The Bill

[nlbarber]

Diagnosis: cracked radiator and dead thermostat. $800+ to replace both. Further testing revealed no engine damage "at this time". Hmmm.

Also spotted: broken engine mount, burned out brake light bulb, leaking oil pan gasket. I debated briefly about postponing the gasket replacement, but went ahead. At least the bulb replacement was cheap.

Grand total: $1350. Let's not count the AAA upgrade for extra towing, the rental car, and the extra parking at the airport.

Comments

[mmegaera.livejournal.com]

So how come my Mazda was a PITA from day one, and died after less than five years???

[sunlizzard.livejournal.com]

Ummm. Dang. Musta been a later model? Just didn't have good Car Karma? I dunno, but I'm sorry you had such a rotten experience with it.

I've had four Mazdas (that I personally owned, not just shared) and they were all excellent. I still have the 1984 626, previously mentioned, and a 1976 Cosmo, which is in the back yard, slowly sinking back to nature. How I wish I could've had the $$$ to restore that rare beauty, but I never did. *sobs*

[mmegaera.livejournal.com]

I'm back to American-made cars again (current critter is an 05 Ford Focus), and I have to say I'm happier with this car than I ever was with the Mazda. I'm becoming ever more firmly convinced that it's not the make of the car, it's what day of the week it went through the assembly line and how the assembly line folks were holding their mouths on the day it was built that matters.