As done as projects get!

Poor but fat and happy. You don’t have to justify it with me!

At which point you could buy a small warehouse full of them.

Not to mention the cost of upkeep, insurance, and storage. Then again, if the cost was worth it to just look at it all this time, then you do you.

For $7k you got a deal.

Right? After three years of enjoying the thing my eye starts to wander. Incidentally, that’s usually around the time the project is “done”...hmm

I think they’re great because it challenges our long-standing beliefs and gets us talking about it. The one about brake rotors was a pretty big revelation for me. Not only did I learn that warping isn’t what’s actually happening, it made me much more comfortable buying middle-priced rotors from a reputable name (which…

That’s a good point, and feels like the course of action I’d be most comfortable with. Then you ensure you get a good shot of the plate and you give them a second chance to rethink things. If he starts going crazy, back off. I once did the same thing with a drunk driver I came across on the highway and have wondered…

I should say I completely understand the impulse, but it feels like it’s in the same vein as instructing bank employees to let robbers take the money and get out without interfering.

I would think that chasing someone down would cause them to take more risks than if they weren’t being pursued. Unless you’re planning on shooting out their tires or ramming them off the road, what purpose does following them serve?

$100 says the engine break-in procedure was not followed.

Yes! My Volvo has its fair share and a tool to help track them down is definitely worth a try.

Well damn, despite my best efforts, I learned something today. You’re right that it’s caused by buildup on the rotor, and it seems to be caused by overheating and/or poor bedding. I’m still not totally convinced that cheap rotors are the same as the middle-ground priced ones, but you’ve introduced enough doubt for me…

Depends, is the car European?

D’oh! Wishful thinking I guess. Everything else being equal, I go with high mileage blends if possible. At best they’ll do things like help soften seals and stop leaks (and potentially future leaks), at worst it’ll do nothing.

Agreed. Harbor Freight is a good starting point (and usually ending point) for most tools.

Agreed, except for flare nut wrenches. Do NOT buy cheap flare nut wrenches. They’ll expand and round the entire brake line fitting quicker than you can curse its maker. And then they’ve not only not done their job, they’ve created a non-trivial trip to the mechanic.

Agreed. If you live in San Diego, it just doesn’t matter. If you live somewhere where rain/sleet/snow is a most-days occurrence, spring for the good stuff! My experience is that while their longevity isn’t much better, they do a much better job of wiping.

I don’t totally agree, but you’re definitely onto something. They’re not all the same, though you certainly don’t need the most expensive ones. There’s lots of differences in the metal used, casting processes, etc. Cheap, bottom of the barrel rotors tend to warp like crazy and need to be replaced a lot sooner than…

I get the High Mileage on Amazon for ~$23 for 5 gallons, though I’m a Prime member so I don’t pay for shipping