Finding a mechanic who is well trained and good at the work that he or she does is very important. When I pay for auto service, I expect the work to be done well the first time I bring my car into the shop. Nothing is worse than paying for auto repairs only to find that the problem has not been fixed.
If your brake pads wear down, you drive to a mechanic and have them replaced. If your alternator dies, you buy a new one and have it installed. Same with batteries, filters, hoses, and pumps. It’s inconvenient and the cost is unpleasant, but both are manageable. Transmissions are an entirely different matter. They can (and should) last for years. But, when they fail, they’re enormously expensive to fix or replace.