That’s what I looked like when I went into EZ Lube yesterday, a mark, someone that has no idea about preventative maintance for your car, and they were ready to offer every service in the book. Granted, I can change my breaks, disc brakes at least, I’ve replaced and alternator in a ’67 Cadillac, but I’m not always the best when it comes to the things beyond the oil change. Of course when I discuss this with my roomate, he just laughs, “you paid how much…they did what?” Thats when I began to feel like a heel. Now, I understand that many of the cars that come in for service there may need some extra things done to keep them running well, but I’d wager that the majority of cars don’t need every service they recommend. As discussed in, Freakonomics, a rather interesting book, mechanics have an informational advantage over the common car owner. After all, they learned their trade just like anyone else, though you may have studied biology, real estate ot computer science, you and the mechanic will both use that information to your advantage in your career. I don’t want to sound pretentious, I drive a Lexus IS 300, my truck was wrecked earlier this year, so I was able to afford something a little better than I had before. Its a 2003, with roughly 38,000 miles on it, runs great, so why did I let them talk me into more than an oil change? I think it has to do with their informational advantage, they march me out of the waiting room, show me some things that look dirty and I better get everything done or my car could seriously breakdown. Their knowledge of maintanance plays on my lack of knowledge and the fear of my…