as the title says my car is down for probably all of this week. I brought the car in to get an oil change and to have the cats and O2 sensors looked at and now I've found out that there is a lot more wrong with the car.

1 - Oil Change
2 - O2 sensors
2 - Front axles
2 - Tire rod ends
1 - Checked thermostat

My grand total a little over $1300. so to say the least I'm now broke, and I don't have my car for at least the rest of this week.

 

I'll say what someone else is for sure going to say - some of that is DIY work that you could have saved a lot on.

Oil change is really easy and should only cost about 35-40 with synthetic and take about an hour total.

O2 sensors I have never done so I can't really say, but here's some info on them:
http://www.audiworld.com/tech/eng101.shtml

Tie rod end - I have never done but it doesn't look too bad -
http://www.audiworld.com/tech/wheel29.shtml


Hope it's not too late, but another way to save money with mechanics is to buy the parts and bring them in yourself - if the mechanic will let you. They will likely charge more for labour but I find that you come out ahead if you can't or don't have time to do the work yourself. I get my parts at ecstuning. Perfect example - wheel bearing if they got it was like 200 or 250, I got it for 60 shipped.

 

Parts:
1- Oil change = $40 max with full syntheitc and oil filter
2- 02 Sensors = $180ish for both pre cat sensors (oxygensensors.com)
3- Front axles = $70ish from autozone or $120ish from anywhere else= $240
4- TRE's= $100 for both (purems.com)

So you got around $560 in parts alone. With the difference being $700+ in labor, I'm guessing your car is either at the dealer, or you are getting taken for a ride by someone else. You could do all of this work yourself you know? If I were you I'd get the parts and spend the $700+ saved in labor on tools to prevent this kind of situation in the future.

 

the only problem with doing DIY, is that i am currently at college with no real car working area. Also i dont really know my way around cars that well nor do i personally own the tools necessary to do the work on my car.