How much does it cost to put the car in conditions to go on vacation without problems

If the reader belongs to a middle-class family and already has everything ready to go on vacation in your private car, they should know that inflation also hit prices hard in the automotive universe, as well as in supermarket shelves. For this reason, you have to fasten your seat belt, take a deep breath and calm down, because the prices to put the car in condition fluctuate in figures that can even exceed an average salary ($150,000 in the case of needing to change tires, some retouching in the front end or secure the braking system. And not to forget that, to this we must add the Mandatory Technical Review (RTO), which costs $6,000

Of course, prices vary according to the model, range and type of spare parts or tires to be replaced, but to have an idea, the costs of a complete reconditioning range between $137,500 and $258,500.

"The budget is usually very random because there is a variety of vehicles and types of spare parts," says Martín, an employee of a firm located in the macrocenter of Rosario, where all kinds of maintenance is done on cars.

An alignment and balancing kit for a lower range car can cost $6,500, while in the case of a mid-range or high-end vehicle or pick up it goes up to $8,500. Maybe that car that the driver plans to take out on the road and do a few kilometers also needs to check the brake pad and disc. In that case, the pickup and disc set is between $35,000 and $60,000.

"In the case of the front end, the most common thing is to change the shock absorbers, which cost between $40,000 and $70,000," says the mechanic as a frequent replacement, as well as the brake system, without having to forget the oil change and filters, which ranges between $15,000 and $20,000, depending on the type of car engine and oil quality.

If this didn't seem like too much, what's coming is really worse and it has to do with changing tires. That is where the budget doubles and even triples with respect to the "Tyres were the central issue of the year because until now there is a lack of measurements on various models, which have to do with a drag problem," explains Martín.

In this sense, he assures that "for a year the demand has been tremendous and it has not been covered, between the restriction on imports and the union conflict, although it must be clarified that it is not true that the shortage and the costs were the responsibility of the strike of workers in the sector".

Likewise, he maintains that prices went through the roof and motorists look for a lot of used ones, to the point that they squeeze the useful life of the tires "until they give no more" as a result of the cost of each one.

To get an idea, the mechanic details that the most basic, for a Renault Clio, can cost $35,000, while a larger vehicle, such as in the case of a Chevrolet Cruze, a Ford Focus or a Peugeot 408, the The price for each tire is in the order of $100,000. "To change the covers you have to think about having between $200,000 and $400,000 in hand," he says.

When doing a general check, all compartments and sectors of the car are inspected. "We control everything: front end, lights, fluids (coolant, hydraulic steering, brakes, engine and box oil), air conditioning, condition of the belts, spark plugs," lists Nicolás, a mechanic from the south of Rosario.

In this way, and if necessary, the budget must be increased so as not to suffer setbacks during the trip. To this we must add, if necessary, the RTO whose cost climbed to $6,000 in the approved workshops in Rosario and surroundings.

"In the case of the front end, the most common thing is to change the shock absorbers, which cost between $40,000 and $70,000," says the mechanic as a frequent replacement, as well as the brake system, without having to forget the oil change and filters, which ranges between $15,000 and $20,000, depending on the type of car engine and oil quality.