Keep my Hyundai or buy another Toyota?
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Propflux01
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Sounds like Wife's just bored with the vehicle, and OP wants to "Hang with the Jones's" when it comes to the Toy-loving family.
Originally Posted By: fdcg27
Also, your Prius seems to have done pretty well, but was one of the best of Toyota's offerings when your car was new.
There was a member here, with the screen name of Lonnie, IIRC, who managed a large fleet, or at least a large fleet database.
He related that the Prius was the most reliable car in his database, lasting beyond 200K with minimal repairs.
It does not follow that all Toyota products are durable and reliable, so don't think that a Toyota will necessarily be a better bet than the Hyundai you already have.
It seems like the OP is not the kind of person who would be inclined to spend significant $$$ on a large repair on an older vehicle. If that is the case, he would be well served by trading the Prius since at 160k, it will likely be needing a battery replacement in the near future (200-250k).
Also, your Prius seems to have done pretty well, but was one of the best of Toyota's offerings when your car was new.
There was a member here, with the screen name of Lonnie, IIRC, who managed a large fleet, or at least a large fleet database.
He related that the Prius was the most reliable car in his database, lasting beyond 200K with minimal repairs.
It does not follow that all Toyota products are durable and reliable, so don't think that a Toyota will necessarily be a better bet than the Hyundai you already have.
It seems like the OP is not the kind of person who would be inclined to spend significant $$$ on a large repair on an older vehicle. If that is the case, he would be well served by trading the Prius since at 160k, it will likely be needing a battery replacement in the near future (200-250k).
FWIW a noise like that is usually a belt driven accessory. Sounds like something you can do yourself. I would remove the serpentine belt and see if the noise goes away. Then you can manually spin the pulleys and check then for play and noise. (An idler that is super easy to spin has a bad bearing).
Originally Posted By: rjundi
Get an estimate on repair and then at least validate or invalidate your reason for dump/keep.
Why do that when we can all just make assumptions?
We don't even know what the problem is that MIGHT need to be fixed. May just need a new belt.
Get an estimate on repair and then at least validate or invalidate your reason for dump/keep.
Why do that when we can all just make assumptions?
We don't even know what the problem is that MIGHT need to be fixed. May just need a new belt.
I'd go for a new Toyota in a second.
Not only because the quality is there, but because they generally drive far better (are more of a pleasure to drive) than lesser vehicles. Your Hyundai is nowhere near new, and the risk of expenses is there. Especially considering that you are still paying for it.
Repeating myself again here: Cars cost a certain amount "per mile". Gas-capital costs-insurance-maintenance-etc. A new vehicle, purchased at a fair price, maintained well, and kept for it's lifespan, will be between 2 and 5 cents more per mile than a used, or older vehicle. (within classes of vehicles, can't compare a prius to an F150, clearly the truck costs more per mile)
People concentrate on the capital costs of a vehicle, but many don't understand that the other costs can easily be far higher, over the life of the vehicle. That's where Toyota and Honda can do very well over the long term. They may cost more up front, but maintenance is often far less, and more miles are the result. Cost per mile is generally better on a Toyota.
Yes, I know, you can purchase a used Taurus from Grandma for $500, with 20,000 miles on it, and drive it another 200,000 miles, all while getting 30MPG. I've been looking for such a deal for 40 years!
Not only because the quality is there, but because they generally drive far better (are more of a pleasure to drive) than lesser vehicles. Your Hyundai is nowhere near new, and the risk of expenses is there. Especially considering that you are still paying for it.
Repeating myself again here: Cars cost a certain amount "per mile". Gas-capital costs-insurance-maintenance-etc. A new vehicle, purchased at a fair price, maintained well, and kept for it's lifespan, will be between 2 and 5 cents more per mile than a used, or older vehicle. (within classes of vehicles, can't compare a prius to an F150, clearly the truck costs more per mile)
People concentrate on the capital costs of a vehicle, but many don't understand that the other costs can easily be far higher, over the life of the vehicle. That's where Toyota and Honda can do very well over the long term. They may cost more up front, but maintenance is often far less, and more miles are the result. Cost per mile is generally better on a Toyota.
Yes, I know, you can purchase a used Taurus from Grandma for $500, with 20,000 miles on it, and drive it another 200,000 miles, all while getting 30MPG. I've been looking for such a deal for 40 years!
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Originally Posted By: Cujet
I'd go for a new Toyota in a second.
Not only because the quality is there, but because they generally drive far better (are more of a pleasure to drive) than lesser vehicles. Your Hyundai is nowhere near new, and the risk of expenses is there. Especially considering that you are still paying for it.
