I just called back and got an itemized breakdown. I forgot to mention the testing and inspection, which added up to $150, the brakes are $470, the sensor is just under $300, and the cabin air filter is $90.

Here is a video on how to replace the cabin filter on what I believe is your generation of civic;

[link]

No tools involved. The filters are more expensive then I thought though.

If you go this route, just remember you're getting cabin air filters not the air filter. The cabin air filter is not going to be as easy to find, but an auto parts store will probably have one.

the cabin air filter is $90.

Uh, wow. For that much, I'd hit up Auto Zone and put a new one in myself.

I know nothing about fixing cars, and have no place to fix them anyway--the apartment complex has rules about doing car repairs in the lot.

Can you call around and find a different repair place?

the apartment complex has rules about doing car repairs in the lot.

I never thought of putting in a new air filter as a repair. More like refilling the windshield washer fluid. Unless you aren't even allowed to do that in the parking lot, which seems petty but not the weirdest rule an apartment complex has ever made.

And Now We Pause for a Falco Moment

Has two embedded videos, and a picture of his grave (which is awesome!)

From that video, you don't even need to open the hood. I don't think the complex will care. Fixing something and saving money has enormous satisfaction.

It's too late, I've already given them permission to fix everything an hour ago. This place is literally right around the corner from my apartment, which is why I chose it this time. Next time, I'll try someone else a bit further away. In fact, I might call a few places next week with the list of stuff they do today and see what price I would have gotten elsewhere.

I will say that this place is into customer service (drove me to work when I turned down the free loaner for the day), and they have a very clean waiting room with lots of distractions in it but no auto-repair parts, supplies, or smell, nor can you even hear the repairs being done in the garage that adjoins it.

ETA: shallow reason to like it, but I'm guessing they're going for a more upscale repair shop atmosphere. I'll definitely shop around next time, though.

As a public service to y'all, I am here to inform you that the latest hot internet meme is....

Babies WIth Laser Eyes!

I'm not sure why this is so popular, but....