Labrador's streets and water
Frank Street
Through Labrador the Gold Coast Highway is mostly Frank Street, between Government Road and North Street. Traffic lights and stop-start running wear brakes faster than open-road kilometres, and RAC WA says brakes wear more quickly the harder they're used.
The Broadwater
The suburb looks east over the Broadwater. Cars garaged along the foreshore live in salty air, and salt makes steel rust faster, so the underside deserves a look at each service.
Low ground
Labrador sits about 5 m above sea level, on land once known as mosquito swampland for its creeks and streams. In a summer downpour, never drive into water across a road.
Repair it or replace it?
If your car is getting on, a big repair raises the question. NRMA's advice is to weigh which works out less costly over the short and long term, and to consider replacing the car if the repairs would exceed its market value. Older and high-kilometre cars are more likely to keep developing problems.
A written estimate is what makes that decision possible. Ask for one that lists the parts, the labour, the time it'll take and anything the mechanic noticed but didn't include.
Our honest take
For an older car with one big fault, we'd get the written estimate first, and a second opinion if the figure comes close to what the car is worth. For a car that's sound but salty, the underside check at each service is the easiest way to keep it sound.