Yeah we only have 1.5 years left and both our vehicles are paid off. Will be nice.
How much $$ do you usually put into your cars?
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If I don't have any reason to doubt the short term performance/reliability I'll do the repair. Something new is going to mean $250 to $300 in payments for 5 years, something used is probably going to mean a few repairs in the short term anyway.
That said, for me there is something to be said for the reliability of a new car.
That said, for me there is something to be said for the reliability of a new car.
Originally Posted By: gregk24
Parts replaced on my 2006 Honda Accord have been an O2 sensor, serpentine belt tensioner and the tranny. The tranny was replaced because of neglect IMO. The previous owner had the fluid replaced only once in 96K miles, that spells death for a Honda transmission in my eyes. I knew it would go eventually so I just had it replaced at 100k miles. Car has been good to me though. As long as your not spending more than the car is worth, or more than a new car payment, then keep driving it.
Since it was a Honda, of course it needed a transmission due to owner neglect. If it were a GM product, you'd be the first person bashing it.
Parts replaced on my 2006 Honda Accord have been an O2 sensor, serpentine belt tensioner and the tranny. The tranny was replaced because of neglect IMO. The previous owner had the fluid replaced only once in 96K miles, that spells death for a Honda transmission in my eyes. I knew it would go eventually so I just had it replaced at 100k miles. Car has been good to me though. As long as your not spending more than the car is worth, or more than a new car payment, then keep driving it.
Since it was a Honda, of course it needed a transmission due to owner neglect. If it were a GM product, you'd be the first person bashing it.
I'll spend per year no more than what a replacement would cost per month in payments over the year
...lower mileage car payments + basic maintenance = more costly repairs down the road in a high mileage car...but you have a more reliable car for those payments...the question is when/at what mileage will those costly repairs kick in...on my last 2 cars, Nissan Altimas, that was @ 160k miles....they went another 1 yr-15k /2 yrs 30k before it came time to "go low" and get a car with 100k fewer miles....and another 50-80k miles before more and more expensive repairs are required.
...of course, if you have no payments on the newer car that is the better deal...
...lower mileage car payments + basic maintenance = more costly repairs down the road in a high mileage car...but you have a more reliable car for those payments...the question is when/at what mileage will those costly repairs kick in...on my last 2 cars, Nissan Altimas, that was @ 160k miles....they went another 1 yr-15k /2 yrs 30k before it came time to "go low" and get a car with 100k fewer miles....and another 50-80k miles before more and more expensive repairs are required.
...of course, if you have no payments on the newer car that is the better deal...
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We're keeping ours running until they meet one of four criteria:
Even with the transmission rebuilds that were on our dime (2 of the 3), the Ody's still about $0.18/mile less than Edmunds estimates for a 2009 last time I checked a few months ago ($0.36/mile actual for the 2001 vs $0.54/mile estimated for a 2009). I suspect rust will take it first.
The last change I made was from a 2002 Prizm to the 2005 xB. I have a nagging upper back injury and the seating position of the Prizm left me in serious pain after more than 30 minutes of driving. I was ready to buy a second minivan when I decided to drive the xB, and it's been great so far.
- Rusted through & unsafe
- Crash damage costing more than the vehicle's value to repair
- Significant change in what we need from our vehicles
- Total cost of ownership per mile approaches the level of a 3-4 year old vehicle of the same or similar model.
Even with the transmission rebuilds that were on our dime (2 of the 3), the Ody's still about $0.18/mile less than Edmunds estimates for a 2009 last time I checked a few months ago ($0.36/mile actual for the 2001 vs $0.54/mile estimated for a 2009). I suspect rust will take it first.
The last change I made was from a 2002 Prizm to the 2005 xB. I have a nagging upper back injury and the seating position of the Prizm left me in serious pain after more than 30 minutes of driving. I was ready to buy a second minivan when I decided to drive the xB, and it's been great so far.
