Modern Simple Living

DIY Car Maintenance: My Plan to Start Small and Level Up Why I’m Starting DIY Maintenance I’ve decided to take on my own basic car maintenance. The plan is to begin with oil changes and gradually work up to brakes, fluids, and eventually anything I feel confident doing. Beyond saving money, learning these skills just feels empowering. Cost and Break-Even Estimate The upfront cost for quality tools and supplies looks to be around $400 . Based on current shop prices, it’ll take roughly 8 oil changes —or about two years for my two cars—to break even. After that, every oil change is pure savings. But the bigger payoff is being able to handle larger jobs that would otherwise cost hundreds per visit. Mechanic Tools I'll gradually add tools and for now all I need for oil changes are quality ramps, oil drain pan, oil filter wrench and a 1/4" socket set.  I already have the socket so the ramps, pan and filter wrench are maybe $200 . Kobalt - 65 piece - Household (has 1/4" so...

Repairing a 10-Year-Old Car vs. Buying New: Why Major Repairs Can Still Be the Smarter Move The Decision Point: Year 10 Many drivers hit the 10-year mark and assume it’s time to replace their car. Suspension wear, aging components, and the first wave of “big repairs” start showing up — and the instinct is to avoid the bills by buying something new. But with today’s new-car prices, that old rule of thumb no longer makes sense. Often, what looks like a scary repair bill is actually the equivalent of one year of new-car payments — and that investment can extend the life of a reliable vehicle another 5–10 years, loan-free . A Real Example: My $2,000 Control Arm Replacement I recently replaced the front control arms on my 2016 Toyota Highlander. The job cost $2,000 at the dealership, alignment included. It’s not cheap — but it’s also not unexpected for a 9–10-year-old vehicle. Control arms, bushings, and suspension components naturally age, especially on a daily driver. And I chose O...

My Toyota Journey: From Corolla to Highlander and Beyond Lately, I've found myself becoming quite the Toyota fanboy . My experience with the 2011 Toyota Corolla , followed by the 2015 Camry and 2016 Highlander , has really impressed me. These cars have offered a perfect mix of reliability, performance, and value. However, my experience with Lexus, specifically the 2007 IS250 , wasn’t as smooth. I had some issues with the car, but I’m chalking that up to the challenges of Rear-Wheel Drive (RWD) and Direct Injection engines. Keeping the Highlander and Camry Until 2035-2036 I’ve decided to hold onto both the Highlander and Camry for their 20th year, which will be in 2035 and 2036 respectively. Part of this decision is due to the skyrocketing prices of new cars, but it also comes from my desire to wait for the new turbo and hybrid powertrains to mature. Take the Hybrid Max with the new T24A-FTS setup, for example. I’m certainly impressed with the 0-60 times and performance, but ...

Milestone Achievement: 100,000 Miles on My 2015 Camry Today marks a significant milestone: my 2015 Camry has officially hit 100,000 miles ! When I purchased it in 2022, it had 88,000 miles, which means I've added just 12,000 miles over the past 22 months —approximately 600 miles per month . To put this into perspective, I'm driving at about half the rate of the previous owner, who would have needed to cover 1,000 miles per month to reach that 88,000-mile mark in seven years. Looking Ahead: A Decade More to Go Ideally, I want this car to last an additional 70,000 miles or 10 more years , assuming I continue driving around 7,000 miles per year . That would bring the total mileage to a reasonable 170,000 miles . I test drove another 2015 Camry with similar mileage before purchasing this one, and it drove effortlessly, which reassures me about the car’s longevity. While I’m less concerned about the mileage itself, I am mindful of its age. The Camry will reach 8 years old in 20...

