$2000 to $3500 to replace a car headlight, that has burned out. Ouch!!!

[William]

My Ranger is a 2010.  I've done work on the AC ($600), ...

I guess that's one advantage of US cars.  My 2005 VW Passat is due for AC compressor ($1200), timing belt ($1200), front suspension coils ($600), a window regulator ($300, the stuff that moves glass up and down), adding up to $3300.  That was quote 2 years ago.  Moral of the story: My next car will not be German.

[gmiller1977]

Luckily I didn't have to do the compressor for the repair, it was a condensor that needed replacing and some of the pipe.  Overall, yes, American cars are cheaper to repair because the aftermarket parts selection is so much bigger.  Parts for older trucks are even cheaper, until the latest model, the Ranger hadn't drastically changed in almost 20 years, so yeah, parts are cheap

I don't buy cars with timing belts anymore.  If I find out a car has a timing belt, I cross it off my shopping list. 

[William]

I don't buy cars with timing belts anymore.  If I find out a car has a timing belt, I cross it off my shopping list.

If not timing belt, what then?  timing chain?  electronic?

[gmiller1977]

Timing chain.