Is this reasonable maintenance cost?

[ub4me]

Hi,
I bought an Acura Integra 1994 RS automatic in February 1999 at 62500 miles on it for $8,000. It didn't have any problem until Spring of last year. But after that, I had to go repair shops several times.
Here is the maintenance record. I spent about $2800 for repair and replacement since I bought it (I didn't include oil changes).
Do you think this is resonable maintenance cost? Or mine has more problems than yours?
Thank you for your comment.

08/01/99 70,000 Transmission Oil / Spark Plug / Air Filter $220
04/05/02 103,078 Brake (Rear Pads, Calipers, Rotors) $686.21
07/01/02 107,000 Engine Coolant drain and flush $64
02/07/03 112,451 Front Axels Replacement $336.70
02/10/03 113,127 Front Brake Pads $117.40
07/28/03 122,057 Dist. Cap / Dist. Rotor / Spark Plug Wires / Spark Plugs / Fuel Filter / Air Filter $438.37
07/31/03 122,118 Radiator Replacement $329.39
10/06/03 126,417 Front Brake Rotors $175.38
12/02/03 131,000 Timing Belt, V-Belt, Water Pump $400

Total: about $2800

Next Summer - Possible replacement of master cylinder due to sponge pedal / compressor service due to clicking sound when I turn on air conditioner.

 

[StageLeft]

Well you've paid about $600/year average over that 4.5 years, which is reasonable for a used car, although you had to pay it all in the last 1.5 years which is just unlucky.

$686 for rear brakes you got screwed. Who the hell did you bring the car to? Oh, they changed the calipers as well...I wonder if you needed them replaced (probably not, but who knows). Front brake pads for $157? Good god man, who did you take the car to?

I guess mosts of the charges are not insane, but not fantastic either. I'd recommend you learn how to do basic maintenance. I've learned in the past year and saved a ton of money. The transmission oil, spark plug, air filter from the top line could have turned into less than $100 if you did it yourself.

Calipers aside, you could do the rear pads and rotors for a small fraction of the cost you paid. Ditto for the front brakes. Axel is a bigger job, but coolant is also pretty straight forward. Air filter, fuel filter, all straight forward with a haynes manual for your car. Not sure on the distributor. Radiator and timing belt are bigger jobs, but basic maintenance items are not difficult and you'll save yourself a crap load of money.

 

[Ornery]

That's an expected amount of work, but the prices are steep. I'd have tackled 95% of that list myself. You're stuck if you have to put it on an analizer though. If you don't want to roll up your sleeves and get dirty, it's gonna cost.

 

[ub4me]

Originally posted by: Skoorb
Well you've paid about $600/year average over that 4.5 years, which is reasonable for a used car, although you had to pay it all in the last 1.5 years which is just unlucky.

$686 for rear brakes you got screwed. Who the hell did you bring the car to? Oh, they changed the calipers as well...I wonder if you needed them replaced (probably not, but who knows). Front brake pads for $157? Good god man, who did you take the car to?

I guess mosts of the charges are not insane, but not fantastic either. I'd recommend you learn how to do basic maintenance. I've learned in the past year and saved a ton of money. The transmission oil, spark plug, air filter from the top line could have turned into less than $100 if you did it yourself.

Calipers aside, you could do the rear pads and rotors for a small fraction of the cost you paid. Ditto for the front brakes. Axel is a bigger job, but coolant is also pretty straight forward. Air filter, fuel filter, all straight forward with a haynes manual for your car. Not sure on the distributor. Radiator and timing belt are bigger jobs, but basic maintenance items are not difficult and you'll save yourself a crap load of money.

I got the rear brake job from Midas. I had to replace not only brake pads and rotors, but also calipers. They said those were no usable. But later I found out that the local Midas was a bad repair shop. So I don't go there any more.
And front brake job for $157 - I forgot to subtract oil change and tire rotation which is about $40.

