So here's the story...(long)

Saturday...notice my muffler is getting loud so stop in to Midas to have them have a look...they tell me that I need everything from the front pipe back replaced to the tune of $800+ dollars...I don't think so. So soon I'm pulling my motor out of my STD and the exhaust on that is still good with a brand new front pipe on it...might need a muffler, but that's no big deal. $800 my ass!

...I knew that I had to change the wheel bearing in my right front (getting a loud roar at high speeds when I turn right), so Sunday I swap out the hub assembly, tie rod end and axle from my smashed STD. My buddy and I take it for a test drive...not as bad but still making a "rubbing/roaring" sound. We go back to his garage and discover that the wheel bearing on the drivers side needs to be done too...make plans to do this on Monday night.

Monday go into Midas to make an appointment for an alignment on Tuesday, I noticed that they only charged $39.95 for an alignment when I was there on Saturday.

Today I go in to get my alignment...I get back after I go for lunch and they tell me it's not done because I need a left front tie rod end, a left upper control arm assembly, and a right inner tie rod...give me a quote...almost $900!!! WTF!?!? ($720 in parts before tax!)

Call around the city this afternoon and get the exact same parts (mind you not lifetime warranty, but I really don't care) and get the SAME parts for $163.00...with tax! So tonight over to my buddy's garage and change everything they said I needed...I figured I needed the tie rod end but I am sure that there was nothing wrong with the control arm...but changed it anyway. I didn't change the inner tie rod because my buddy and I could find absolutely nothing wrong with it. Total time: 4 hours, Total cost: $163.00 CDN.

Remember the muffler...while I had the car up I was looking at the muffler...there is about a 1.5" (vertical) hole in the pipe near a bend (not on the bend) about a foot from the muffler after the first bend from the straight pipe...not one other thing wrong with the exhaust...maybe needs a muffler...had planned on changing that anyway. They had me changing the whole exhaust for a 1.5" hole!!!

So tomorrow I am gonna take my car to another place while I finish my Christmas shopping and have them do an alignment...if they don't even mention the inner tie rod...jesus i'm gonna be pissed. Plus, I'm gonna see if they can either weld this hole in the exhaust or put in another piece of pipe to fix it and weld that in there...if they can...then I'm reeeaally gonna be pissed.

Midas tried to get almost $2K out of me and they didn't need too...and this was the first time I walked through their door...that was the worst first impression I've ever had at anywhere I've taken a car. If it turns out the way I am hoping tomorrow...I have half a mind to go back to Midas and tell them just that!

Thank-you for letting me vent...but damn, that just pissed me off!

Jason