AMC Eagle

[MadMan]

You got screwed by that mechanic, dude. Never authorize a tear down of a transmission or something terribly major like that. Once they've taken it apart, they've got you by the balls and can charge you anything they like (like $3500 for a simple old fashioned transmission), because it's in their shop and it's in pieces. You gotta pay them to tear it down whether or not you OK'd the repair, and if you decide to take it somewhere else, it'll be in pieces and the next mechanic will charge you more because of it, plus the towing. A trans on that is maybe a $2000 job, perhaps up to $2500, but too late now.

Also, why would you swear off automatic transmissions? Do you have ANY idea how much money it costs to rebuild a manual transmission? LOL you funny guy! Last manual transmission I rebuilt was maybe $4-5k, and MY prices are actually reasonable.

You really should have consulted somebody before letting your mechanic tear it down. However, all things considered, you're not doing too terribly. So you paid a little too much for the car, had some bad luck, and paid a little too much for a repair. Really, you're not too far behind. My advice, keep that car in good shape, because you're in it for the long haul now. And next problem you have with it, shop around.

[dieseljeep]

Originally Posted by MadMan

You got screwed by that mechanic, dude. Never authorize a tear down of a transmission or something terribly major like that. Once they've taken it apart, they've got you by the balls and can charge you anything they like (like $3500 for a simple old fashioned transmission), because it's in their shop and it's in pieces. You gotta pay them to tear it down whether or not you OK'd the repair, and if you decide to take it somewhere else, it'll be in pieces and the next mechanic will charge you more because of it, plus the towing. A trans on that is maybe a $2000 job, perhaps up to $2500, but too late now.

Also, why would you swear off automatic transmissions? Do you have ANY idea how much money it costs to rebuild a manual transmission? LOL you funny guy! Last manual transmission I rebuilt was maybe $4-5k, and MY prices are actually reasonable.

You really should have consulted somebody before letting your mechanic tear it down. However, all things considered, you're not doing too terribly. So you paid a little too much for the car, had some bad luck, and paid a little too much for a repair. Really, you're not too far behind. My advice, keep that car in good shape, because you're in it for the long haul now. And next problem you have with it, shop around.

Aren't prices a lot higher in Canada? Maybe it isn't as high as we think.

[WISCOJIM]

Originally Posted by dieseljeep

Aren't prices a lot higher in Canada? Maybe it isn't as high as we think.

Good point, Dave!

Today a Canadian dollar is worth only 77 cents here in the U.S.

So MIPS' $3500CDN is only $2,700 in US dollars.

.

[quaddriver]

Originally Posted by MadMan

Also, why would you swear off automatic transmissions? Do you have ANY idea how much money it costs to rebuild a manual transmission? LOL you funny guy! Last manual transmission I rebuilt was maybe $4-5k, and MY prices are actually reasonable.

.

couple hundred on an M50d, a little less for an SROD, 3G for a vw M6...it all depends

[MadMan]

Originally Posted by quaddriver

couple hundred on an M50d, a little less for an SROD, 3G for a vw M6...it all depends

Dude, I'm a transmission mechanic, and even I don't know what you're talking about lol.

Also, he already had the trans rebuilt.

[quaddriver]

Originally Posted by MadMan

Dude, I'm a transmission mechanic, and even I don't know what you're talking about lol.

Also, he already had the trans rebuilt.

yes, I had 6 more pages of reading to do, but M5OD is a mazda built, ford used 5spd with overdrive from the 80s 90s etc, SROD is also a ford et al used 3spd + od used with many gearsets and many forms everywhere - ford, jeep etc and the VW trans is the 6spd they adopted in mid 00's what has to have the input bearings replaced from the inside and is a miserable biotch to work on. point is, the first 2 manuals, inout, output bearings, seals, bushings etc, excluding hard parts like gears are only a couple hundred in parts and a few hours of your life and most people can do them on their front porch while sipping mint juleps.

[MIPS]

I hope that damn transmission never gives me another problem ever again, or in the next 80000km.

[MadMan]

Originally Posted by quaddriver

point is, the first 2 manuals, inout, output bearings, seals, bushings etc, excluding hard parts like gears are only a couple hundred in parts and a few hours of your life and most people can do them on their front porch while sipping mint juleps.

You misunderstand. I'm a legit transmission mechanic. I was trying to say that paying a proper mechanic to R&R and rebuild a manual transmission is an expensive thing nowadays. Parts may be only a couple hundred, but that's also true of automatic transmissions. It's really just a market thing, nobody rebuilds manual's anymore, so the going rate has gone way up.

Not to mention the fact that, no, MOST people could not, in fact, rebuild any transmission on their porch. At least, not if my imbecile customers are any indication of the average motorist's intelligence.

[Jon A.]

Originally Posted by MadMan

You misunderstand. I'm a legit transmission mechanic. I was trying to say that paying a proper mechanic to R&R and rebuild a manual transmission is an expensive thing nowadays. Parts may be only a couple hundred, but that's also true of automatic transmissions. It's really just a market thing, nobody rebuilds manual's anymore, so the going rate has gone way up.

Not to mention the fact that, no, MOST people could not, in fact, rebuild any transmission on their porch. At least, not if my imbecile customers are any indication of the average motorist's intelligence.

Now the cost of rebuilding manuals makes sense to me.

Just about anyone who drives the newest cars and can't turn a wrench--or even use their mirrors--is an imbecile. Any imbecile who can use a manual at all probably burns them up pretty fast.

[dieseljeep]

Originally Posted by Jon A.

Now the cost of rebuilding manuals makes sense to me.

Just about anyone who drives the newest cars and can't turn a wrench--or even use their mirrors--is an imbecile. Any imbecile who can use a manual at all probably burns them up pretty fast.

I had to have a clutch replaced once, but not a manual transmission. The pressure plate went bad, too much city driving.