I just went quickly, from my memory, through my maintenance and repair history for my 2006 Mazda 3 and my total for over 7 years comes to about $1200! That a whopping ~$15 a month. Add $500 for tires and it's just barely over $20!
Now, this year I will have to spend a bit more as the widnshield is cracked and the OEM battery needs to be changed, but I think I had a pretty good run so far.
Now, this year I will have to spend a bit more as the widnshield is cracked and the OEM battery needs to be changed, but I think I had a pretty good run so far.
I think in the last six years I've spent about $1k/year in repairs. At a mechanic, mind you, as I've got no real mechanic abilities nor place to work. Not maintance, repairs.
Sometimes I think about ditching it, but I still like the setup: small four door diesel station wagon. Without much of the current emissions equipment too. So, in some ways, I'm willing to spend more to keep it going than the average person. Although these days I keep it largely because I know it's been decently maintained--can't say that about most of the used car market. I drive a fair amount and pay for labor when it comes to repairs, so that matters for something.
Sometimes I think about ditching it, but I still like the setup: small four door diesel station wagon. Without much of the current emissions equipment too. So, in some ways, I'm willing to spend more to keep it going than the average person. Although these days I keep it largely because I know it's been decently maintained--can't say that about most of the used car market. I drive a fair amount and pay for labor when it comes to repairs, so that matters for something.
Like others I do all my own work so it is just cost of the parts. This summer put $500 in changing the entire front suspension on my wife's 1998 Sable at 175,000 miles. Runs great and rides great with no noises. Just put a new clutch and all new suspension parts into a 1991 Mazda 626 I have at 168,000 miles. Cost of about $700 and drives great. Body is perfect, interior is perfect, no rust naturally out here, clear coat peeling on hood and roof. I can prep and paint the whole car in 3 days and have the paint waiting for those days.
I don't count money on old cars and my 2004 Focus has never needed a penny beyond tires, oil changes and one set of plugs.
I don't count money on old cars and my 2004 Focus has never needed a penny beyond tires, oil changes and one set of plugs.
Reading here of a lot of DiYers....nice...but unrealistic for most people...1/2 the cost of a lot of repairs done at indie shops, even less than work done at dealers....keep that in mind...(tbm3's clutch/suspension for example was 1/2 of my Altima's clutch + CV joints)...
Originally Posted By: KitaCam
Reading here of a lot of DiYers....nice...but unrealistic for most people...1/2 the cost of a lot of repairs done at indie shops, even less than work done at dealers....keep that in mind...(tbm3's clutch/suspension for example was 1/2 of my Altima's clutch + CV joints)...
That's is true. But having the work done by someone else is not the problem with high costs IMO. I think the biggest problem is uneducated customers agreeing to unneeded repairs or services, or like OP, letting a lot of more expensive maintenance items or some repairs pile up to the point where it costs a good chunk of money to get everything done.
Reading here of a lot of DiYers....nice...but unrealistic for most people...1/2 the cost of a lot of repairs done at indie shops, even less than work done at dealers....keep that in mind...(tbm3's clutch/suspension for example was 1/2 of my Altima's clutch + CV joints)...
That's is true. But having the work done by someone else is not the problem with high costs IMO. I think the biggest problem is uneducated customers agreeing to unneeded repairs or services, or like OP, letting a lot of more expensive maintenance items or some repairs pile up to the point where it costs a good chunk of money to get everything done.
Originally Posted By: KrisZ
Originally Posted By: KitaCam
Reading here of a lot of DiYers....nice...but unrealistic for most people...1/2 the cost of a lot of repairs done at indie shops, even less than work done at dealers....keep that in mind...(tbm3's clutch/suspension for example was 1/2 of my Altima's clutch + CV joints)...
That's is true. But having the work done by someone else is not the problem with high costs IMO. I think the biggest problem is uneducated customers agreeing to unneeded repairs or services, or like OP, letting a lot of more expensive maintenance items or some repairs pile up to the point where it costs a good chunk of money to get everything done.
