How Minor Repairs Can Boost Your Car Insurance Rates | Insurance.com

interesting article from the insurance companies themselves on part of the way your rates get jacked from a relaxation of bumper standards.

http://www.insurance.com/auto-insurance/saving-money/car-insurance-and-repair-costs.html

87,872 mile service

had a mail coupon for an oil change with an air filter ... i've been driving through quite a bit of dust and dirt roads lately, so i figured i'd go ahead and get the AF now instead of 90K miles.  (this change does not count against the recent oil change package i bought.)

got the change at prestige chrysler and they're FINALLY not taking drive-in oil changes anymore ... everything has to be by appointment ... making my life much easier.

$25

83,667 mile service

i'm about 1K miles early on this oil change, but i've been slipping a bit back on the 3K service intervals and i'm about ready to drive into death valley, so i'd rather get this done sooner than later.

stevens creek chrysler.  $0.00 since i paid four oil changes ahead last time.

576,000 mile car retired

at the rate i'm driving right now, the continual car would have 1M miles in the same amount of time ...

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/93-old-florida-woman-retires-her-64-mercury-204007316.html

new registration and smog

NV has super-fast, super-great renewals.  the DMV is madness, just like it is in every state i've ever lived in ... but the kiosks?  awesome.  their one requirement?  "we accept cash or credit card, but not both."  (gotta love vegas.)

$16 for the smog check (saved $4 with a coupon).

$327 for registration.

81,779 mile service

oil change time again.  bought a five for the price of four oil change coupon off the prestige website.  i don't know if this ends up being a good deal or not ... the chrysler website currently has $18 for oil change and tire rotation ... $60 for 5 is $12 apiece (at a dealer, no less), BUT there's the "taxes and shop fees" part.

nevertheless, it's not a bad deal.

prestige doesn't let you set an appointment for an oil change so i had to badger them into getting me out faster than two hours.

$68.

Chrysler Guarantees Other Makers' Used Cars - Money News Story - KMGH Denver

"diversified certified"?  a weird idea.  I get what they're trying to do ... it'll be interesting to see how it goes.
http://www.thedenverchannel.com/money/30613078/detail.html