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: ub4me

Originally posted by: Skoorb
Well you've paid about $600/year average over that 4.5 years, which is reasonable for a used car, although you had to pay it all in the last 1.5 years which is just unlucky.

$686 for rear brakes you got screwed. Who the hell did you bring the car to? Oh, they changed the calipers as well...I wonder if you needed them replaced (probably not, but who knows). Front brake pads for $157? Good god man, who did you take the car to?

I guess mosts of the charges are not insane, but not fantastic either. I'd recommend you learn how to do basic maintenance. I've learned in the past year and saved a ton of money. The transmission oil, spark plug, air filter from the top line could have turned into less than $100 if you did it yourself.

Calipers aside, you could do the rear pads and rotors for a small fraction of the cost you paid. Ditto for the front brakes. Axel is a bigger job, but coolant is also pretty straight forward. Air filter, fuel filter, all straight forward with a haynes manual for your car. Not sure on the distributor. Radiator and timing belt are bigger jobs, but basic maintenance items are not difficult and you'll save yourself a crap load of money.

I got the real brake job from Midas. I had to replace not only brake pads and rotors, but also calipers. They said those were no usable. But later I found out that the local Midas was a bad repair shop. So I don't go there any more.
And front brake job for $157 - I forgot to subtract oil change and tire rotation which is about $40.

These brake shops love to tell people they need new calipers, which in most cases is just not true at all. You'll be good for a while now, but next time changing pads is very easy. You simply lift the car up, take the wheel off, squeeze the brake in with a c clamp, undo a couple of screws, and then you can get at the pads. That's not a detailed instruction but to indicate that really doing pads is very straight forward. Get yourself a haynes, man

 

[Wuffsunie]

I know the feeling. My Honda has been doing it to me lately. $450 for a flexpipe for my exhaust, aiiee!!

Engine Coolant $64? You paid someone $64 to add antifreeze to you car? Man, you were taken badly.

Innitial brake replacement you got raped, totally. Routers, ouch. Should have had those done with the brakes, saved you a ton in labor.

Surprising that you had your rad rot out on you, even after 10 years. Where do you live that it takes that kind of abuse from the elements on the road?

Ah, see that you went to a bad shop for the first breaks. Yeah, makes sense now. I agree with Skoorb who advised learning to do it yourself. As long as you can find some place to dispose of the used fluids for you, it saves a ton!

 

[ub4me]

Thanks, Skoorb.
You are telling me the rear brakes, not the front brakes. Right?
Is front brake job much harder than rear one?

 

[ub4me]

Originally posted by: Wuffsunie
Engine Coolant $64? You paid someone $64 to add antifreeze to you car? Man, you were taken badly.

It was coolant drain and flush job.
What I want to know is that Honda/Acura cars are believed as reliable cars. But according to my experience, I cannot tell people Honda/Acura are reliable. Maybe becasue I had just one car in my life, and my expectation for Honda/Acura was too high.

 

[HyTekJosh]

A lot of auto mechanics and places like midas, meineke, etc, will rape you unless you know how to protect yourself.

 

[Wuffsunie]

Originally posted by: ub4me

Originally posted by: Wuffsunie
Engine Coolant $64? You paid someone $64 to add antifreeze to you car? Man, you were taken badly.

It was coolant drain and flush job.
What I want to know is that Honda/Acura cars are believed as reliable cars. But according to my experience, I cannot tell people Honda/Acura are reliable. Maybe becasue I had just one car, and my expectation for Honda/Acura was too high.

Ah, that's not so bad then. I was just having flashbacks of Best Buy charging $35 to install RAM.

Well, it was 8 years old before you had to start with the major repairs. That's about expected for a car, regardless of model. From my experience, Hondas are good when they're working. Otherwise they're a PITA and a drain on the wallet. Parts for them disgustingly expensive.

 

[ub4me]

Originally posted by: Wuffsunie I was just having flashbacks of Best Buy charging $35 to install RAM.