http://www.isnare.com/?s=author&a=Theodore+Olson Automotive Theodore Olson Sat, 02 Feb 2008 00:00:00 +0800 http://www.isnare.com/?aid=220507&ca=Automotive For decades mechanics have been telling us to change our oil every 3,000 miles. Interestingly, no automotive manufacturer agrees with this maintenance schedule – not in the last 20 years any way. So why are we being told to change our oil every 3,000 miles if it’s unnecessary? First, let’s look at t... Automotive Theodore Olson Thu, 14 Jun 2007 00:00:00 +0800 http://www.isnare.com/?aid=159216&ca=Automotive The Internet has been touted as the greatest resource for the used car buyer. Prospective buyers can find trade-in, private party, and retail values in a heartbeat. The question to consider, however, is what Internet source is right? The three major sites: NADA, Edmunds, and Kelly Blue Book are clam... Automotive Theodore Olson Thu, 14 Jun 2007 00:00:00 +0800 http://www.isnare.com/?aid=159218&ca=Automotive Worrying whether or not you were overcharged for your car repair is an awful feeling. There’s tons of advice on how to avoid getting ripped-off, but few discuss the actual car repair prices. We really need to look at the charges on a car repair estimate or auto repair invoice to determine if we’re p... Automotive Theodore Olson Sun, 22 Apr 2007 00:00:00 +0800 http://www.isnare.com/?aid=144272&ca=Automotive If you were handed an estimate to replace a water pump on your car, would you know if the price was fair? Could you trust the price? How about for a tie rod end, mass air flow sensor, or an evaporative emissions sensor? Most of us don’t know what these are, never mind the price. Yet it is component... Automotive Theodore Olson Sat, 14 Apr 2007 00:00:00 +0800 http://www.isnare.com/?aid=142161&ca=Automotive If you walked into your local car dealer and requested a 30,000-mile maintenance service, is it safe to assume that the dealer will follow manufacturer guidelines when servicing your car? Should the dealer “only” follow manufacturer guidelines? Can they bend the guidelines…? Here’s a recent and very... Automotive Theodore Olson Sun, 21 Jan 2007 00:00:00 +0800 http://www.isnare.com/?aid=118698&ca=Automotive Used car prices are elusive, despite numerous attempts to harness them. We’ve all heard of Retail, Private Party and Trade-in values. But do these “help” in determining a vehicle’s real value? When we turn to the web for prices, it gets even more elusive. One web site places a retail value on a car... Automotive Theodore Olson Tue, 09 Jan 2007 00:00:00 +0800 http://www.isnare.com/?aid=115675&ca=Automotive Eighty percent of car buyers are using the Internet to research cars and used car prices. For vehicle research, the Internet’s great! For vehicle prices, the Internet sucks! It sucks because the prices do not reflect reality for the buyer or the seller. Web sites that place values on vehicles have c... Automotive Theodore Olson Sat, 30 Dec 2006 00:00:00 +0800 http://www.isnare.com/?aid=113496&ca=Automotive What’s my vehicle worth? What a question! I wish that after 20 years in the automotive industry there was a simple answer. One would think that with all the information available it would make prices and values easier to obtain. In fact, in many ways, the numbers are more unclear than ever. The foll... Automotive Theodore Olson Fri, 10 Nov 2006 00:00:00 +0800 http://www.isnare.com/?aid=99867&ca=Automotive I enjoy reading the tips and suggestions on finding an honest or good mechanic. These can be found on various government and consumer websites, and in a variety of auto repair articles. I think the same guy wrote all the suggestions, and for all 50 states! You’ll be advised to check around by word o... Automotive Theodore Olson Tue, 07 Nov 2006 00:00:00 +0800 http://www.isnare.com/?aid=99165&ca=Automotive “It’s all about beating the clock.” This quote comes from a wise old service manager, advising me on how to maximize my income as a flat-rate technician. If you have ever wondered why your car doesn’t get fixed correctly, or all your concerns weren’t addressed, you can blame, in part, the flat-rate...