Well, I agree with you....still, one has to consider/calculate those "high cost" repairs against how long they last...i.e. per mile/per year...and whether they will indeed "pile up" as you say...as I said earlier, it's time time replace rather than repair when those costs equal what it would cost in monthly payments on a much newer car with fewer miles...in my case 1/2 as old with 1/2 the miles...and would rather make those consistent (reliable
)payments on a more reliable
car....
Originally Posted By: KitaCam
Reading here of a lot of DiYers....nice...but unrealistic for most people...1/2 the cost of a lot of repairs done at indie shops, even less than work done at dealers....keep that in mind...(tbm3's clutch/suspension for example was 1/2 of my Altima's clutch + CV joints)...
That's is true. But having the work done by someone else is not the problem with high costs IMO. I think the biggest problem is uneducated customers agreeing to unneeded repairs or services, or like OP, letting a lot of more expensive maintenance items or some repairs pile up to the point where it costs a good chunk of money to get everything done.
Well, I agree with you....still, one has to consider/calculate those "high cost" repairs against how long they last...i.e. per mile/per year...and whether they will indeed "pile up" as you say...as I said earlier, it's time time replace rather than repair when those costs equal what it would cost in monthly payments on a much newer car with fewer miles...in my case 1/2 as old with 1/2 the miles...and would rather make those consistent (reliable
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I lost the figures I had on my cherokee (posted them here), but after all maintenance, repairs, new axle and a set of mud tires, I'm still under $200 a month.
My Focus is still new so no repairs at all. Though I am going to bleed the brakes and do spark plugs soon.
My Focus is still new so no repairs at all. Though I am going to bleed the brakes and do spark plugs soon.
Originally Posted By: KitaCam
Reading here of a lot of DiYers....nice...but unrealistic for most people...1/2 the cost of a lot of repairs done at indie shops, even less than work done at dealers....keep that in mind...(tbm3's clutch/suspension for example was 1/2 of my Altima's clutch + CV joints)...
I grew up in a family that barely taught me how to use a hammer. But then I was about 22 and a dirt poor flight instructor making about $500 a month, my only option was diy. So I bought a book and started following the directions, I was able to repair that car and keep it for another 5 years (it was 20 years old at that point). The repairs started simple, but soon I was doing my own brakes, front wheel bearings, struts, and for me the creme de la creme was replacing my own timing belt, water pump and tensioner. I could use all oem parts and it only cost me about $200 (vs $600-$800 from a shop) and an entire Saturday. Granted, I'm a stay at home dad now so working on the car is a nice change of pace.
My point isn't to brag about my abilities, because they're marginal at best. The point is to encourage more people to figure out how to fix things in their house or cars. For some reason, most of us are content to call a repair man or take our car to a shop rather than try to figure out what's wrong with it. I really think this push for specialization in our society is making us considerably less adaptable as people, and one of the best way for the neutered American male to fight this is to start fixing poop that breaks. It's an amazing sense of accomplishment to look at a car the runs or a pipe that doesn't leak anymore.
Reading here of a lot of DiYers....nice...but unrealistic for most people...1/2 the cost of a lot of repairs done at indie shops, even less than work done at dealers....keep that in mind...(tbm3's clutch/suspension for example was 1/2 of my Altima's clutch + CV joints)...
I grew up in a family that barely taught me how to use a hammer. But then I was about 22 and a dirt poor flight instructor making about $500 a month, my only option was diy. So I bought a book and started following the directions, I was able to repair that car and keep it for another 5 years (it was 20 years old at that point). The repairs started simple, but soon I was doing my own brakes, front wheel bearings, struts, and for me the creme de la creme was replacing my own timing belt, water pump and tensioner. I could use all oem parts and it only cost me about $200 (vs $600-$800 from a shop) and an entire Saturday. Granted, I'm a stay at home dad now so working on the car is a nice change of pace.
