Time to say goodbye to my Buick?

[sciphi]

Thinking of it more, the stuff I replaced is routine maintenance stuff that wears out. So, it should be good to go for a while.

I saw the size of the totalled bills, and it freaked me out a bit.

 

[GMFan]

New car payments ~ $450 x 12 months = $5400 not including insurance costs and interest.

Even if you spend $1500/yr in maintenance, it is far cheaper keeping a used paid for car running. There will be times when you have to shell out $600 for a cluster of repairs that fail around the same time. This is very typical. I shelled out $500 for an intake manifold gasket causing a misfire on my 120k mile Saturn last summer. I then shelled out more money for other work costing another $200 total. The car is worth $1500 but I haven't had any repairs in the last 6 months. *knocks on plastic* Even though I spent $700, I saved $500/month car payments. I am $2600 ahead just by keeping this car another 6 months. I keep it another 6 months without major repair and I am $5,200 ahead. As long as you calculate that your old car is continuing to make you money by keeping it, it is worthwhile.

Much better in the long run to invest the money you save from new car payments and put into your 401K. Wouldn't you maybe rather retire 5 years earlier? Not only that, but the interest on your investment alone will probably be able to buy you a brand new luxury vehicle when you retire.

 

[Ramblin Fever]

Originally Posted By: tom slick
There's nothing wrong with wanting a different car but don't try to justify it with "fuel costs" and "repair costs" because you can't make it pencil out.


Agreed.

Think it depends upon total repair costs as well as the type of parts that are failing.

I've put probably $4k into a truck that's 13yrs old, paid off as of 7yrs ago and has 200k miles.

That money has been spent since the truck has been paid for, that equates to only $571 or so yearly maintenance costs for the last 7yrs....that's not bad in the slightest.

Considering a new car payment would cost $200-300/month for a yearly total of $2,400 - $3,600.

I figured I've come out $3k ahead of the game every year I keep this old truck.

That said, the most expensive/involved repair on this truck was the steering gear box we just replaced; everything else has just been normal wear/tear items, tires, shocks, brakes, hoses, etc.

If one has the money for a car payment though, heck, do as you want, just keep in mind, a new car never guarantee's problem free.

 

[Scienceman]

Definately keep the car. Save the $$$ you would be spending on a payment, have no debt, and drive the Buick.

 

[Scienceman]

Originally Posted By: GMFan

Much better in the long run to invest the money you save from new car payments and put into your 401K. Wouldn't you maybe rather retire 5 years earlier? Not only that, but the interest on your investment alone will probably be able to buy you a brand new luxury vehicle when you retire.

THIS.

DAVE RAMSEY APPROVED.

 

[Ramblin Fever]

Sometimes too; unless you can always do the repairs yourself...it isn't the *parts* that'll rack up the money, it's the labor if a shop does it.

For us, we no longer have a garage to work in; whenever it comes to something involved/detailed (for keeping dirt out of), we generally have to have a shop do it; at least for winter time repairs.

Brakes/rotors, shocks, most belts, wheel bearings, etc we'll do all that ourselves.

When it comes to a coolant hose leaking underneith an intake manifold, like what happened to us 3yrs back, then it goes to the shop.

 

[JHZR2]

Originally Posted By: sciphi
Thinking of it more, the stuff I replaced is routine maintenance stuff that wears out. So, it should be good to go for a while.

I saw the size of the totalled bills, and it freaked me out a bit.


I'd agree 100%

 

[CROWNVIC4LIFE]

Originally Posted By: JHZR2
$600 of parts in 2 months is nothing if it has solved issues. Its a 99 model car with likely a good bunch of miles, some maintenance items are going to be necessary.

If you have a car payment, youll surely be paying $300/month on that. For what?

If the buick is truly in good shape, is rust free and good conditions, etc.

I dont see a good reason based upon $600 in repairs on a 1999 car.


I agree with this.

 

[sciphi]

Thanks, guys!

After sleeping on it, keeping the Buick around is the right call. All that money went into wear items that happened to wear all at once. The major reliability issues with the 3800 V6/4T65 combination have been addressed, ie, lower intake gasket on the engine and shift kitting the transmission, so it's good to roll.

It got a throwback oil change of QS Torque Power (remember that?) 5w-30 and an AAP Total Grip filter (or those?) tonight as a reminder of why to keep the car. It's so simple and inexpensive to work on, and is just fine with pushing minor stuff off to a convenient time.

