My Local Dealer's Shop Rate - WOW!

[Jeffkin]

What both of you read about is nothing new been going on since the 70-80's and 70% is accurate number.
I call it the keeping up with the Jones's Personal Finance Plan. It started with folks coming of age in the 80's, financial institutions labeled it the instant gratification generation and nothing has changed since. Prior to, it was taught if you couldn't pay cash for it, wait save your money till you could. In the 80's Credit Card interest was tax deductible Fed and State. That set the hook in alot of folks mouths, financial institutions realized this and ran with it.
Glad I never lived that way, I always since I was 20 had a E(mergancy) Fund.
If this 70% pop would live within their means they wouldn't be having problems, though finacial institutions would hate it.

So true! I graduated HS in '87, got a job while going to college and got a credit card. I started shopping like crazy on it, FREE MONEY it felt like! I racked up almost $3K and when I got the bills, I thought "this is going to take me forever to pay back" Got real scared, paid it off and have lived within my means ever since.

Finally got out of the West San Jose area last year, lived there my whole life! North County of San Diego area is NICE and cheap compared to the Bay Area! Great beaches are only 4 miles away, no more Hwy 17 runs to try and get to Santa Cruz!

 

[96RedRunner]

Home prices and rents are so unaffordable. Luckily I own my home, San Jose where I live has been ranked in the top 5 as the they least affordable housing markets in the world.

You def are telling the truth there. You ever hear of Morgan Hill, CA?
Have long time friends living there, visited there alot over last 30+ yr.
They bought their house in 1980 couple years later dropped a half mil+ for a remodel told them they were crazy. Not, that place now and prices are through the roof. CA is a beautiful place, cool people great place to visit.

 

[wettRunner]

I took my 99 in to the stealership to confirm a diagnosis of a cracked flexplate.

After 2 hours and $100 for an inspection, they told me it was a rod knock...
They quoted me over $5,000 for a "new" engine/ installation.

Having less than that invested in the truck, I bought OEM parts online, and took it to a JDM specialty shop in town.

They charged $500 for labor, and even swapped the u-joint in the front for the cost of parts.

They estimated 1, maybe 2 days, and it ended up taking 2.5 days.

 

[Jeffkin]

You def are telling the truth there. You ever hear of Morgan Hill, CA?
Have long time friends living there, visited there alot over last 30+ yr.
They bought their house in 1980 couple years later dropped a half mil+ for a remodel told them they were crazy. Not, that place now and prices are through the roof. CA is a beautiful place, cool people great place to visit.

My wife's boss has a little vineyard in his Morgan Hill backyard. Had us over for dinner and a tasting, YUM!!