How do you decide it's time for a new car?

**tinapbeana** · 02-05-2007, 06:15 PM

Re: How do you decide it's time for a new car?

mine's pretty simple: if it would cost me more to fix the car than i could get selling the car in good condition. for instance, my previous car needed about 2k worth of work. i only paid 2200 cash for it and had definitely gotten my money's worth. there was no way i could sell the car for 2k even if it were in good shape, so i traded it in.

as a side note, i got 1k for the trade in and had already received 1k from my insurance company from a limb that fell on the car.

**mom-from-missouri** · 02-05-2007, 07:18 PM

Re: How do you decide it's time for a new car?

I tend to keep mine till they drop. I have never had a brand new car, but have always gotten "program" or leased cars with 25,000 or less miles on them. I have always gotten Chevys, and always gotten at least 150,000 miles or more out of them. I pay cash and trade my old one in. First trade I needed one for economy as I was commuting to work. 2nd trade was because I had 3 in infant seats and they would not fit in the economy car, so I went to a mini van. Last trade was to trade the mini van for a Suburban, as I needed something that still had 3 rows of seats, but would pull a camper trailer.
For me to trade, the vehicle would have to start failing a lot, and the expense would have to be more than a new vehicle.
I recently had to replace the entire heater/AC system. It cost me around $500. To me, that is not a major expense compared to replacing it and having car payments for several years. I have no car payment. I'd rather pay for a repair once a year or so, than every month.
However, DH used to be a chev mechanic at a dealership, so he keeps an eye on things.
Right now I have a door handle that the cold got to and cracked (plastic). We are looking for a used one for him to replace. Should be under $50. Some may argue I paid almost $500 last month, and now $50 this month its time to replace. But, a door handle can break on a new car as well, so to me I argue the vehicle is still worth it. It runs well, has no rust, perfect body, is dependable and does what I need it to do.

**PRICEPLUS** · 02-05-2007, 11:35 PM

Re: How do you decide it's time for a new car?

My 98 Sienna had 98000 som odd miles and the 00' Camry has 49000 and change. The Sienna had tranny issues but there was a recall and it was replaced free of charge. My Camry has just been maintenance.

I guess you should compare the price of the car to the price of repair. Amortize it over a year and see how that comes out for your budget. The Toyotas are usually very reliable cars and they hold value longer. You should get cloase to 200,000 out of both with decent care.

**sakigt** · 02-06-2007, 04:04 AM

Re: How do you decide it's time for a new car?

The transmission went on my PT Cruiser at 42k miles! $2800 down the toilet but I used non-Chrysler beefed up parts this time. For me, it was cheaper to spend nearly $3k in upgrades than to sell it broken and buy a new car.

**MonkeyMama** · 02-06-2007, 06:12 AM

Re: How do you decide it's time for a new car?

We have only had to get rid of 2 cars because their time was up.

1 - my first toyota - it was almost 20 years old when the engine head cracked and I had been out of college for a few months and had the cash to pay for a newer car. If not it might have been worth it to replace the engine - was $1500 but the car was stellar and I knew it would last quite a while longer. So if it had happened a year or 2 before I probably would have kept it.

2 - My husband bought a really crappy car from the dealer that was nothing but trouble - he paid like $2k or something and after a few years it started having serious smog issues. We didn't even know until someone reported it and we got it fixed, and after a few months it started spewing exhaust like crazy again - finally decided to trash that crap car. Repairs were endless and far more than we paid for the car, didn't expect it to last long or anything. I've taught my hubby a thing or 2 about buying cars since.

Other cars: IT was time to get rid of the convertible when we had kids.

We bought an interim car for $1k until we were ready for a minivan - which we just did last year.

Our 2 cars now - when the repairs start getting crazy then it will be time to consider. It just depends what goes wrong with the cars and when. I would drive them to 200k+ miles if they do well. One if 5 years old with 60k miles and it is a BABY - and the minivan is almost new. I really do not want to buy another car for 10 years...

**Ima saver** · 02-06-2007, 06:18 AM

Re: How do you decide it's time for a new car?

You know I am married to the car guy. Anytime we have a major problem, my husband wants to trade. We have only ever bought one used vehicle. It was a work van and we paid $10,000 for it. It lasted less than 1 year and we had all kinds of problems, so it is back to new vehicles for us.