Repeating myself again here: Cars cost a certain amount "per mile". Gas-capital costs-insurance-maintenance-etc. A new vehicle, purchased at a fair price, maintained well, and kept for it's lifespan, will be between 2 and 5 cents more per mile than a used, or older vehicle. (within classes of vehicles, can't compare a prius to an F150, clearly the truck costs more per mile)
People concentrate on the capital costs of a vehicle, but many don't understand that the other costs can easily be far higher, over the life of the vehicle. That's where Toyota and Honda can do very well over the long term. They may cost more up front, but maintenance is often far less, and more miles are the result. Cost per mile is generally better on a Toyota.
Yes, I know, you can purchase a used Taurus from Grandma for $500, with 20,000 miles on it, and drive it another 200,000 miles, all while getting 30MPG. I've been looking for such a deal for 40 years!
Some Japanese cars still have higher maintenance costs ...
Honda 100K maintenance: Timing belt, manual valve adjustment, $10 / qt transmission fluid, Spark Plugs. Whereas my Focus calls for a spark plug change.
I'd fix the Hyundai if it were me. Fix it up, pay it off, save for it's replacement.
MAINTAIN your current vehicle so it will last and you won't have to buy new.
I'd go for a new Toyota in a second.
Not only because the quality is there, but because they generally drive far better (are more of a pleasure to drive) than lesser vehicles. Your Hyundai is nowhere near new, and the risk of expenses is there. Especially considering that you are still paying for it.
Repeating myself again here: Cars cost a certain amount "per mile". Gas-capital costs-insurance-maintenance-etc. A new vehicle, purchased at a fair price, maintained well, and kept for it's lifespan, will be between 2 and 5 cents more per mile than a used, or older vehicle. (within classes of vehicles, can't compare a prius to an F150, clearly the truck costs more per mile)
People concentrate on the capital costs of a vehicle, but many don't understand that the other costs can easily be far higher, over the life of the vehicle. That's where Toyota and Honda can do very well over the long term. They may cost more up front, but maintenance is often far less, and more miles are the result. Cost per mile is generally better on a Toyota.
Yes, I know, you can purchase a used Taurus from Grandma for $500, with 20,000 miles on it, and drive it another 200,000 miles, all while getting 30MPG. I've been looking for such a deal for 40 years!
Some Japanese cars still have higher maintenance costs ...
Honda 100K maintenance: Timing belt, manual valve adjustment, $10 / qt transmission fluid, Spark Plugs. Whereas my Focus calls for a spark plug change.
I'd fix the Hyundai if it were me. Fix it up, pay it off, save for it's replacement.
MAINTAIN your current vehicle so it will last and you won't have to buy new.
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Originally Posted By: Cujet
People concentrate on the capital costs of a vehicle, but many don't understand that the other costs can easily be far higher, over the life of the vehicle. That's where Toyota and Honda can do very well over the long term. They may cost more up front, but maintenance is often far less, and more miles are the result. Cost per mile is generally better on a Toyota.
No, people, like you, concentrate on the badge and dream up their own "facts" to suit their view.
Miller88 already gave one example where Honda is more expensive to maintain.
Fact is that maintenance is pretty much a wash across the board. Most cars use long life spark plugs and fluids. A lot of new 4 bangers come with timing chains instead of belts. Aside from Honda, no other mainstream manufacturer requires periodic valve adjustments. OCIs also seem to be similar, ranging from around 4k to 10k miles between severe and normal service.
People concentrate on the capital costs of a vehicle, but many don't understand that the other costs can easily be far higher, over the life of the vehicle. That's where Toyota and Honda can do very well over the long term. They may cost more up front, but maintenance is often far less, and more miles are the result. Cost per mile is generally better on a Toyota.
No, people, like you, concentrate on the badge and dream up their own "facts" to suit their view.
Miller88 already gave one example where Honda is more expensive to maintain.
Fact is that maintenance is pretty much a wash across the board. Most cars use long life spark plugs and fluids. A lot of new 4 bangers come with timing chains instead of belts. Aside from Honda, no other mainstream manufacturer requires periodic valve adjustments. OCIs also seem to be similar, ranging from around 4k to 10k miles between severe and normal service.
Originally Posted By: KrisZ
... Aside from Honda, no other mainstream manufacturer requires periodic valve adjustments...
My 2009 Hyundai Sonata owner's manual indicates that valve clearance must be inspected every 60,000 miles.
... Aside from Honda, no other mainstream manufacturer requires periodic valve adjustments...
My 2009 Hyundai Sonata owner's manual indicates that valve clearance must be inspected every 60,000 miles.
Originally Posted By: JHZR2
Let me get this straight. You still owe $5k on a car that at 85k is making "that noise", which you are worried about affording to repair?
