As the other thread shows, if I don't buy a new car I have to become organized and proactive about my car's maintanance. This also means that I should stop relying upon spotting "specials" in the paper or even as i drive by, and instead find a reliable good-value kind of garage.
Any recommendations are most welcome. A place near or commutable from Hyde Park or Devon would be most convenient, but for an exceptionally good place it can be anywhere I guess.