My point isn't to brag about my abilities, because they're marginal at best. The point is to encourage more people to figure out how to fix things in their house or cars. For some reason, most of us are content to call a repair man or take our car to a shop rather than try to figure out what's wrong with it. I really think this push for specialization in our society is making us considerably less adaptable as people, and one of the best way for the neutered American male to fight this is to start fixing poop that breaks. It's an amazing sense of accomplishment to look at a car the runs or a pipe that doesn't leak anymore.
I keep my vehicles well maintained. As a result overall they cost me not much to own. Though as they age more repairs are occurring. When I was much younger I did all the work on my vehicles and the house. Unfortunately age has taken it's toll and I have to limit what I now do myself. I buy our vehicles new and hold on to them till they fall apart from rust. My car is 18 years old and my truck is 12 years old. My wife's Explorer is "only" 9 years old. I still do much work on the house and vehicles myself but I now need to recognize my limitations.
Whimsey
Whimsey
It seems to average about $600/year over life of vehicle from brand new to about 10 years/200k miles.
That includes maintenance and repairs.
For example my 82k mile MDX bought used two years ago cost $80/year for oil changes and $80 for transmission oil change. However a $1000 105k service put me into $600/year.
That includes maintenance and repairs.
For example my 82k mile MDX bought used two years ago cost $80/year for oil changes and $80 for transmission oil change. However a $1000 105k service put me into $600/year.
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Originally Posted By: zerosoma
How much money do you usually stick into a vehicle over its lifetime before you say, enough's enough? This was the first major bill we've had for it - we had one $300 bill for a tow and p/s flush and CEL diagnostic.
The only time we've been faced with this was with a 2007 minivan we bought brand new. This was going to be our "forever" vehicle; only car we've ever bought new. We bought the particular brand we did because the list of features for the money paid was much longer than the competition. In the end, we paid for the more expensive brand anyway in repairs to ours (in either time or money), so hindsight says we should have ponied up and bought the better brand to begin with.
Most of the repairs to ours were under warranty. But they were happening with enough regularity that I had no confidence in the van after the warranty was up. I did some repairs myself, even while under warranty, because the dealer was such a pistol. We had it in for a week-long stay at the dealer once, and I called the 800 number to request a loaner; we can't keep relying on others to help us out when our van was down. They gave us one, but it was through Enterprise and I had to pay up front and request reimbursement. They stiffed me one day on the rental because I turned it in the day AFTER our van was done. But here's the thing: the dealer didn't fully repair our van; I had to finish their repair that weekend. The reason we turned it in late was because the folks on the 800 number told us to wait until the next day so they could get up with the service manager at the dealership.
It was a horrible experience, one I'd never wish on anyone else. But, we had resigned to grin-and-bear-it. The van was paid for. The depreciation on it was horrible; we'd lose a ton of money going out and buying something else.
But then my folks told us in passing on the phone one night that they were selling their Acura MDX, and the rest is history. We sold our minivan to Carmax, for basically KBB 'trade value', and bought the Acura. Aside from about $400 in parts for the timing belt and spark plugs I recently did (and other consumables like brakes, tires, fluids), we haven't had to repair the Acura since we bought it. And I suppose the timing belt and spark plugs (certainly the spark plugs) to be consumables also, not quite fitting in the "repair" category.
It's such a burden lifted from your shoulders to know your vehicle has your back. For a few years there, it was a constant struggle and worry.
How much money do you usually stick into a vehicle over its lifetime before you say, enough's enough? This was the first major bill we've had for it - we had one $300 bill for a tow and p/s flush and CEL diagnostic.
The only time we've been faced with this was with a 2007 minivan we bought brand new. This was going to be our "forever" vehicle; only car we've ever bought new. We bought the particular brand we did because the list of features for the money paid was much longer than the competition. In the end, we paid for the more expensive brand anyway in repairs to ours (in either time or money), so hindsight says we should have ponied up and bought the better brand to begin with.