Sounds like you can neither afford the car you have, nor another Toyota.
Carpooling may be a better option if the prius is more reliable.
Trading it not paid off is a horrible move. Buying another car when it appears you cannot afford it and must take out loans is also a horrible move.
Save the cash to replace the transmission, do watever PM you need, and then keep driving the car. After the repair account is full, start saving for a replacement car you can afford. When something fails on the hyundai, determine the cost to repair and viability of it vs what you can afford to buy cash as a replacement.
If youve saved well, but a good replacement and throw the repair cash into the pit. If the repair is cheap, do the repair (no vanity of a new car if you cant pay for it cash). If the repair is very pricey, then dump both cash pots together and buy what you can afford.
Good luck.
youre jumping to a lot of conclusions. back up a moment and listen. we can afford both cars we own. we can afford repairs. what we are unsure of is that the noise will not be fixed with the timing belt - which IS a $1k repair - and i hope you will agree that most cant just cough up that much in cash at the word "go".
if we could not afford our cars we would not be making payments on time every month. you are judging way too quickly and sometimes i wonder why you are a mod.
Let me get this straight. You still owe $5k on a car that at 85k is making "that noise", which you are worried about affording to repair?
Sounds like you can neither afford the car you have, nor another Toyota.
Carpooling may be a better option if the prius is more reliable.
Trading it not paid off is a horrible move. Buying another car when it appears you cannot afford it and must take out loans is also a horrible move.
Save the cash to replace the transmission, do watever PM you need, and then keep driving the car. After the repair account is full, start saving for a replacement car you can afford. When something fails on the hyundai, determine the cost to repair and viability of it vs what you can afford to buy cash as a replacement.
If youve saved well, but a good replacement and throw the repair cash into the pit. If the repair is cheap, do the repair (no vanity of a new car if you cant pay for it cash). If the repair is very pricey, then dump both cash pots together and buy what you can afford.
Good luck.
youre jumping to a lot of conclusions. back up a moment and listen. we can afford both cars we own. we can afford repairs. what we are unsure of is that the noise will not be fixed with the timing belt - which IS a $1k repair - and i hope you will agree that most cant just cough up that much in cash at the word "go".
if we could not afford our cars we would not be making payments on time every month. you are judging way too quickly and sometimes i wonder why you are a mod.
Trading in a car over something maybe as simple as a loose V belt or bad PS pump?
Fix it and keep driving it for another few years.
Fix it and keep driving it for another few years.
Well, then the answer is obvious! You need the new Toyota. There is no question in my mind that is the only answer. The biggest factor is that your wife has told you what she wants. If you are asking BITOG what to do, you must not have been married long enough 
Actually from reading it seems a lot of people are jumping to conclusions. I asked the question but the others in this thread have much larger issues at hand. thank you to the select few that were able to provide me with helpful advice ( and a seriously big f$&@ off to those of you who like to usurp some kind of quasi-false authority). it should not be that hard to answer a question honestly without some kind of belittling or jerking around. Really not that hard if youre a decent person.
I concur some folks are jumping to some conclusions here.
However if you read without emotion directly and indirectly are saying don't self diagnose but figure out what is up.
A timing belt is not really a repair but an expensive maintenance item. I just dropped $700 on my 07 MDX for timing belt, tensioner and water pump.
However if you read without emotion directly and indirectly are saying don't self diagnose but figure out what is up.
A timing belt is not really a repair but an expensive maintenance item. I just dropped $700 on my 07 MDX for timing belt, tensioner and water pump.
Quote:
...what we are unsure of is that the noise will not be fixed with the timing belt - which IS a $1k repair - and i hope you will agree that most cant just cough up that much in cash at the word "go"...
zerosoma, if you cannot cough up 1k for repairs, you cannot afford a new car. The mentality that you can afford monthly payments, therefore you keep buying stuff on credit is the reason majority of people are broke.
You are right that most people cannot come up with $1k, the question is do you want to be like most people, living paycheck to paycheck? If so pull the trigger on that Toyota.
...what we are unsure of is that the noise will not be fixed with the timing belt - which IS a $1k repair - and i hope you will agree that most cant just cough up that much in cash at the word "go"...
zerosoma, if you cannot cough up 1k for repairs, you cannot afford a new car. The mentality that you can afford monthly payments, therefore you keep buying stuff on credit is the reason majority of people are broke.
You are right that most people cannot come up with $1k, the question is do you want to be like most people, living paycheck to paycheck? If so pull the trigger on that Toyota.
It's what keeps the new car stealers in business. The same stealer who told you what a great car you were buying will take you aside and tell you ya better think about "getting out of it before you have to put money into it". Happens every day. Not only do they make a profit on the sale, but take in a used car they can fix for short money and stick out on the used lot.
