The Wrench in the Wallet Car Repairs and Affordability in 2025

It's something we most of us, I should say, all possess, and it's not a necessity. In most cases, it's a fundamental need to living. We're going to talk about car ownership in twenty twenty five and ky repair. Can you afford to have one studios for that? Hey, everybody, and welcome back to the program. Welcome to White's Thoughts. I'm your host, Terry Weiss. Welcome to our virtual camplires sit down. So glad you decided to spend some of your valuable time with me here today on the program. And remember, you can listen to each and every episode of this podcast by going to Weissthoughts dot com. Just make sure you spell my name right, okay, WYC. That's Weiss's Thoughts dot com. There you can listen to all the episodes, comment on a show, et cetera. And if you want to reach out to me directly, it's Terry T. E. R. R. Y at Weisssthoughts dot com. Make sure you check us out on the internet, look for us on Instagram at Weiss Productions. So much more, and don't forget to visit our parent website and the proud sponsors one of the power up sponsors of this program, Purple Pitch Studios by going to Purplepitchstudios dot com. All right, so let's get into the program today, shall we welcome? Welcome one and all to another episode of Whiit's Thoughts. I'm Terry Weiss. I am so glad that you are here. And today we're talking about one of the biggest necessities and the biggest financial headaches for many of US car ownership. Yeah, that's right, car ownership. Specifically, we're looking at car repairs and the overall affordability of keeping a set of wheels in twenty twenty five. Now it feels like every time you take your vehicle in, the bill just keeps. Doesn't It seem like it's bigger and bigger. The technology is getting more complicated, and the anxiety level goes through the roof. I mean, if you're like me, you know, and you have some check engine light comes on, right, You're just like, oh man, oh no, right, You're like, how much is this gonna cost me? But you know, if you want to get anywhere, whether it's to your job, you know, going shopping, I mean, what have you now? I know some of you are going to say all right, Terry, hang on, hang on just a second. There, t We've got Uber, you've got door Dash, you've got things like you know, these big companies like Walmart and Amazon delivering groceries right to your door. Right, Okay, I'll give you that. I will give you that. But for many of us, having a vehicle is a necessity, you know, going to doctor's appointments in that because have you looked at the prices to take a ride in an uber lately? If you're going over ten miles or fifteen miles to get to an appointment or a destination. Holy mackerel. I mean, your taxicabs are less expensive and maybe in some cases safer, who knows, you know, some would tend to argue with me on that, but you know, let's just do this. Let's get right to the data. I mean, owning a vehicle today is a massive expense. And it's not just the purchase price, my friends. According to A Triples as the latest data analysis, the total cost of owning and operating a new vehicle is sitting at a hefty eleven thousand, five hundred and seventy seven dollars per year, or nearly one thousand dollars a month. One thousand dollars a month, man, that's a lot of bread. That figure accounts for everything depreciation, gas, insurance, and of course maintenance and repairs. The real kick, though, in the gut, is how much the repair costs have spiked. Just taking some data here that I'm looking at from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, it notes that the average cost to repair and maintain a vehicles jumped forty percent since twenty nineteen. Forty percent. That's a that's a massive increase. I mean, we're looking at a national average repair bill that can quickly hit eight hundred to the thousand dollars mark, and for over half of the drivers, a sudden four figure bill is simply unaffordable without dipping into savings or worse, going into debt. So why are these costs so high? Well, I think it's a combination of factors. The main culprit is modern vehicle. Modern vehicles. They are so complex, the complexity of a modern vehicle. We're not really driving cars. I heard somebody say, we're not really driving cars, Terry, We're driving computers with four wheels. And I'm kind of tending to agree with them. Our cars are essentially rolling computers. And think about the a minor fender bender. Think about this, A simple bumper used to be a simple fix, but now that bumper is riddled with expensive sensors, radar units for blind spot moditoring, cameras for lane help assist. A small tap that used to cost a couple hundred bucks now could lead to a repair in the thousands just to replace and recalibrate all of that sophisticated technology. It's a huge shift, it really is, and it's why a seemingly minor accident can trigger a major financial hit. Then you have the parts. Mechanics are increasingly recommended. Original equipment manufacturer parts are what they call OEM in the industry. I'm sure you've heard that OEM original equipment manufacturer parts, the exact parts your