Ellemental

When I bought my first car, I took it to the same mechanic that my grandfather had used since the 50s or so.  The mechanic, who worked out of a small one-bay garage on his farm, told me that he couldn’t do anything with the “damnable computers on these new cars”, but would keep my oil changed, keep it lubed up, and fix whatever he could.  He rocked.

When I bought my first brand new car from a dealer, my mechanic had retired, so I started taking my car to the dealer for service.  Now, I know some people are anti-dealer for service, but I’ll be honest with you…I don’t know anything about cars, and I don’t WANT to know anything about cars.  The dealer sent me little reminder letters based on the estimated miles on my car, I called, made an appointment, and they did what needed to be done.  I just trusted that they weren’t ripping me off, and actually, for 5 years I had a great relationship with them.

When it was time to buy yet another new car, I wanted a Mazda.  I went to the only Mazda dealer in a 50 mile radius and got my 3.  Cool deal.  I felt guilty going to the new dealer for service, but hey…that’s the way I roll.  Or it WAS the way I rolled until I got a new job.  When I got a new job, my hours became much less flexible, and I wasn’t able to leave early or come in late or take a long lunch for car maintenance.  When I called the dealer to ask about evening hours the service guy laughed.  As I tried every alternative I could think of to get my car in for a simple fucking oil change, the guy became plain old rude.  He didn’t care if I gave them my business or not.  So I decided to not.  When I found out later that that dealer offers shuttle service specifically for people in my situation and the service guy didn’t tell me about it?  Oh yeah, I would NEVER go back there.

The problem is, of course, that NO ONE close has evening hours.  (I hadn’t even considered Jiffy Lube, Marie…I’ll have to check and see if there is one in this area).   I finally called my former service people at the previous dealer, because even though they were 40 minutes away from work, they DO have evening hours.  They set me up for an appointment post haste.  No problemo.  Well, ONE problemo.  They can do the oil change, no sweat.  They cannot get me on a regular maintenance schedule (with reminders and all) because they aren’t a Mazda dealer.  Now, I understand.  Sort of.  But what I can’t understand is how they can’t have some simple, generic  20 point checkup or something like that…brakes, fluids, tires, etc.  I will sacrifice the windshield wiper blades replaced every 10000 miles on the dot for just the peace of mind of knowing that all the major components of my car are safe.  The problem is, I don’t know what to ask them to do.  I guess there’s some kind of chart in my owners manual, huh?
I am totally pining for the good old days of the one bay garage on the farm.

On the bright, less flighty, side, I am indeed getting an oil change, and although I haven’t specifically requested it, I THINK they will let me know if there is something seriously wrong, like my engine is going to fall out.

So – I’m up and moving again.  Heading (eventually) toward Philly.