, for a much needed oil change. Hondas have this annoying feature, where the 'check engine' light comes on when you need some kind of regular maintenance done. And it stays on until a service person turns it off.

It's like having a nagging parent in your car, 24/7, saying, "Honey, don't you think it's time you took your car in to be serviced? You're over the mileage, and that's not good for your car. And get your hair out of your face. How can you see like that?"

At the station, I was greeted with annoying suprise number 2. I'm over 60,000 miles (where does the time go?), so it's time for at HUGE overhaul on my car - with filter and fuel and belt checks galore. To the tune of $260. Eek.

So here's my question for you, oh fearless readers. Are those tests and checks and routine maintenance thingies REALLY necessary? Do you have your car tuned up like that, when the dealer tells you to? Wasn't the whole point of buying a reliable car, like a Honda, that you wouldn't have to have all these maintenance issues? Help a sister out and tell me what to do.

5 comments:

Unknown said...

Yup, all of that routine maintenance is necessary. My Saturn is almost 15 years old and has over 163,000 miles. It is going strong and I expect to get at least 200,000 miles on it. I have done every routine maintenance that the dealer suggested. How do I afford gas, well I haven't had a car payment in 9 years.

Anonymous said...

The next time you're over, I'll show you how to turn that "check engine" warning light off, but I'm not taking any responsibility for what happens to your car after that...

Anonymous said...

I will forward this to MechanicalMan who has opened up our very own Honda (which we owned for years and years and years and which we no longer own but we still remember with love), and he will help guide the cheap chick. K?

Michelle said...

I'm still trying to figure that out myself. My car is due for it's 45,000 inspection and I really don't feel like forking over $300. Ugh. My guess is that it is necessary. Grrrr....

Anonymous said...

Ugh, I hate to say it, but my Honda was the most expensive vehicle to maintain that I have ever owned. The cheapest? A Volkswagen Jetta. That was the most reliable vehicle ever.

Hello? You're selling down in my neck of the woods? If you need to boost your showings of if you have a broker open, let me know and I'll get the word out!