**LivingAlmostLarge** · 02-06-2007, 06:19 AM

Re: How do you decide it's time for a new car?

I read monkeymama's car buying thread and I know that I'll dump my car the day it needs more than $2k repairs. For that much you can get a decent used car with probably less miles that what I'll have on mine at the time.

The question now is can we keep our cars for a lot longer? a 99 corolla and 00 focus, maybe another 10 years would be awesome. Tough with kids, but maybe we can swing it.

**pearlieq** · 02-06-2007, 06:46 AM

Re: How do you decide it's time for a new car?

My criteria:

1.) I no longer feel safe. If the car regularly strands me or seems to prone to develop failures which directly affect my safety (brakes, etc.) it's time for the car to go!

2.) If the cost of the needed repairs is more than the the cost per year of the next car I plan to buy. For example if I plan to spend 15k on my next car and drive it for 8 years, I would begin questioning replacing my car any time repairs were to cost over $1875. It seems like an isolated repair I still might make it and keep the old car, but if I've got a big repair and know that there are 3 other things coming up behind it, I would start looking for something new.

3.) The car no longer fits your lifestyle. This isn't usually enough criteria on it's own, but it can tip the balance. If you had a convertable and now have 2 kids, have a minivan and the kids are now on their own, or have a big, gas-guzzling full size car and you have along commute--all of those would cause me to seriously think about changing cars.

**Ima saver** · 02-06-2007, 08:21 AM

Re: How do you decide it's time for a new car?

I agee with feeling safe. I do not like to go on a long trip with an old car. I did one time and I worried the entire trip.

**LuxLiving** · 02-06-2007, 08:45 AM

Re: How do you decide it's time for a new car?

Interesting thread as today CashHappy's car is in the shop getting a new alternator and will probably be needing some other things soon. It was his starter car and now he's ready to move along. I find the criteria you guys are posting are right in line w/the advice Hubster and I have been giving him...if it's going to be relatively minor it's much less expensive in the long run to keep it...but with the impending problems on the horizon as well as the current mileage & year of the car, well, maybe as soon as we get her home from the shop she needs to hit the classifieds!

**creditcardfree** · 02-06-2007, 09:38 AM

Re: How do you decide it's time for a new car?

Our '97 minivan with over 110k miles may need to be replaced soon. There is an oil leak in the pan (relatively easy fix) and the transmission seems to be getting sticky (much harder fix). If it isn't too costly...maybe 2K...I'd be willing to repair transmission and keep the van a couple more years. I'm not really interested in having a car payment right now, but we could do it if we had to. I'd be looking for a newer used van in that case for around 10K. So my thought process is 2K vs 10K....the smaller number looks more appealing for now.

Oh, but would I love driving a newer van...

**Aleta** · 02-06-2007, 09:51 AM

Re: How do you decide it's time for a new car?

Go back over the past few years and see how much you have paid in repairs yearly. By that, I mean in actual repairs, Also, look at maintenance costs of replacing a timing belt chain that would not have to be replaced if it had of been a new car. Don't add in normal maintenance that you would have to do on a new car anyway such as oil changes and 15,000 maintenance. Divide your repairs by 12 to see how much you have paid monthly and compare that to a new payment.

**disneysteve** · 02-06-2007, 10:20 AM

Re: How do you decide it's time for a new car?

Originally posted by Aleta

Also, look at maintenance costs of replacing a timing belt chain that would not have to be replaced if it had of been a new car.

I'm curious why you singled out the timing belt. The van will need a timing belt at it's next scheduled service (90K). If we do it at the agency, it will be $290. I don't think that is an extreme repair cost for something that I knew from day one would have to be done at 90K.

**tinapbeana** · 02-06-2007, 10:32 AM

Re: How do you decide it's time for a new car?

Originally posted by disneysteve

I'm curious why you singled out the timing belt. The van will need a timing belt at it's next scheduled service (90K). If we do it at the agency, it will be $290. I don't think that is an extreme repair cost for something that I knew from day one would have to be done at 90K.

well, depending on the model of the car you might having a timing belt (not too bad) or a timing chain (which can be a PITA!). typically a timing belt is designed for periodic replacedment, such as your 90k service, but not so with a timing chain. moreover, when a timing 'chain' wears out unexpectedly it will damage if not ruin the cam shaft and some of the valve assembly.

been there. done that. got the 90 mile one way towing bill

How do you decide it's time for a new car?