Good advice, to which I might add DIY whenever you can. This will increase your familiarity with your car so you will know what they are talking about when you do bring it to a shop. It will also save you money, both because you'll have a better grasp of which services they are trying to sell you are really needed, and also because many times it's cheaper and more satisfying to do it yourself.

That reminds me, I should probably bring Steve (owns the shop that is currently rebuilding the tranny in my '71) a dozen doughnuts or a bottle of good whiskey.

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Whoever said there's nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes never had a cheap Jaguar.

83 300D Turbo with manual conversion, early W126 vented front rotors and H4 headlights 401,xxx miles
08 Suzuki GSX-R600 M4 Slip-on 26,xxx miles
88 Jaguar XJS V12 94,xxx miles. Work in progress.
99 Mazda Miata 183,xxx miles.