Highwood Woodhouse

Since you said stopping distance has gotten longer, I’d get the car looked at before your next long drive. Don’t wait for a convenient slot, that’s a safety issue on a heavy SUV. Any decent workshop can check pedal feel and fluid in ten minutes while you wait.

Driving it stuck down won’t hurt the hydraulics themselves, but the real risk is the front lip and underbody taking hits on every bump. If the system is leaking fluid, though, keep an eye on the level, because running the pump dry is what kills it.

Full coverage versus targeted front-end protection really should depend on how someone actually drives and parks, no point paying for comprehensive coverage if you barely drive on highways versus someone doing long desert road trips regularly. Good point about honest consultation rather than upselling everyone the same package.

Had a similar inspection done on a Tahoe with the same platform underneath, worth every penny since they caught a rear main seal starting to weep that wasn’t visible without actually getting underneath. Definitely push for something more thorough than a basic pre-purchase check.

Compressor clutch on a 2013 GT at this age is worth inspecting specifically during the diagnostic since these cars accumulate heat soak in traffic that accelerates clutch wear on older units. A rattling or inconsistent engagement under load is the sign to look for.