car was built with, over cheaper but sometimes less reliable after market options. With the global supply chain issues and inflation, even the OEM parts are becoming harder to source quickly, and they become much more expensive. And then, finally, of course everyone's favorite, the specialized labor. Fixing a modern car requires highly trained technicians who know how to work with these complex systems that expertise commands a higher hourly rate. It's simple economics. That's so simple to us out here right paying the bills though. I love the I love the diagnostic charge. Do you like that one when you go to a dealership or a repair shop, Well, that's gonna run you one hundred bucks just to put it, you know, plug that computer in. One hundred dollars just to plug it into the computer and have it look at it and say, eh, well you know that's that's to me, that's one of the biggest scams going. You're plugging. It's like it's like saying someone comes to your house and said, hey, you gotta give me twenty bucks. Why twenty bucks and I'll turn on the light. I mean, the diagnostic charge should be it should be a gratuitou complimentary. That's the word. I'm looking for a little sip of a beverage there to with the pipes. I mean, that's that's just my opinion. I mean, I understand these machines cost money, but come on, you're making a killing on these parts and labor, and then you gotta like I've said on many episodes, and you can look back at the White Thoughts podcast here on your favorite podcast provider, at the website at weis thoughts dot com. Everybody's trying to get their hand in your pocket these days. It seems like over the past couple of years, they're really just I mean, from internet providers, streamers, you know, restaurants, everything, And why shouldn't auto repair facilities be any different, I guess, trying to get their hands in your pocket for that last frickin' nickel you got. I don't know, and you know, the stress point is is the unexpected repairs. The real affordability crisis isn't the oil change, it's the unexpected major repair bill. And that's why you've got dozens of these repair companies. If you don't buy a factory warranty through the manufacturer, if you buy your vehicle these aftermarketplaces like Carshield and et cetera. That's the first one that comes to my mind because that's the one I see fifty thousand commercials for his car shield. But holy Macro, and then that's that's on time of you know, if you're paying a car loan back, if you don't know in your vehicle outright, and now you're paying a car payment, and if it's out of warranty, you can either buy a warranty through the manufacturer or through the dealership which is really high in some or most cases, or these aftermarket companies. And you got a payment, and you know your warranty payment and a car payment. Holy crap, you know how much? There's only so much people have right, only so much. But like I said, the real affordability crisis isn't the oil change and the tire rotations and you know, tires and brakes. People expect that it's the unexpected major repair, a transmission failing, a catalytic converter being stolen, rather or needing replacement. These are the nightmare bills. The average used car loan interest rate is still quite high too, meaning that many people are already paying premium just to finance the ride. When a four thousand dollars repair bill lands on top of a high monthly payment, it quickly can force a painful choice to I fix it or do I try and trade it in for another expensive car payment. Well, here's where my perspective here at Wye Thoughts, our perspective comes in the situation highlights a profound need for proactive financial and math mechanical habits. Here's some proactive strategies for your car repair needs. We can't eliminate the cost, but we can manage it. I'm going to give you three practical steps to make car ownership less financially stressful in twenty twenty five and just a bit. But first, I want to talk to you about something really cool. Now, I'm sipping something really delicious here today on the Waste Thoughts podcast, Okay, and when I need to pick me up that won't send me spinning, what I reach for is an Aspire Healthy Energy drink. Now, these are made from green tea. Okay. And the nice thing about the Aspire Healthy Energy drinks all made from green tea. It's got eighty mailigrams of natural caffeine. It's from pure premium green tea. I mean, that's half the caffeine of your traditional energy drinks. I know a lot of you out there like other brands like Red Bull and all this other stuff, but I'm telling you Aspire Healthy Energy drinks. I found these, and Holy mackerel. The best part, it's refreshingly un extreme energy. You know what that means, no crash, no jitters, and no anxiety. It's a perfect boost. It really, it perks me up. But I'm not all jittery. And you know, and you get that, you know how sometimes when you drink energy drinks, you get that crash. You know, you're like going like crazy and feeling really good, and all of a sudden you're like, you don't get that. With Aspire Energy Drinks, it gets you through the late afternoon meeting or maybe helps