Most of the repairs to ours were under warranty. But they were happening with enough regularity that I had no confidence in the van after the warranty was up. I did some repairs myself, even while under warranty, because the dealer was such a pistol. We had it in for a week-long stay at the dealer once, and I called the 800 number to request a loaner; we can't keep relying on others to help us out when our van was down. They gave us one, but it was through Enterprise and I had to pay up front and request reimbursement. They stiffed me one day on the rental because I turned it in the day AFTER our van was done. But here's the thing: the dealer didn't fully repair our van; I had to finish their repair that weekend. The reason we turned it in late was because the folks on the 800 number told us to wait until the next day so they could get up with the service manager at the dealership.
It was a horrible experience, one I'd never wish on anyone else. But, we had resigned to grin-and-bear-it. The van was paid for. The depreciation on it was horrible; we'd lose a ton of money going out and buying something else.
But then my folks told us in passing on the phone one night that they were selling their Acura MDX, and the rest is history. We sold our minivan to Carmax, for basically KBB 'trade value', and bought the Acura. Aside from about $400 in parts for the timing belt and spark plugs I recently did (and other consumables like brakes, tires, fluids), we haven't had to repair the Acura since we bought it. And I suppose the timing belt and spark plugs (certainly the spark plugs) to be consumables also, not quite fitting in the "repair" category.
It's such a burden lifted from your shoulders to know your vehicle has your back. For a few years there, it was a constant struggle and worry.
Our daily drivers-the 2006 Subaru and 2006 Hyundai have both averaged around $30/month when all maintenance has been amortized over the time we've owned them (excluding gas, registration renewal and insurance). My 1999 Dodge pickup has averaged $16/month in the time that I've owned it, most of which was tires (same exclusions as the cars). Our 2006 Durango needed brakes and rotors when I purchased it in early August of this year, but won't need anything else for quite some time. We only use it to travel, so it will only see limited use and I expect it to be about the same as the pickup.
Combined all four vehicles average less than $100/month.
I do nearly all of my own work, and while everything is maintained I don't over maintain anything; everything that I own was purchased with an eye toward simple and inexpensive maintenance over its' service life.
Combined all four vehicles average less than $100/month.
I do nearly all of my own work, and while everything is maintained I don't over maintain anything; everything that I own was purchased with an eye toward simple and inexpensive maintenance over its' service life.
Originally Posted By: greaper007
I look at it like this, how much are you likely to spend on one car payment? $200, $300 (I'm not sure, I've never bought a new car)?
I used to work at a big big bank's auto loan division. The average car payment, last time I checked (which was a few years ago) was about $420/month.
I look at it like this, how much are you likely to spend on one car payment? $200, $300 (I'm not sure, I've never bought a new car)?
I used to work at a big big bank's auto loan division. The average car payment, last time I checked (which was a few years ago) was about $420/month.
I am keeping my beater until the engine blows, or maybe if it gets in a serious wreck or has major rust issues that I can't fix. Since (generally speaking) new cars don't get better gas mileage than my 1995 Escort, I don't see a reason to "upgrade" to something new that besides being new, has a bunch of extra bells and whistles that I don't want and will only be a pain to maintain.
My truck has been the most expensive payment I've had, at $333/month. Then again, we generally pay well in excess of the min. So far our vehicle payments have been 200-300/month, with it slowly creeping up over the years, on a standard 5 year loan.
If I had a simple vehicle, without the OBDII stuff, I'd be tempted to keep running it forever. Just buy two or three, that way one can be at the shop. These days though you can't ignore CEL's, so at some point I'll trade out of all mine. Do enough preventative maintance to get 10 years or more, but after that, I'm going to wonder about its safety and reliability. It's no fun losing brakes.
If I had a simple vehicle, without the OBDII stuff, I'd be tempted to keep running it forever. Just buy two or three, that way one can be at the shop. These days though you can't ignore CEL's, so at some point I'll trade out of all mine. Do enough preventative maintance to get 10 years or more, but after that, I'm going to wonder about its safety and reliability. It's no fun losing brakes.
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