 

[Studebaker]

I don't see keeping the Buick as a problem
I don't see replacing it as a problem. Do what YOU wish.

The problem I see is...
"My fiancee says that if I get it, the Buick has to go."

 

[CharBaby]

Sciphi,
Does the highway department in the Southern Tire use as much salt in the winter time as they do here in Upstate, NY?
You know, I have kept most of my vehicles into their teens by fixing what breaks/wears out. As long as the structure holds up, I'd keep fixing it and driving it. The same thing is eventually going to happen to your FIT. I drove my last 3 vehicle till they actually broke structurely and were unsafe for public roads. I don't want to drive them "that" long anymore but, I'll keep driving them for awhile. Funny this is, is that they looked quite nice on the inside and outside. It was underneath where they failed.

 

[Tdbo]

Keep the Buick, take the car payment and throw it into a savings account. After a while, you will be amazed at how much money that has accrued. Then when the Buick is totally shot, you can either buy a car and pay cash or you have a nice down stroke on a new one.

 

[sciphi]

Originally Posted By: Char Baby
Sciphi,
Does the highway department in the Southern Tire use as much salt in the winter time as they do here in Upstate, NY?
You know, I have kept most of my vehicles into their teens by fixing what breaks/wears out. As long as the structure holds up, I'd keep fixing it and driving it. The same thing is eventually going to happen to your FIT. I drove my last 3 vehicle till they actually broke structurely and were unsafe for public roads. I don't want to drive them "that" long anymore but, I'll keep driving them for awhile. Funny this is, is that they looked quite nice on the inside and outside. It was underneath where they failed.


Char, I'm directly south of Rochester by a few hours. Yes, they use just as much salt down here as up there.

The Buick is pretty good underneath. The unibody frame rails are spotless, the rockers were recently re-done and holes underneath patched, and it's been Fluid Film undercoated for the second year now.

TDBO, that's my plan right now. Drive this thing until it totally fails, then buy another using the money saved.

 

[CharBaby]

I can't beleive how bad my spelling is! Southern Tier...not Tire...Sorry!

 

[sciphi]

Originally Posted By: Char Baby
I can't beleive how bad my spelling is! Southern Tier...not Tire...Sorry!


No sweat!

 

[CharBaby]

My BIL goes deer hunting somewhere in the Southern Teir

 

[Spyder7]

Originally Posted By: Tdbo
Keep the Buick, take the car payment and throw it into a savings account. After a while, you will be amazed at how much money that has accrued. Then when the Buick is totally shot, you can either buy a car and pay cash or you have a nice down stroke on a new one.


+1. This is an excellent suggestion and what I'd as well were I in the OP's position.

-Spyder

 

[FL-400S]

Originally Posted By: Spyder7
Originally Posted By: Tdbo
Keep the Buick, take the car payment and throw it into a savings account. After a while, you will be amazed at how much money that has accrued. Then when the Buick is totally shot, you can either buy a car and pay cash or you have a nice down stroke on a new one.


+1. This is an excellent suggestion and what I'd as well were I in the OP's position.

-Spyder


+2 I think this is more dave ramsey approved than investing the money and having to take out a loan in a few years for the next ride

 

[sciphi]

Originally Posted By: FL-400S
Originally Posted By: Spyder7
Originally Posted By: Tdbo
Keep the Buick, take the car payment and throw it into a savings account. After a while, you will be amazed at how much money that has accrued. Then when the Buick is totally shot, you can either buy a car and pay cash or you have a nice down stroke on a new one.


+1. This is an excellent suggestion and what I'd as well were I in the OP's position.

-Spyder


+2 I think this is more dave ramsey approved than investing the money and having to take out a loan in a few years for the next ride

And that's exactly what I'm doing. Seeing how the car has gotten as many new parts as it has, it's only the good thing now to run it until something that's not a few hundred $$$ dies. Then get another car.

 

[CharBaby]

Yeah, if it wasn't for all the salt/rust, I'd keep all of my vehicles longer. I have kept the last 3 cars...16, 17 & 18 years respectivly. Each having over 250K and one having almost 350K. Having at least 3 vehicles at a time(many of them have low miles) and sometimes 4-5 vehicles. Then wifey says, "hey, get rid of some of those cars, we need the parking space".