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EightySix Four
Diamond Member
Hyperbole my friend....
So you're going to buy the rotor and it will magically leap on the car? Not only will you pay considerable premium for the parts on a german car, but you'll pay a considerable premium on the labor for a million and one reasons. I'd be surprised to hear that a complete brake job at a VW dealer costing less than $1000-1200. I could get that done on my Mustang for closer to $500.
There's a lot more cost to vehicles than gasoline. Depreciation and maintanance are the two biggies. Think about it. It will not pay you over the long term to buy a new car to "avoid higher gas prices" unless you're going to do bio-diesel or something.
Maintenence between domesitc and import cars are insignificant. I've owned plenty of domestic and import cars, that argument of maintenence cost is BS, unless you own an exotic or a car with extremely hard to find parts.
OP, there is no magic way to get better gas mileage. Anything you can do could be found with a 15 second search on google.
EightySix Four
Diamond Member
Beats me, but ours didn't cost that much. Volvo is owned by ford isn't it?
Who said anything about new? Every car I've owned has been built in the 80's, and almost all of them have gotten above 30mpg on the freeway. The OP is 16, he should be driving a 4 banger that's at least ten years old.
They go to their DEALERS? LOL!
Then again, I do all my own maintenance...so yeah.
Zenmervolt
Elite member
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!
If you believe that, I've got some lovely oceanfront property in Arizona to sell you.
Any rotor can be turned down to the minimum thickness. Granted, many rotors now do not have a huge amount of excess thickness that will allow them to be turned, but that's not by any stretch exclusive to Volvo, and it still doesn't mean that the rotors cannot be turned.
I won't even address the absurdity of a claim that service can only be done at the dealership. People who believe that probably also buy the "rustproofing" and "paint protectant" snake oil that dealers try to sell you.
ZV
I have a friend with a 1998 Volvo V70 who has never ever been able to turn a single rotor, according to both her own mechanic who shes' been using for 30 years and her dealer. They also frequently have "computer problems" that the mechanic sends her to the dealer for. Other examples of service that can only be done at the dealership include cutting a new ignition key from VIN and updating software for modern emmissions inspection.
I didn't mean to take this thread off on a tangent, but I think everyone is overlooking the obvious fact here that the kid needs to stop driving like a clown and take advantage of his parent's generosity. He's looking a gift horse in the mouth. Including all maintanance (most of which I am assuming he currently isn't paying for), registration fees, insurance fees, inspection costs, the cost savings of slightly better fuel economy of buying a second, smaller car, will be minimal unless he's doing an insane number of miles.
That is all I have to say on this topic. Good luck OP.
Anyone, short of ferrari owners, who pays 1-2K for a brake job is a fvcking idiot and got completely scammed.
I owned a new 1996 gti vr6 and was forced to go to the stealership for a complete pad/rotor replacement on all 4 sides. That cost around $500, including complete bleeding of the brake fluid, drain of the radiator and transmission and an oil change. So 1-2K for a brake job is ridiculous, either they are bullshitting you or you're bullshitting me. The only way I can see a maintenence stop costing so much is if they got everything tuned up from the tires to the rear view mirror, then had to replace parts like a CV boot or a coil pack.
Brake jobs on a VW, or most consumer cars for that matter don't cost anywhere near two thousand dollars, unless something has drastically changed since the last time I brought my car in for repair.
As for rotors, who cares about the ability to turn them? Rotors are disposable parts on cars now. Why turn them when I can just replace all of them with brand new parts for mabey $40 a rotor?
Volvos and Saabs are historically extremely expensive cars to maintain, but nothing near what you speak of. Older saabs and volvos are expensive, but that's mostly because parts are as readily accessable as F150 parts.
Jeff7
Lifer
Well sure a smaller car is more likely to be less safe in a crash. That's simple physics of interacting bodies. But by that logic, you should get reinforced bumpers, a stronger frame....or maybe just buy a military-grade Hummer and be done with it. If you're in a crash, you'll survive, but anyone else involved will be toast.
Driving 80 miles a day and getting 15 MPG would cost you around $160 a month extra in gas over something that got 30MPG on the highway. (at $3.00 a gallon prices)
If it got 40MPG like a Corolla does, then the savings would go up to $200 a month. Again, assuming $3.00 a gallon.
$200 a month...just in savings....IS a car payment for a used vehicle that gets that milage. Maint on a newer Civic/Corolla is going to be negligible compared to a higher milage vehicle of any make/model. Wear and tear parts need to be replaced on any car.
If it got 40MPG like a Corolla does, then the savings would go up to $200 a month. Again, assuming $3.00 a gallon.
$200 a month...just in savings....IS a car payment for a used vehicle that gets that milage. Maint on a newer Civic/Corolla is going to be negligible compared to a higher milage vehicle of any make/model. Wear and tear parts need to be replaced on any car.
Zenmervolt
Elite member
A computer re-flash is a two-minute job that most dealers will do for free. It involves hooking a scan tool to the OBD-II port and pressing a button. Aside from a re-flash, a competant mechanic that specializes in the brand of car should be able to diagnose and fix any computer problem. The OBD-II codes are published and easily available, and the parts can be ordered by any mechanic. Her mechanic may be sending her to the dealer, but aside from the re-flash there's there's nothing that he could not do.
