Notes on Corolla Repair and Accessories
What follows are notes I’m pretty much keeping for my own reference.
The following prices are according to Repair Pal:
- rear strut replacement (Monroe, Gabriel or similar): $423
- front strut replacement (Monroe, Gabriel or similar): $412
- four-wheel alignment: $92
- front brakes: $440
- rear brakes: $376
- tires (Kumho Solus KR21 205/60R15, 20mm wider and 0.89% larger circumference, and well within margin of error, over stock) $360
Total for service and maintenance items: $2103
This raises the price of the car to the tune of $200 over book value.
FWIW, I’m thinking of going to Dave’s Ultimate. Don doesn’t do suspension or tire work and I want to do all of this in one go. Although Dave’s Ultimate does not sell tires, they mount, balance, &c. and I can drop-ship directly from Tire Rack, Tire Monkey, et al.
Accessories and modifications, largely what I would do to any car I buy:
- seat covers, front and rear in Black Endura by Exact Seat Covers of Ft. Worth: $190
- dashboard cover, although I don’t know which just yet: about $45
- Weathertech “floor liner” by MacNeil: $160
- FilterMAG Oil Filtration Magnets: $40
- Window tint by Sun Tint of Austin. Solar Gard HP Charcoal or Titanium 32 (68% light reduction) on rear doors and rear window. Solar Gard HP 50 (50% light reduction) on front doors: $200-$330 (for math below I take the average $265)
- convex mirror for left wing mirror: $20
- mylar sun shield: $30
Total for accessories and modifications: around $750
Total for both categories: $2853
Purchase price for car, including tax, state and some BS fees: $6100
I’m on the road in just the right car for $8953. If I’m still in the hole after two years, I won’t feel so bad. After all I’m going to pay for this with wages. Apologies to Vanguard.
I forgot wheel covers. I’m not certain what I’m going to do about that. At present it has three Corolla covers and one very similar older Camry cover. I was so fixated upon the mechanical qualities of the car, I did not notice this minor aesthetic problem. Two of the Corolla wheel covers are clearly victims of ample curve clipping. Nicer aftermarket wheel covers should run about $80 for a set. Racing discs are more expensive and may look like overcompensating on a Corolla.
This part of the project starts soon after I get my plates on the car.
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