Fix a 10yr old car 200K+ miles, or buy/lease new?

[IndyIan]

Originally Posted By: The Critic
What I find interesting is that everyone in this thread, so far, is looking at this purely from a cost standpoint.

Has anyone considered that some people, such as the OP, may simply enjoy having a new car? On this forum, whenever these threads come up, everyone is quick to suggest that the thread starter should fix the car as it is the cheapest option. However, fixing cars gets tiring after a while and sometimes you may just want something new and shiny. Don't you guys spoil yourselves on anything?

IMHO a new car is the most expensive way to "spoil" yourself, a new Cruze becomes an old car quite quickly, and it does nothing better than the old car... Get a nice bike, a nice gun, a nice chainsaw, a dirt bike, a tractor, lots of things have much better performance/dollar ratios, depreciate less, and cost less to maintain than a daily driver.
I can understand people buying new cars to avoid having to deal with old car problems, but chucking whatever downpayment plus $300/month for years into the fireplace, to get the 6 months or 1 year of new car feelings isn't my idea of fun... YMMV

 

[addyguy]

My take on it is to consider the time, as well as the money.

Rebuilding/replacing all that stuff will take a LOT of time and effort, on top of your regular work. You'll miss out family time, and for a while all you will be doing is working.

As you do it, more stuff will most likely come up, or stuff will go wrong with the rebuliding/replacing, and it could get to the point where all you are ever doing is fixing that car. Might drive you nuts after a while.

I know, 'hard work' is never easy, but when you do have a 'nicer' option (new car) that will save you time and your back, maybe it's worth considering?

 

[PandaBear]

Originally Posted By: The Critic
What I find interesting is that everyone in this thread, so far, is looking at this purely from a cost standpoint.

Has anyone considered that some people, such as the OP, may simply enjoy having a new car?


May I suggest that he may simply enjoy a new BMW 3 series, and he should go lease one?

Instead of an engine rebuild, he could like JHRZ2 said buy a crated used engine from Japan or a junkyard. That'll keep him going in a couple of days with minimal cost, and last another 100k easily.

 

[eljefino]

At least OP realizes there is more to car wear than engine problems; suspension issues can get you too.

What year legacies share the underpinnings? If you can find a rusted out 60k miles northern legacy and drive it down for $400 in gas, you can move all the running gear and struts etc to your current chassis. Then you'll also get seats with supple foam and all the small stuff.

I bet the $200 struts are way better than what you have now. Are you shopping wierd options like ebay? I get clutches and radiators for half the local parts places and even cheaper than rockauto and have been happy with the quality.

 

[andyd]

What ever you do , use the dying clutch to teach your wife how to drive a manual trans.

 

[Solo2driver]

This has been on my radar lately:

http://houston.craigslist.org/ctd/2019562075.html

4 doors/5 seats, automatic (wife friendly), good fuel mileage on long trips, and TDI's around here tend to last a long time and retain their resale value pretty well.

Thoughts?

 

[JHZR2]

Originally Posted By: andyd
What ever you do , use the dying clutch to teach your wife how to drive a manual trans.


+1000

 

[eljefino]

You seem to like something just a little nicer than basic transportation, in particular with having insteresting mechanicals.

I haven't sat in the Cruze, but the TDI seems to fit your bill.

 

[Solo2driver]

Originally Posted By: eljefino
You seem to like something just a little nicer than basic transportation, in particular with having insteresting mechanicals.

I haven't sat in the Cruze, but the TDI seems to fit your bill.


And the SCCA offers contingency for the RallyCross program with Volkswagen, making it a tempting 2-3 times a year RallyCross car

 

[Pop_Rivit]

Originally Posted By: The Critic
What I find interesting is that everyone in this thread, so far, is looking at this purely from a cost standpoint.

Has anyone considered that some people, such as the OP, may simply enjoy having a new car? On this forum, whenever these threads come up, everyone is quick to suggest that the thread starter should fix the car as it is the cheapest option. However, fixing cars gets tiring after a while and sometimes you may just want something new and shiny. Don't you guys spoil yourselves on anything?


There is nothing wrong with purchasing a new vehicle if someone can afford to do so. However, someone that has to finance the bulk of the purchase (or worse yet, lease) is making a foolish financial decision. The original posters financial concerns are valid, and in his case it may make much better financial sense to repair the current vehicle (or pay cash for a used) rather than go deep into debt.

There are much smarter ways to manage money than tossing several hundred dollars a month away to simply have something "new and shiny".

 

[Smokescreen]

I would sell the Forester privately, and use the money to get what ever you want...new or slightly used. There is always an enthusiast willing to pay what its worth to you. Don't overspend when buying though, in these tough times it pays to be cautious.

The age of the car is going to eventually nickel and dime you and add up, and the anxiousness of wondering what will go next is not fun either. If you are losing confidence in the vehicle for whatever reason (dependability through the winter etc) you have a family you may want to get something that causes less stress in life. Time is money as well, you may want to wrench away on breathing new life into an older machine but do you have the time?

