There really is quite a simple answer to that...do the repairs yourself. I started out when I was a teenager with a motorcycle. I would take it in for a tune-up and it would not be much better when I got it back. Then I figured the money I spent for the tuneup was well, thrown away. If I spent the money on tools or books that I would have handed the repair shop, well i would have at least have something afterwards. I didn't have youtube autoforums or anything. There was one guy in my neighbothood that would help me when i needed it. In the same vein I also do my families cars. One time when I was away on a business trip my sisters car would not start . She had it towed in. The car was several years old. The repair shop called her and told her she better come on down right now. They had this big list of what was wrong with her car and why it would not start. It totalled out at over $3000.00. She said give me awhile to think this over and left. What luck!! on her way out she just happened to meet the mechanic who diagnosed her car for her. He offered to buy her car for $500. Fortunately I talked to her on the phone that night and told her to go and get your car out of there. So she towed it to another shop she had used before. They went out , removed the battery cable , cleaned the post. Put the cable back on , the car started right up.