I guess I fit in proactive category. Buying parts and then replacing them as I either do them myself or pay to have others do what I can't or am unwilling to do. Much nicer doing things in home area than broken down on road trip halfway across country. Things need to be replaced to have the car as nice as when it was new or close to new condition. I had one indie tell me how much to do something but he ordered parts, I found another who lets me order parts and he just charges labor, I'll go with second guy , because I figure anything I replace needs to be replaced and any new part is better than the old wore out part now on car. Have no problem with where I've gotten parts in past. As stated, some of these are 20 or more year old cars and things just need to be replaced, much easier on mechanic to replace something than to fix something, much less labor involved.

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86 300SDL