Does the Car Doctor also evaluate exotic cars?

Q. I think I have been reading your column for more than 25 years. I know you drive a variety of vehicles, but most are “every day” cars and SUVs. Do you ever evaluate exotic cars, such as Corvettes, Porsches, and other unobtainable cars that most of us will never own? 

A. You are correct, and I tend to drive mainstream vehicles (although those are averaging $55,000 these days). Recently I spent some time in a McLaren 750S. It was ridiculously fast with a 0-60 MPH time of a claimed 2.3 seconds, extremely responsive steering, and a surprisingly comfortable ride. Now does anyone need a 200 mile-per-hour, $400,000 car? No.  Am I glad they made one? Yes. 

Q. I have a 2012 Ford Mustang convertible with only 17,600 miles. I had the coolant replaced five years ago. Nothing else has been done except oil changes every two years. The brakes seem kind of mushy, but work. Any recommendations as to what I should have changed or replaced?

A. I would start with a thorough overall inspection of the car, focusing on the safety items first. The mushy brakes could be caused by air in the brake lines or sticking brake caliper slides. I would also consider changing the oil annually, since oil oxidizes from air exposure and its critical additives, such as rust inhibitors and detergents, break down over time. Check the tires, steering, and suspension components as well. Since it has been five years since the coolant was replaced, I would replace it again and inspect the coolant hoses, thermostat, and drive belts. Have the battery and electrical system inspected. Give the other vital fluids a good look and replace any that show signs of age. This would include the transmission fluid as well as the brake fluid. At 14 years old, even with low mileage, changing the spark plugs and checking the ignition system is money well spent.

Q. I read your most recent article and always check it for good advice. One reader asked about having to come back for lug nut tightening after a new tire replacement. You said, “Most reputable shops will recommend returning to check lug nut torque.” Last month, I got new Continental tires installed by my Subaru dealer, who I hope is reputable, but they never asked me to come back. I now have about 500 miles on them. Not having a torque wrench myself, should I go in and have them checked, or is it too late and a moot point now?

A. Chances are they used a torque wrench to tighten the wheels, and everything is fine. Part of the rechecking process is a combination of building customer loyalty and reducing liability. In your case, I would put it in the category of “it can’t hurt” to have the lug nut torque rechecked. On my own vehicles, have I checked lug nut torque after the wheels were removed and installed? Yes, but not always.

Q. My wife has a 2022 Prius Prime plug-in hybrid. We are looking for a private garage to work on hybrid and electric vehicle components. Can you recommend a tool to find one that will work on the car and also not void the warranty with Toyota? I have a great mechanic who is now in his 60s and has no interest in working on hybrids.

A. If it is just regular maintenance, such as brakes, steering components, bulbs, spark plugs, and oil changes, any good repair shop can handle that. If the repair is related to the hybrid drive system, then a hybrid specialist would be a good idea. AAA has Approved Auto Repair shops. Go to aaa.com/repair to find a shop near you. There is also a hybrid and electric vehicle training center (fixhybrid.com). Perhaps give them a call and see if they have trained anyone in your area.

Q. My 2014 Mercedes-Benz GL 450 has been deemed a total loss after an accident. The engine, however, was replaced by the Mercedes dealership in 2021, making the engine mileage approximately 45,000 miles less than what the odometer reads (120,000 miles). How can I maximize the amount of money I get from the sale of the car after the insurance company pays me for it? I plan on keeping the car and not turning it over to the insurance company after they pay the claim.

A. First, you need to look at what the insurance company will pay you outright and then compare that to what they will pay if you choose to keep the vehicle. Before agreeing to the settlement, provide the insurance company with documentation of the replacement engine. They may adjust the vehicle valuation upward based on that information. Looking online at CarGurus, the average Mercedes-Benz GL-Class GL 450 4MATIC sells for about $12,500. Also, based on online listings, a used replacement engine can cost anywhere from $5,000 to $7,000. Could you keep the car and sell it as a complete parts vehicle? Yes. Could you disassemble it and sell the major parts individually to maximize the value? Yes, but only if you have the time and space to do it. If your insurance company was offering, as a realistic example, $13,000 if they take the car and $7,000 if you keep it, I would let it go. Complete salvage GL450s are selling for roughly $7,000 to $10,000 online. If you wanted to disassemble the vehicle as a hobby and sell the parts individually, you could potentially do better, but that is more work than I would want to take on.

John Paul is AAA Northeast’s Car Doctor. He has over 40 years of experience in the automotive business and is an ASE-certified master technician. E-mail your Car Doctor question to [email protected]. Listen to the Car Doctor Podcast on Apple Podcasts or other popular podcast sites.