 

[The Critic]

Originally Posted By: Solo2driver
This has been on my radar lately:

http://houston.craigslist.org/ctd/2019562075.html

4 doors/5 seats, automatic (wife friendly), good fuel mileage on long trips, and TDI's around here tend to last a long time and retain their resale value pretty well.

Thoughts?

Pass. Too many camshaft issues with that engine.

 

[Jeepster_nut]

Originally Posted By: The Critic
What I find interesting is that everyone in this thread, so far, is looking at this purely from a cost standpoint.

Has anyone considered that some people, such as the OP, may simply enjoy having a new car? On this forum, whenever these threads come up, everyone is quick to suggest that the thread starter should fix the car as it is the cheapest option. However, fixing cars gets tiring after a while and sometimes you may just want something new and shiny. Don't you guys spoil yourselves on anything?



No kidding. This board is always about the cheapest, flintiest way to go about having a car. Loosen up and live a little. Junk that worn out old Subaru, and go buy that new Forester or Cruz and ENJOY it for Gods sake. Wrenching old worn out cars sucks. I should know I did it with my Jeep and will NEVER do that again. Some people on this board are unbelievable.

On a personal note, I am buying a 2010 Corvette next month. I'm even opting for the extended warranty and I am going to enjoy every minute of it!

 

[LS2JSTS]

Originally Posted By: Pop_Rivit


There is nothing wrong with purchasing a new vehicle if someone can afford to do so. However, someone that has to finance the bulk of the purchase (or worse yet, lease) is making a foolish financial decision.



People who can "afford" to pay cash for any purchase they make often use credit as a smart financial tool. Blanket statements rarely work and yours is just false. Credit, at the right rate, can be a smart move and it would be "foolish" not to take advantage of it.

 

[TooManyWheels]

Originally Posted By: Jeepster_nut
Originally Posted By: The Critic
What I find interesting is that everyone in this thread, so far, is looking at this purely from a cost standpoint.

Has anyone considered that some people, such as the OP, may simply enjoy having a new car? On this forum, whenever these threads come up, everyone is quick to suggest that the thread starter should fix the car as it is the cheapest option. However, fixing cars gets tiring after a while and sometimes you may just want something new and shiny. Don't you guys spoil yourselves on anything?



No kidding. This board is always about the cheapest, flintiest way to go about having a car. Loosen up and live a little. Junk that worn out old Subaru, and go buy that new Forester or Cruz and ENJOY it for Gods sake. Wrenching old worn out cars sucks. I should know I did it with my Jeep and will NEVER do that again. Some people on this board are unbelievable.



This question was answered in this fashion because that is the way it was framed. The question said nothing about the poster's values or time which would lead to those aspects being included in the answers.

 

[Solo2driver]

Drove up to the dealership, they had already sold the TDI and the two other WRX's that they had

Oh well, fate has answered haha.

After washing the Legacy and airing the tires back up (d'oh! Rookie mistake, not checking inflation often!), I think I will try to budget the repairs out and keep the car.

Unless something awesome comes up

 

[NJC]

Originally Posted By: scurvy
Keep the Legacy, rebuild the engine in your spare time. You can do better than those prices you listed for refreshing bits on the car with a little elbow grease, but they all need to be done.

I agree the parts can be purchased cheaper. The rad is $86 + shipping from Rockauto:

2000 SUBARU LEGACY 2.5L 2458cc H4 FI [EJ251] SOHC : Cooling System : Radiator Wiki Price
SPECTRA PREMIUM Part # CU2331 More Information About this Part {#2331, 431490}

$86.79

EDIT: Since I was already at the website, KYB struts are $76 each too.

 

[Mr Nice]

Fix your car and keep it another 10 years.

 

[fdcg27]

If the Legacy is otherwise okay, you really don't need an engine right now, do you?
You can teach your wife how to drive a stick with the current dying clutch, or you could probably nurse it along for a number of additional miles.
Anyway, outside of the engine, you can fix everything else for around a grand.
If you like the car, and it suits your use, it would be worth spending 1K to drive it for another couple of years.
OTOH, if you like Subarus, you'd like the Forester.
What would your payments be to actually buy one, rather than leasing?
I'll bet it wouldn't be all that much more, and you can still write off depreciation, maintenance and repair and fuel for tax purposes, or simply take a per mile deduction for business use.
Also, you end up with a paid off car at some point, which of course doesn't happen with a lease.
OTOH, you can buy a base stick Forester for around 20K hereabouts.
If you put 1K in the Legacy, and drive it for another couple of years, could you then save up the 20K, and simply buy a new Forester (or Legacy) outright?

 

[Solo2driver]

Good call on the radiator, I had planned on getting a 3-row aluminum one if I ever decided to upgrade to a turbo on the engine and not duplicate purchases...but that's a good deal.

Same thing with the struts, planning on Bilstein HD monotube struts & shocks but the KYB GR-2's are decent as well and much cheaper. I am a sucker for the "Bilstein ride", there is nothing quite like it and they are easy to have rebuilt/rebuild down the line.