Most of us are familiar with getting a second opinion, however sometimes a third opinion is needed, or maybe I’m stubborn when it comes to giving up on an almost 20 year old car with over 200k miles on it. Or maybe I’m stubborn when it comes to psychiatric diagnoses on my 40+ year old brain since I finished having it evaluated for the third time a couple of days ago on August 17th. Friendly’s was the first place I took Barb, the 2004 Honda Civic my fiance and I bought from Austinite Auto back in March (see review). Is she named after Barbara Jordan, Barbara Bush, or barbed wire that’s helping to hold her together at this point? Who's to say? Who cares? OH, I DO, I CARE! Welp, that makes one of us I suppose... 2004 was the year we first met and also the year I received my first psychiatric diagnosis the first time my brain broke down in Georgetown. Anyway, May 2nd, 2023 she started overheating on the way from Jarrell to work off of Kramer at CommUnityCare in Austin and Friendly was both close by and had a name that suggested the people there would be kind, both to me and more importantly the car. Jared helped me out at the front desk and he was really, well, friendly. It wasn’t false advertising, he genuinely cared and knew what he was talking about. He said the overflow hose was disconnected from the radiator and that the thermostat might have been stuck open. They ran some tests on the block and didn’t find any leaks. Said the front tires needed replacing and a few other things I hoped I could get away with ignoring a little longer. I took it into the shop in the morning during lunch break and they were able to have it ready before 5pm same day. $188.16 for labor and shop supplies. I was stunned—in a good way! I was also really impressed, they did a great job, and I was still able to finish paying for an engagement ring and propose 3 days later on the 5th. So, thank you for that. The second and third time I brought it in here was after I had taken it to Sun Auto in both Georgetown and Austin. Same level of service, same friendly demeanor, Jared was so friendly I began to wonder what he’s like when he gets angry or upset and how bad somebody has to be to get him to that point—I wouldn’t recommend doing that kind of test here. I wish I could be friendly like that consistently, but with or without medication, that ain't developin' anytime soon. The technicians put some new front brakes and rotors on there and ran two more block tests for $486.87, both of which Barb passed on or shortly before August 9th. This was the third different shop she'd been tested at this month. They think Barb has a good shot of making it to 300k since she passed the block tests or maybe my wishful thinking is clouding my memory. The Sun Auto in Georgetown agrees, however the Sun Auto I took it to in Austin had a different verdict… (Part I of III TO BE CONTINUED)