"TeGGeR®" <tegger@tegger.c0m> wrote in message
news:Xns9682D31F27B3Etegger@207.14.113.17...
> http://www.tegger.com/hondafaq/appraisal/index.html
>
> --
> TeGGeR®
>
> The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
> www.tegger.com/hondafaq/

I like it. It reminds me of the appraisal given by Mark Salem, of Salem
Brothers auto repair in the Phoenix area. He was on the radio, doing a show
on car care and repair, when somebody asked whether Mark thought the car was
worth a major repair.

Mark Salem's appraisal was: figure the lease payments for a car to provide
the service your car is providing - compact, full size, van, etc. Then
compare it against the cost of repair. For example, if facing a $1500
transmission repair and a replacement lease car is $300 per month, after
five months the transmission repair is water under the bridge and you are
saving $300 per month (less other repair costs). Leave routine maintenance
costs out of the picture, because all cars need that.

I also like the preventive repairs you mention. It took me a while, but I
finally came around to the "overhaul" approach. One CV boot torn? The other
side isn't far behind so that's a good time to do both sides. The increase
in reliability is amazing when half the repairs are done before there is
actually a failure.

Mike