you out with the laundry or stuff around the house, or I use them here in the studio sometimes when I'm just trying to keep up and keep up with the day. But the Aspire Energy drink it just great. I mean, and they taste delicious. They got zero sugar, zero calories. Right now, I'm enjoying a crisp strawberry watermelon and I'll tell you they're just phenomenal. Check them out. You're gonna like it. And you know what, I got a special code for you right here. What you want to do is go to Aspire Drinks. Okay, go to Aspire Drinks dot com. That's where you want to head to Aspire Drinks dot com and check them out. They got all kinds of flavors, they got mixed berry healthy, They've got raspberry Akai, they got sweet cherry. Aspire you can get a classic variety pack. I mean, get what you want. They got the watermelon strawberry watermelon. What else I'm seeing here that when I was on the website, I'm trying to think here cranberry. One of my favorites too is the mango lemonade. But they're refreshing, they're delicious, and you know the best thing about them, like I said, you don't get that crash and you don't have to worry about that. Aspire Energy Drinks are phenomenal. I recommend them. I really do. Go to Aspire asp I r E Drinks dot com. And here's a special code for you for're listening to the podcast today. And if you use this code, which is Weiss WYCEE save all one word wyce sa ve, put that in your card upon checkout, and you're going to get twenty percent off your order. All right now, each purchase using the Weiss save coup on it checkout does earn a little bit here for us here at the podcast helps keep the lights on in the studio just so you're aware, all right, But I do drink Aspire Energy Drinks. I came across them and I said, you know what, I really like these. I want to tell people about them. So I reached out and lo and behold. So that's Aspire Energy Drinks. Go to Aspire Drinks dot com. In the checkout, use the code Weiss save Wyce save save all one word to check out, save yourself twenty percent. All right at Weiss's Energy Drinks. Try them. I think you'll like them, and tell them Terry Weiss sent you. All right, sounds like a plan. Let's get back into the program here now, and we're talking about cars and affordability and car repairs, and we're going to talk about, you know, being able to help yourself so you don't get those heavy hits with these car repair bills. And nan, I've had them. You know, we've all had them. That's the thing. And you know we're driving around mini computers in any place you go. It's kind of hard to dodge it. But here's here's three strategies, three practical steps to make car ownership less financially stressful. Here what you want to do was the first thing Number one, become a meticulous planner. Now this means moving away from a wait for it to break mindset, know your owner's manual, set reminders for oil changes and fluid checks, entire rotations. That's one of the biggest things you can do, believe me. And it took me. It took me when I just started driving. One of the things I loved about my parents is that I was check your oil, check your tire. They were on me like that, like crazy. And I'm glad because it has saved me a lot of headaches down the road. Data shows that sticking to a strict maintenance schedule can drastically reduce the frequency of those major unplanned repairs. And my friends, I am living proof of that. It works. Okay, now, think of a simple seventy dollars oil change as an insurance policy against a four thousand dollars engine replacement down the road. Step number two or practical tip number two, the do it yourself fundamentals. We're safe. While you shouldn't mess with your engine er transmission, believe me, I don't. There's things out there like eh, but some simple maintenance can be a huge saver, like checking your own tire pressure, knowing how to top off windshield wash, or fluid or even replacing your own air filters. So those are simple things. And a lot of these are rating your owner's manual or you know what, this big thing we got the internet. You can go out there and do that. It'll show you. We just recently did it on my wife's vehicle. You know, they want to charge you fifty sixty bucks to replace a cabin air filter and thing, it's so simple to do that. Your engine oilfi, your engine air filter, and your cabin air filter. Those things are important, and believe it or not, they do need replacement every now and again, my friends. Yes, these small consistent things and checks our easy fixes to save you time and a mechanics labor charge that's the big thing on those. Plus properly inflated tires is one of the easiest ways to improve your fuel economy. Just look at this satistics. Ask anybody. The third practical tip, start an emergency repair fund. If an average repair think about this is around nine hundred dollars, make it your goal to have that money set aside. Even putting ten twenty thirty forty dollars a month aside will give you a financial buffer for those inevitable issues. It turns a stressful crash or crisis into an expected manageable expense. If you can't afford the average repair cost, you can truly can't