I'd fix it and keep it until it starts nickel and diming you. Then either sling parts until it's mostly new, or scrap it if the body's shot.
I was at a dealer picking up touchup paint, and a sales guy asked me if I wouldn't want to trade my then 40k mile Cruze on a new one of the same model year with a warranty. I laughed out loud and told them mine has all the bugs worked out, why would I want to go through that again? They backed off quickly.
I was at a dealer picking up touchup paint, and a sales guy asked me if I wouldn't want to trade my then 40k mile Cruze on a new one of the same model year with a warranty. I laughed out loud and told them mine has all the bugs worked out, why would I want to go through that again? They backed off quickly.
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Originally Posted By: Cujet
I'd go for a new Toyota in a second.
Not only because the quality is there, but because they generally drive far better (are more of a pleasure to drive) than lesser vehicles. Your Hyundai is nowhere near new, and the risk of expenses is there. Especially considering that you are still paying for it.
Repeating myself again here: Cars cost a certain amount "per mile". Gas-capital costs-insurance-maintenance-etc. A new vehicle, purchased at a fair price, maintained well, and kept for it's lifespan, will be between 2 and 5 cents more per mile than a used, or older vehicle. (within classes of vehicles, can't compare a prius to an F150, clearly the truck costs more per mile)
People concentrate on the capital costs of a vehicle, but many don't understand that the other costs can easily be far higher, over the life of the vehicle. That's where Toyota and Honda can do very well over the long term. They may cost more up front, but maintenance is often far less, and more miles are the result. Cost per mile is generally better on a Toyota.
Yes, I know, you can purchase a used Taurus from Grandma for $500, with 20,000 miles on it, and drive it another 200,000 miles, all while getting 30MPG. I've been looking for such a deal for 40 years!
I guess you know more then Dave Ramsey, the financial (get out of debt) guru on the radio, and TV, and author of lots of books. And a self-made multi-millionaire.
Dave would disagree with nearly everything that you wrote. And in fact, he would think that your advise leads to a financial mess.
Perhaps you should call Dave up. Offer to go on his show and straighten him out. It could be that you know something that he doesn't.
Seriously.
PS Thank you for being you. Without folks like yourself, the automobile industry would be out of business long ago, as would many banks, and financial companies. Oh, and I thank you too, for keeping the American economy proped up.
I'd go for a new Toyota in a second.
Not only because the quality is there, but because they generally drive far better (are more of a pleasure to drive) than lesser vehicles. Your Hyundai is nowhere near new, and the risk of expenses is there. Especially considering that you are still paying for it.
Repeating myself again here: Cars cost a certain amount "per mile". Gas-capital costs-insurance-maintenance-etc. A new vehicle, purchased at a fair price, maintained well, and kept for it's lifespan, will be between 2 and 5 cents more per mile than a used, or older vehicle. (within classes of vehicles, can't compare a prius to an F150, clearly the truck costs more per mile)
People concentrate on the capital costs of a vehicle, but many don't understand that the other costs can easily be far higher, over the life of the vehicle. That's where Toyota and Honda can do very well over the long term. They may cost more up front, but maintenance is often far less, and more miles are the result. Cost per mile is generally better on a Toyota.
Yes, I know, you can purchase a used Taurus from Grandma for $500, with 20,000 miles on it, and drive it another 200,000 miles, all while getting 30MPG. I've been looking for such a deal for 40 years!
I guess you know more then Dave Ramsey, the financial (get out of debt) guru on the radio, and TV, and author of lots of books. And a self-made multi-millionaire.
Dave would disagree with nearly everything that you wrote. And in fact, he would think that your advise leads to a financial mess.
Perhaps you should call Dave up. Offer to go on his show and straighten him out. It could be that you know something that he doesn't.
Seriously.
PS Thank you for being you. Without folks like yourself, the automobile industry would be out of business long ago, as would many banks, and financial companies. Oh, and I thank you too, for keeping the American economy proped up.
Originally Posted By: Cujet
I'd go for a new Toyota in a second.
Not only because the quality is there, but because they generally drive far better (are more of a pleasure to drive) than lesser vehicles.
I had to do a double take on this.. Joke?
Lesser quality than most, if not all competition, and worst driving dynamics by far, of all brands.
Just speaking from experience and reading reviews...
I'd go for a new Toyota in a second.
Not only because the quality is there, but because they generally drive far better (are more of a pleasure to drive) than lesser vehicles.
I had to do a double take on this.. Joke?
Lesser quality than most, if not all competition, and worst driving dynamics by far, of all brands.
Just speaking from experience and reading reviews...
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