Maintenance & Fuel Log for 2015 Toyota Camry XLE Total Maintenance Cost Lifetime: 2022: $ 1,109 2023: $ 1,366 2024: $ 415 2025: $ 660 2026: $ 110 Total: $ 3,660 Currently, I'm averaging $ 732  a year in maintenance cost due to emphasizing preventive maintenance.  To further cut on cost, I'll be doing some basic maintenance myself like oil changes and as I get more comfortable expand further to brakes. Multi-Annual Items Brake fluid - June 2026 Battery - Nov 2027 Tires - Nov 2027 Coolant - Oct 2028 Transmission - 150k or Oct 2029 Maintenance Cost by Type Consumables (29%) Tire Rotations & Alignments: $ 240 Brakes & Rotors: $ 470 Battery: $ 135 Air/Engine Filter: $147 Wiper Blades: $80 Subtotal: $ 1,072 Preventive (52%) Oil Changes: $ 850 Fluid Change/Cleaning: $ 1,034 Subtotal: $ 1,884 Powertrain & Suspension (12%) Belts: $ 172 Spar...

New Ride: 2015 Toyota Camry XLE Table of Contents Overview Specs - 2015 Camry XLE First Impressions — Old Reliable Maintenance Schedule Maintenance Light Reset Instructions Planned Retirement 2035 Overview I picked up a 2015 Toyota Camry XLE as a replacement for my Lexus IS250. I’m optimistic that the Camry will deliver the famed Toyota reliability, but I’m hedging my bets with a $3,200 extended warranty. The Camry cost me about $18,000, plus the warranty, bringing the out-the-door price to around $23,000. Yes, it’s a bit high, but this is the top-level trim for the four-cylinder model, and it had only 88,000 miles. The previous owner also did oil changes every 5,000 miles or six months, which is a big plus. Although Toyota advertised the 2AR engines could go 10,000 miles or a year between oil changes, I believe in sticking to 5,000 miles or six months. I did the math, and no matter how I spin it, the monthly cost to own any reasonable car was going to be a...

Maintenance Log for 2007 Lexus IS250 Total Maintenance Cost Lifetime: 2018: $2,900 (warranty) 2019: $600 2020: $2,035 2021: $875 Total: $6,410 Currently, I'm averaging $2,137 a year in maintenance cost but this is due to major repairs due on engine and suspension. However, prepaying with a warranty helped defray $1,600 in additional maintenance.  Otherwise, the true cost would be $2,670 per year.  In either scenario the cost of this car was too high and not worth owning as even larger repairs were likely due like a short block, transmission, etc. Maintenance Cost by Type Consumables (21%) Tire Services : $460 Brakes and Rotors : $1,100 Battery : $50 (true cost $150)  Preventive (17%) Oil Changes : $1,400 Engine (30%) Alternator: $100 (true cost $1,100) O2 Sensor: $100 (true cost $600) Valve Cover Gasket: $100 (true cost $700) Suspension (31%) Front Bushings: $100 (true cost $800) Rear Axle: $100 (true cost $1,700) Total Maintenance Cost : $3,510 (true cost $8,0...

Lexus IS250 Maintenance Update It finally happened—around 85,000 miles , my 2007 Lexus IS250 displayed the dreaded Check Engine Light and VSC indicators. I had just changed the oil at the dealer a few weeks prior and replaced the rear axle and front bushings, so it was frustrating to see my dashboard light up like a Christmas tree right after. Diagnosis I returned to the dealer, where they determined the issues were a dead O2 sensor and a leaking valve cover gasket . They believe that oil dripping from the gasket fell onto the O2 sensor, leading to its failure. Repair Costs The total bill for the repairs came to about $1,300 : O2 Sensor Replacement : $600 Valve Cover Gasket Replacement : $700 Additional Maintenance In addition to resolving the Check Engine light, I also had some other maintenance and repairs done. The total cost for the month reached $4,050 , which breaks down as follows: Oil Change : $250 Rear Axle Replacement : $1,700 Front Bushings Replacement : $800