afford the car. Think about that and listen. How many people I don't know, I've heard they go to Starbucks or you know these places for their gourmet coffee and they're spending seven bucks on a coffee. Well, you know what if you're going there three or four times a week, my friends, that's anywhere between twenty five to thirty dollars a week you're spending on coffee a week. Now multiply that time's war. So they'd say thirty bucks times four. That's one hundred and twenty bucks a month. Over twelve thousand dollars a year, or twelve hundred dollars year, not twelve thousand. I'm drinking too much of my energy drink. No, it's over a thousand bucks a year. So think about it. Just put twenty twenty five bucks a month aside, you know, skip the skip the Tim Horton's coffee, Skip the you know, the gourmet coffee, the Starbucks, not on one day a week eating out at work. Put that money aside. Just in case and don't touch it all right now, when you do need a big repair, there are ways to save on those as well. First thing you want to do is get multiple quotes. Don't just unless it's an emergency situation and you're in a one horse town and they're the only mechanic there and yeah the end you're kind of stuck. But get multiple quotes. Don't just settle for the first estimate. A reliable, trustworthy, independent shop offen has lower labor rates than a dealership, and I found that to be true, and so's my wife. Second, ask about parts. Sometimes a mechanic can save you hundreds by using high quality aftermarket part that they trust instead of the official OEM part. Be open to that conversation all right now. Next, look for coupons and discounts. There's so many apps out there to offer you a coupon on this and sign up for that and save safe, save Look me many of them, many major auto service claim chains. They offer coupons from everything from break jobs to oil changes and diagnostic fees. Use the internet. A quick online search before you book can save you anywhere from ten to twenty percent immediately. Never be shy either about just asking if they have any current promotions. Just ask. If you can't find ask or say, hey, can you help me out? Can you save me a few bucks? You don't know what you don't know? All right? Always ask Now, Another strategy can use you get future proof by choosing the right vehicle. Finally, if you're in the market for a new or used vehicle, you need to factor in future repair costs. Look at dependability studies. Brands like Lexus, Toyota, and Buick consistently rank high in JD Power's dependability studies, meaning their older vehicles tend to have fewer problems. A car that costs slightly more upfront but it has a reputation for reliability will save you thousands in repairs over its lifespan. Also, be smart about new tech electric vehicles. Evs are improving rapidly, and while their parts are different, their maintenance needs like oil changes are eliminated, could possibly lead to lower routine service costs. Plus, in hybrids you know or plugin rather the plug in hybrids, they are still the most problematic in terms of repairs right now as we're talking about this, I did a little research on those. While standard hybrids have a good track record, so just do your homework and align your purchase with your long term budget. You gotta think long term on a vehicle. So the core takeaway for this episode of Wife's Thoughts on Automobiles and Cars Can you afford it? In twenty twenty five? A vehicle is critical tool for modern life, but its cost is demanding and you have to have a new level of financial mindfulness. We are all passengers in a new area of complex, expensive, computer driven machines. The only way to win the affordability battle is to be proactive, educated, and prepared. Your car is not just a mode of transport. It's an investment that needs scheduled maintenance and a dedicated financial safety net. A little planning now can prevent a major financial disaster the unavoidable clunk finally happen. All right, So that's what I got for you. Thanks for listening to Weis's Thoughts. I'd love to hear your experiences. What's the biggest repair bill you've had this year? What's your best tip for saving money on car maintenance? You can head over to our website at Weis Thoughts dot com. Let me know there's a email forum right in there. Comment on the show itself. Until next time, my friends, be safe and be well. Hey, thanks for listening to the program today. I truly appreciate each and every one of you out there, and remember to see a change in the world, you have to be the change in the world you want to see. It all starts with you, the person looking back at you in the mirror every morning. Remember to be kind to yourself, be kind to others. If you want to tweet at me on Twitter, it's at Terry Weiss. Stop by the website Whis's thoughts dot com just to make sure you spell my name right. Wye wife Thoughts dot com, and hey, leave us a positive rating and review on your favorite podcast provider. Won't you tell your friends, tell your family, tell your pets about White's Thoughts, and I look forward to gathering yet again around the virtual campfire with you real soon. Take care.