So the CEO has been hitten my switches in a fresh Ford Focus these last few days. The experience will in the future remind me to focus on getting a better rental car next time I need one. Sorry.

Anyway, the red Suby was overheating a bit last week so I took it on down to Metro. They are the best guys in town, and I am happy to put in a plug for them. Metro absolutely gets the Kjel.org seal of approval. I’ve used them happily for years, for reasons just like this:

My man at Metro examined the Suby and told me the head gasket was shot, and needed to be replaced. (Whatever that means. The CEO is no mechanic) I asked how much, he said About a grand, but I won’t do it for you. He then proceeded to pull up the warranty info on my make and model, and told me that Subaru of America would pay for the whole thing if I took it to the dealership. Awesome, thanks. I need a new clutch too, and I know the dealer doesn’t cover that. You want to go ahead and do that for me? I won’t do that either. I’d charge you $800 for the clutch, but have the dealership do it and you are looking at only $300 since they’ll have the engine out anyway for the warranty repairs. In fact, here, here’s a list of other stuff you should ask the dealer to do since the expensive part (the labor to remove and then, eventually, reattach the engine) is already covered. He wouldn’t even change my oil: said the dealer would do that as part of the head gasket replacement.

Metro turned away all kinds of money and pointed me toward someone who could become a competitor for my business, just because they were looking out for me. The Suby dealership? Was efficient enough, and is most likely at least reasonably competent, but where’s the love? I’ll be back at Metro.

I got my current dope ride from the boys at Enterprise on Barbur. When I say boys I mean it: a bunch of frat boy types are running that place. High fives, nicknames, cheap dress clothes and poorly tied ties, rush handshakes — feels a lot like a fraternity when you walk in. Nice guys though, and they are gonna rent me a van over New Years for about 1/10 of the price U-haul wanted.