Locate an Auto Repair Shop in Brownsville, Vermont

Hope this isn't a double post - my first attempt seems to have gotten lost in cyberspace. I'm in the market for a new Chevrolet SWB regular cab 4wd - selling price right now including locker, skid plates, 4.3 Vortec six cylinder engine, auto trans, and 3.73 gears is about $23,000-24,000. I'm not a speed demon, but I do worry about the six being a bit underpowered. I will be taking this vehicle into the mountains of northern Mexico, not jeep trails, but some slow speed rutted highways with some washouts. Then maybe some travel to national forests in the Appalachians. The 4.8 liter V-8 runs about $25,000-26,000 for the SWB, about the upper range of my pocketbook. It has 3.42 gears. Are there reliability issues with either engine? An alternative is a late model used Chevy SWB, 5 speed manual, 2007, for $16,500, but I perfer the coil spring front suspension of the newer models. Double cabs and and big v-8's are out because of coast and the size is just too bulky for my style of driving/roads. Thanks for your comments. Gene Paull Brownsville, Texas

petrol prices were running in the $2.45 range for 87 octane last week. Didn't pay attention to the prices across the border in Matamoros, MX. Was in an Aveo this time - had a nice radio / center stack and shifter handle. Back home prices are from as low as $2.64 to as high as $2.72, higher in Cook County, especially near O'Hare - saw a few $2.81s on Friday. Saturday by Comiskey (Sox Park) prices were in the $2.75 range. Got fuel for the Olds yesterday for $2.63 a couple towns over whereas everyone else was running in the $2.69 ~ $2.72 range.

Juan Campos was apparently drunk and had fallen asleep at the wheel before crashing into the race in Monterrey, Mexico, police investigator Jose Alfredo Rodriguez said. A photograph taken by a city official shows the horrifying moment of impact. The force of the collision sent bicyclists and equipment high into the air and Matamoros newspaper El Mañana described children crying, women shouting for help and men trying to lynch Campos before police arrived to arrest him. Killed in the crash was Alejandro Alvarez, 37, of Monterrey. Campos told police he was an American citizen from Brownsville, Texas. The U.S. consulate could not immediately confirm that.

There is one 2007 XL7 at Payne Suzuki Brownsville ,Texas, approx 1000 miles, dealer told me it's a 'rocker arm issue'. They pulled the engine last week and it's still there as of today on service rack with engine pulled. I bought a new 2007 XL7 Limited AWD in Dec 2007 here is my list of issues: Jan 3rd 2008 heater will not work while in Aspen Colorado. Jan 5th 2008 DVD/Radio/CD will not work in San Antonio, Texas. Rear defroster 1/2 broken. (dealer replaced rear window completely) Feb 11th 2008 Engine shut off completely while driving!!!! rough idle heard and felt through out car, dealer check all OK. Two roof rack bindings will not stay down, dealer fixed per tech bulletin. Now all four will not stay down. Dealer order new roof rack rails with attached bindings. Climate control face plate/bezel will not stay in assembled location, pops out, Dealer replaced bezel. Mar 11th 2008 1st oil change. dealer suggestes replacing all wipers, under warranty. Mar 14th 2008 tighten fuel cap warning. Mar 16th rough idle and hesitations while accelerating from stop. Mar 17th check engine light (7865 miles) and tighted fuel cap warning, again, but I never touched it since tighten it last time and the light went away. Dealer witnesses lights and mentions that the tach was not moving between shifting from M/D/N/R/P. Rough idle witnessed by dealer, finally. Mar 18th in dealer service shop this morning - I'm completely frustrated and do not want this lemon anymore. I had a new 2006 Grand Vitara 4X4 never one issue that's why I bought the XL7.

That's why there are lot of data points. You can't take temps from Phoenix, Las Vegas, Brownsville, and Miami in July and prove anything. You have to use hundreds if not thousands of data points. That evens out the ones that might be high and the ones that might be low.