For most students, college means being a long way from home. You’re driving long distances to go home on weekends and breaks, driving to Little Rock for a day of shopping and seeing the latest movies, or even taking midnight cruises exploring the back roads of Arkadelphia (because let’s face it, mom isn’t here and that’s about the most exciting thing to do when you’re putting off studying for that test.)
While your new found freedom and adventures are all fun and good, it is helpful to know where to take your car in case of emergency, like when you’re on those curvy roads and hit some kind of nail and pop a tire or even just need an oil change for that mileage racking up on your car.
Arkadelphia may be a small town but there is no shortage of places that will take in your car and take your money to fix it. If you are looking for a place to get an oil change or to rotate your tires and check their pressure you may look to Pennzoil 10 Minit Lube. Located on 2601 Caddo Street behind Walgreen’s, this business will get you in and out quick: as apparent from their promise in their name.
They are open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturday. Their standard oil change runs at about $33.95 for a standard 5 quart car. For just $2.00 more you can get a full service oil change, which includes checking
fluids, tire pressure, air filters and more. When you are in a hurry, or want to doctor your car before a long trip home this is the place to go.
Another option is Walmart, whose Auto Care Center is open seven days a week: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday. Like Pennzoil they offer only oil changes and tire services. Their basic oil change is $31.88 and increases approximately $13 for a car with a higher mileage. Their full service oil change is $54.88. Wal-Mart charges per tire for rotation and for checking pressure, unlike Penzoil.
If your car needs a little more care than just a basic oil change and tire inspection one place to consider is Car Wholesale Services Center. Located at 1529 Pine Street only a few minutes from campus, this repair center does everything from replacing brake pads to replacing engines. They are open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturdays.
“Cost is all dependent on how many hours it takes to get the job done,” a Car Whole Sale mechanic said. “We use a program called AllData which is online and accessible to anybody in which you input car make, model and year, what service you are performing, and then the site estimates how many hours it will take to complete the job.”
Parts needed for certain repair jobs are a separate charge and will vary in price.
“Car Whole Sale is a really great place to take your car if you want professional quick work done. I had no idea there were so many different services offered in one place and they are so friendly and willing to answer questions,” Kallie Polk, a freshman Christian studies major said. Other options are Mike’s Tire and Auto, and Cannon Auto which offer the same services and use the same pricing program but neither are open on weekends.
For the do-it-yourselfers out there who know their car well and enjoy taking care of it themselves, O’Reilly Auto-Parts and Auto Zone both offer whatever you need to get your car running smoothly again whether it be windshield wiper fluid or transmission fluid. Both businesses are located off of Pine Street as well, within a few blocks of each other.
Other repair shops in the area include AutomoBills and Boyer’s Auto Repair.
For more information call Wal-Mart at 870-246-2459, Penzoil Ten-Minit Lube at 870-246-2459, Car Wholesale Services Center at 870-403-0700, Mike’s Tire and Auto at 870-210-5269 or Cannon Auto at (870) 210-5275.
By Taryn Bailey
