All About Car

Today, I just spent $624.57 at a Honda dealership to get rid of a noise I kept on hearing from underneath the car, especially when I was stepping on the break. *crying like a baby*

At first, I thought that noise was normal since I didn't get to drive my car for about a month while I was away on vacation. I remember that back then my old car also had some kind of noise while had not been driven for awhile. But it disappeared in a couple of days. However, this noise on this new used car I just bought a year ago somehow didn't go away after I had been driving it again for more than a month now. So I decided to get it checked at the dealership, since my mechanic told me that it was supposed to be covered under warranty, especially I also bought an extended one. He told me that the noise came not from the break (which I was assuming), but from the tires.

However, after a check up at the dealership, they said that the problem was on the break. The rear
breaks and rear rotors must be replaced, as well as the front breaks. And these are not under warranty. Total would be around $850+. After having thought about it for awhile, and having to pay $150 for the service fee to diagnose the problem if I don't get it done over there, I agreed to just replace the rear break and the rotors for $576+ tax.

It hurts!!! I don't know what to do but to trust them on this one with that much money. How come this happened to Honda? I thought Honda was very trustworthy, but I already have to replace the break while my millage hasn't even reached 25,000 yet?!?!?!?!?!  Ridiculous, huh?!?!? Could it be back then when I first purchased the car, I didn't look carefully enough?? Since none of my brother, husband, and myself knows anything about car engine much. I honestly was not very pleased when I bought this car. But I was somehow in an urgent need.

A couple of lessons to learn when buying a used car, aside from doing research online about the pricing, we must:
1. Open up the hood and listen to the engine's running.
2. Check on the radio, speakers, CD player, Bluetooth, AC's.
3. Check all the body parts, look for any damage. If there is any damage, and they agree to fix it completely, PUT IN WRITING!! DO NOT trust used car salesmen only based on their words!! I was very disappointed by the sales people at the Paragon HONDA dealership I purchased my car from. They didn't keep their words. And they didn't care about customer's satisfaction. One key to remember, DON'T make any transaction before all damages are fixed!!
4. Be very quiet while test driving to be able to listen to the engine very carefully.
5. Test drive more than 1 car, to compare with the one you are interested in.
6. Open and close all the windows, sunroof, and moon-roof several times, to make sure that all windows are stern.
7. Before making any payment, check the car again entirely ONE MORE TIME!! From test drive, speakers, and any damages, engine, windows, tires, etc. Make sure you get what you are paying for.
8. Always get the manual, to keep in mind what's covered under warranty, what's not.
9. If you have a personal mechanic you can trust, it is always best to bring the car to your mechanic while doing the test drive, to check the breaks, tires and all the engine underneath more carefully.

Next task is I have to get the front break replacement at my mechanic's place, asap.

I hope this car would not give any more problem that causes me to spend this much ever again. *fingers crossed*

But no matter what we spend, most important thing is how we drive and take care of it.
Drive responsibly and the car will safely bring us to anywhere we want to go. :)



Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
     But trust Him for His grace;
Behind a frowning providence
     He hides a smiling face.  
                           - William Cowper