2007 Lexus IS250 Ownership Experience I've been enjoying my 2007 Lexus IS250 for a few months now, and it has proven to be a fun daily driver. Here’s a summary of my experience, including specs and insights on its performance, comfort, and maintenance challenges. Purchase Details Price : $11,000 Mileage at Purchase : 62,500 miles Specifications Engine : 2.5L V6 (4GR-FSE), RWD Horsepower : 204 @ 6,400 RPM Torque : 185 @ 4,800 RPM Transmission : 6-Speed Automatic Performance : 0-60 mph: 7.4 seconds 1/4 Mile: 15.4 seconds @ 88 mph EPA MPG : 24 City / 32 Highway Dimensions : Length: 180.1 inches Wheelbase: 107.5 inches Height: 56.1 inches Width: 70.9 inches (w/o mirrors) Model:  XE20 (2nd Generation) Driving Experience Highway Cruiser The IS250 shines on the open freeway, where it feels most comfortable above 60 mph. While the 0-60 time is not impressive, once you reach higher RPMs, it reveals a more spirited side. My highway MPG has averaged between 25-28 , which is decent for a car ...

Maintenance Cost Summary Total Maintenance Cost Lifetime: 2016: $ 0 2017: $ 0 2018: $ 37 2019: $ 134 2020: $ 1,328 2021: $ 379 2022: $ 1,425 2023: $ 1,970 2024: $ 808 2025: $ 3,274 2026: $ 390 Total: $ 9,745 This equates to an average of $ 885 per year, with approximately one-third of costs for preventive maintenance (oil and fluid changes) and the remaining two-thirds for consumables like tires and brakes. Future Repairs Estimated: Major items expected over the next few years totaling about $ 6,900 , to be budgeted over 3–4 years: Struts & Mounts (front) - 2027 - $ 2,000 Struts & Mounts (rear) - 2028 - $ 1,000 AC Compressor - 2028 - $ 2,100 Brake fluid - Jul 2028 Engine Coolant - Sep 2028 Battery - Dec 2028 Spark Plugs - 120k or 2028 - $ 900 Tires 2029 - $ 900 Transmission Fluid - 130k or Sep 2029 Maintenance Cost by Type Consumables (45%) New Tires: $ 1,650 ...

My 2016 Toyota Highlander: Years of Reliable Service Table of Contents Initial Purchase and Why I Chose the Highlander Specs and Performance Maintenance and Care Maintenance Reset Instructions Overall Experience Planned Retirement 2036   Initial Purchase and Why I Chose the Highlander I bought my 2016 Toyota Highlander brand new for $31,000, aiming for a vehicle that could offer both performance and reliability over the years. I chose the V6 engine model primarily because of Toyota’s reputation for this engine’s durability and balance of power and fuel economy.  If there had been a similar option for my 2015 Camry, I’d have chosen it as well, but the Highlander offered everything I needed in a daily-use vehicle. Specs and Performance 2016 Highlander V6 LE FWD Engine : 3.5L V6 - 2GR-FE Horsepower : 270 @ 6200 RPM Torque : 248 lb-ft @ 4700 RPM Transmission : 6-speed automatic Performance : 0-60 mph in 6.9 seconds 1/4 mile in 15.2 seconds @ 89 mph Fuel Efficiency :...

My 2011 Toyota Corolla: First Toyota Experience The 2011 Toyota Corolla marked my entry into the Toyota brand, having previously owned only Hondas and Nissans. I found a pre-owned 2011 Corolla in 2013 for a fair price of $11,500.  Although I only kept the car for four years before trading it in for my 2016 Highlander, the Corolla provided worry-free ownership throughout my time with it. I was genuinely impressed by Toyota's reliability, requiring only routine oil changes, a battery replacement, and a new set of tires. While I briefly considered purchasing another Corolla to complement the Highlander, I decided instead for a Camry.  And in hindsight, if I could do it all over again I'd likely have gotten a Camry instead of the Corolla, but it was still a valuable experience. Specs and Performance Engine : 1.8L I4 - 2ZR-FE Horsepower: 132 @ 6000 RPM Torque: 128 lb-ft @ 4400 RPM Transmission : 4-speed automatic Performance : 0-60 mph: 9.8 seconds Quarter-mile: 17.8 seconds @ 81 m...