I prefer R12 also but one of the problems recently, if you don't do the job yourself, is finding a shop that still has the R12 recycler. Many have disposed of them because they get so few calls for their use now. R12 should be readily available. If someone tells you it costs $100/pound, run away as fast as you can and find another shop that isn't trying to rip you off. My neighbor has a commercial HVAC business. He collected quite a bit of the R12 a few years ago during conversion jobs. He said you can hardly give the stuff away now. I have an adequate supply that was purchased legally before the law changed. Should be enough to keep my cars cool as long as I will be around!