My own Special Place in Hell story:
I inherited a 1998 Toyota Avalon. The exhaust began to leak. So I took it to a shop a couple blocks from home (Car-X) that had previously done work for me on another car, and I was satisfied with the results. They put the Avalon up on a lift and figured that the front pipe was leaking from the flex joint. Unfortunately with the Avalon and Camry from this era, the front pipe, flex joint, and catalytic converter all come as one piece so the whole thing would have to be replaced. The part plus labor would be around $1200. I looked at it with tired eyes after working all day, said: "Mmmokay," and left the car with them.
It was finished the next day. But
after I got the car home, I got motivated to search the internet to see if anyone else had similar problems. On the internet, I found a similar story from someone with a Camry that was answered by an online mechanic. The online mechanic said that a good mechanic would be able to cut out the flex joint and weld in a new one for much cheaper. The guy with the Camry then found a good mechanic and had the job done for around $150. The online mechanic guy also mentioned to the Camry owner that he'd be better off welding in the new flex joint and leaving the factory catalytic converter because the after market catalytic converters that come on the front pipe carried by Car-X and Midas and the like aren't as good as the factory converters. In a few months time, he warned...your "check engine" light on the dashboard would light up from the aftermarket catalytic converter.
And wouldn't you know it? Three months later my "check engine" light is stuck on! Before I got a real job, I used to do much of my own repair work on my own cars. I thought repairs through. I questioned what mechanics told me, and asked around for second and third opinions. When I had much less to spend on cars...not surprisingly...I spent much less on them!
Guess I shouldn't have forgotten my old ways!
I hope the yuppie guys drown in their own juice.