When do you throw in the towel on older cars?
Posted by:
whatzit tooya
()
Date: October 05, 2010 12:43AM
Hey FFU crew-
Since we talk about a lot of stuff here LOL have a question:
When do you know it's time to throw in the towel on an older car?
I have a 1998 something imported with 150k on it and in the past 4 months I have spent $2,400 in repairs on a car that blue books at around 1900 (fair)-3,000 in mint condition (which my car is not, more or less fair). The money was spent on a clutch and brake/ rear wheel bearing work, new serpentine belt/tensioner/battery and new tires. The engine itself has had a compression test and is running fine for right now (had fresh plugs/wires/a few vaccum hoses done by me last night too, shop wanted to charge me $250 to change $40 worth of parts!) and of course the clutch is new....but now it needs front ball joints and wheel bearings too. :( The car does make that "whomp whomp whomp" steady noise when driving from the front end so I know it will need AT LEAST the bearings ASAP. Timing belt looks good (still see the words on it so it still looks newish to me).
Shops are estimating 4-700 (from pep boys to gas station right next to home) to do bearings and ball joints. Should I do it? I figure if i fix it now, with the transmission and engine checking out ok, I can get another year out of the car and it's kinda worth it (say 3k total/12 months= 250/mo which is a small car note anyways). Or just say screw it and go to the dealership and save up like 1500 ASAP.
I've been holding on to the car because frankly it was the first car I ever really LOVED to drive. I smile everytime I start it in the morning to go to work. I get compliments on it because it's kinda rare (the trim level I have) and it does have mild mods on it (air intake, chipped, lowered, exhaust, nicer than average rims, etc). Other than that I have not been alerted to any major problems- very minor rust spots on body (not frame, sheet metal and smaller than a quarter) which will buff right out! I figure if it's running 100% I can get another 2 years outta her :)
Wat do? I can afford a 300/mo car note, but frankly don't want to....I'm scared it will be like the last car I had (Chrysler, now I know to avoid altogether!)- I was paying $300/mo car note AND it had MAJOR engine problems the SECOND the extended warranty I purchased expired- It didn't even have 90k miles on it!!! I dumped a good 2k into the engine only to have the transmission go and ended up having to sell it as-is then pay another 2 years of a 4 year loan for a car I no longer owned. :(
EDIT: I have had the car all these years, it just sat with a broken clutch parked in my friends yard until the Chrysler died then I started driving it again. SO I know the oil was changed on time every time, etc etc).
ANY advice welcome!
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/05/2010 12:48AM by whatzit tooya.