The story about the rotors is great, but that doesn't really tell me anything. What was the thickness of the rotors she wanted to turn? What is the minimum thickness? What is the stock thickness? I guarantee that the stock thickness is more than the minimum thickness, which means that they can be turned IF they are not warped severely or otherwise damaged from waiting too long to change the brake pads.
Yes, you need a dealer to cut a key from the VIN because the factory won't release that information to anyone else, but cutting a key from the VIN is always a case of "the owner is a dumbass and lost the key". There is absolutely no reason that an owner who pays attention to things will ever need to have a key cut from the VIN.
So yes, you've found the only two reasons you'd need a dealer over a private shop: A computer re-flash (which is a free service at many dealers, and certainly not more than $20 at the places that have a minimum labor charge) and having a key cut from the VIN (which would only be needed if the owner is a dipsh*t and loses the keys).
ZV
soydios
Platinum Member
Keep it maintained well. Don't carry unnecessary stuff around. Don't use the air conditioning. And above all, AVOID SUDDEN CHANGES IN SPEED.
The best definition of the American attitude on the road is this: "hurry up and wait." You can floor it to the next stop light, then brake ######### you get there, or you can gently accelerate and coast the rest of the way there. If your accelerator pedal is going past halfway down on a regular basis, you've got a problem. I can usually get an extra 2-3 MPG on each tank by conciously driving at a reduced intensity.
I'm the kind of person that keeps up the pace (70-80 MPH on the freeway), but keeps a long following distance. This way, I have a large buffer zone, so I don't have to use the brakes so much. This is especially important in stop-and-go traffic. If you accelerate to catch up to the car in front of you, then have to hit the brakes to avoid hitting them, you're just wasting gas. Just put the car in drive, and let it idle. It'll slowly accelerate to 10 MPH on level ground without you even touching the accelerator.
Other than getting a new car, though, all you can do is change your driving habits to improve efficiency.
Just an FYI: as a general rule, any third-party devices you buy to increase your fuel economy will only make it worse. Car engines are extremely finely designed by some very smart people.
The best definition of the American attitude on the road is this: "hurry up and wait." You can floor it to the next stop light, then brake ######### you get there, or you can gently accelerate and coast the rest of the way there. If your accelerator pedal is going past halfway down on a regular basis, you've got a problem. I can usually get an extra 2-3 MPG on each tank by conciously driving at a reduced intensity.
I'm the kind of person that keeps up the pace (70-80 MPH on the freeway), but keeps a long following distance. This way, I have a large buffer zone, so I don't have to use the brakes so much. This is especially important in stop-and-go traffic. If you accelerate to catch up to the car in front of you, then have to hit the brakes to avoid hitting them, you're just wasting gas. Just put the car in drive, and let it idle. It'll slowly accelerate to 10 MPH on level ground without you even touching the accelerator.
Other than getting a new car, though, all you can do is change your driving habits to improve efficiency.
Just an FYI: as a general rule, any third-party devices you buy to increase your fuel economy will only make it worse. Car engines are extremely finely designed by some very smart people.
Hey hey hey..that's a harsh assumption to make there....people loose things occasionally. That's just they way things are sometimes. In my case, I've had my jacket (with my keys in it) stolen from me so I then had to make a run to a dealership to get a key cut from the VIN.
Either way, its something you want to avoid, that's for sure..
OP- have you taken a look at the Dodge Caliber? Its a "smaller" car, but it has done really well in the crash test ratings (front and rollover) recently. Drives like a bigger car too. Gas milage on one with a real engine is 23/26 (according to Dodge)....
If you're 16, you probably want to look ahead a couple of years to college too. These suckers have a lot of room to haul your junk to and from school.
I had a Sentra in colleg (Spec V- a TON of fun to drive) but I always wished I had something with more space come moving time....
Zenmervolt
Elite member
They stole the spare key that you had at your house too? Please don't tell me that you only had one set of keys for the car. Getting a second copy made if the car only came with one key should be the first thing you do after taking possession of the vehicle. And were you mugged? Or did you leave your jacket laying somewhere with your keys in it instead of on your person where they should have been?
Still looks 100% preventable to me with minimal foresight on your part.
ZV
EightySix Four
Diamond Member
My dad really doesn't give a ****** about crash test ratings. The jetta has side airbags etc, but he really doesn't seem to care. So you guys can get an idea, he drives an H2.
When he asked what I spent all my money on, I told him food and gas.
He told me to eat less. (I'm 6'5 178)
When he asked what I spent all my money on, I told him food and gas.
He told me to eat less. (I'm 6'5 178)
BoomerD
No Lifer
Maintain the car properly. Oil changes, tire pressure and rotation, use synthetic oils in all compartments, change the air filter when it needs it, not when you happen to remember. Drive between 55 and 65 for the best mileage on the highway, avoid stop/start traffic where you can, no "jackrabbit starts"...al will help to increase mileage, but none are a magic bullet to get you 35+ mpg with an engine that was built to get 20 or less...
If you're stuck with the car, you're stuck with the fuel expenses...
Have you considered public transportation coupled with a bicycle? Not the most convenient, but thousands if not millions of Americans do it daily...
If you're stuck with the car, you're stuck with the fuel expenses...
Have you considered public transportation coupled with a bicycle? Not the most convenient, but thousands if not millions of Americans do it daily...
EightySix Four
Diamond Member
Unfortunately, I live in the midle of frickin no where... so public transportation is non-existant
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