New cars are expensive—and keeping the one you already own isn’t cheap either. Ron shares real-world stories from the shop that show just how tight dollars are right now, including a Kia minivan nearly hit with a $1,500 repair that turned out to be loose battery terminals and a worn-out battery.

The bigger lesson? You can’t diagnose anything until you fix the basics. Ron also breaks down when it makes sense to repair versus replace, why four- and five-year-old vehicles suddenly get costly, and why the purchase price is only the cost of admission—maintenance is the real bill.

In a time when everyone’s counting nickels, smart diagnostics and honest advice matter more than ever. Good mechanics aren’t expensive… they’re priceless.

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