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Login to post Forums » Grassroots Motorsports » When to give up on a car?

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July 21, 2010 1:52 p.m. Keith SuperDork

A friend of mine always seems ready to give up on a car when it needs repair, but he has to repair it before he can sell it. Then it doesn't make sense to sell it after just putting all that money into and it's working perfectly. So he keeps it. Until it breaks again - repeat the cycle.

foxtrapper wrote:

There also the viceral dislike factor. When I cringe at the thought of opening the hood again, it's time to switch to another car. Same when I cringe at the thought of driving it again. Time to change cars.

This would be a motivator for me for sure. I haven't given up on a car yet, but I've had a couple take long sleeps as I let them rest and think about what they've done.
July 21, 2010 2:07 p.m. amg_rx7 HalfDork

flexi wrote:

In reply to Tyler H:

If only we all had that kind of crystal ball

98 LegacyGT. DD for my wife. Still a pretty decent car. I wouldn't go bankrupt for it, though. My miata, that is a different story.

My opinion:

It is close to the end of its useful life for a DD driven by the wife. If it is currently running fine (or at least fine enough to be sold), sell it before the next thing breaks.
July 21, 2010 9:16 p.m. flexi New Reader

In reply to amg_rx7:

In the past 2 years, repair costs have been $4100. As bad as that seems, that is less than $171 per month. Still cheaper than buying new. (For a comparable grade vehicle)

If I could find something decent in the $6-8K range, I'd give this car up. Think I've answered my own question?
July 21, 2010 9:19 p.m. flexi New Reader

Keith wrote:

A friend of mine always seems ready to give up on a car when it needs repair, but he has to repair it before he can sell it. Then it doesn't make sense to sell it after just putting all that money into and it's working perfectly. So he keeps it. Until it breaks again - repeat the cycle.

That is what bothers me. If it is working, why sell it? But to sell it, one has to repair it (enough) to sell it. How to break the cycle?
July 31, 2010 7:14 a.m. chknhwk Reader

I'm in that cycle right now. I purchased my 04 X-Type for $8450 in great condition. Ive fine through three wheel bearings, a driveshaft, and some sort of weird rear end suspension structural piece. Its back in the shop for a flexplate, flexplate bolts, rear main seal, torque brace, water pump and thermostat housing. At sixteen hours of labor to R&R the tranny this is an expensive proposition. I think ive put about six grand into it already and I'm quickly approaching bankruptcy but I miss the hell out of it so I know its bit time yet... :( I will admit if anything other hours on it after this winter its gone, as much as it pains me to do so. :( Guess I'll have to look for one with a manual transmission and see if its built any better. LOL
July 31, 2010 7:15 a.m. chknhwk Reader

I'm in that cycle right now. I purchased my 04 X-Type for $8450 in great condition. Ive fine through three wheel bearings, a driveshaft, and some sort of weird rear end suspension structural piece. Its back in the shop for a flexplate, flexplate bolts, rear main seal, torque brace, water pump and thermostat housing. At sixteen hours of labor to R&R the tranny this is an expensive proposition. I think ive put about six grand into it already and I'm quickly approaching bankruptcy but I miss the hell out of it so I know its bit time yet... :( I will admit if anything other hours on it after this winter its gone, as much as it pains me to do so. :( Guess I'll have to look for one with a manual transmission and see if its built any better. LOL
July 31, 2010 7:34 a.m. zomby woof Dork

Keith wrote: I haven't given up on a car yet, but I've had a couple take long sleeps as I let them rest and think about what they've done.

Have any of them learned their lesson?
July 31, 2010 8:26 a.m. White_and_Nerdy Reader

When it becomes too much of a PITA, mechanically and financially, to repair and keep going.

I loved my RT4WD Civic wagon. I also knew, when it started skipping 2nd gear (autotragic), that it was going to be a major job to repair or replace the transmission, and that even finding a suitable replacement was going to be difficult. There's the argument that I could take the opportunity to convert it to a manual, but even that requires some trans mount fabrication because the manual and auto use different mounts. I sold it while it was still running, and was honest about both the good and bad points of the car. The kid I sold it to loved it, problems and all.

My Honda CB750C had all kinds of issues setting in all at once - electrical, dirty carbs, sticky throttle... When Craigslist surfing turned up a freshly rebuilt GS1100L for $350, it was a no brainer to snag it and sell the CB.

My girlfriend has had this basket case of a CRX for 2, almost 3 years now. It's been an endless string of problems. She's put maybe 1000 miles on it the whole time she's had it because it hasn't been driveable long enough to put any more on. And yet, she has so much money into the project that she doesn't want to cut her losses and sell it. She wants to eventually get some use out of the car she's put so much into. Personally, I think the car is cursed, but she doesn't like me saying that.
July 31, 2010 10:59 a.m. fastmiata Reader

I gave up on the SVT after it threw a plug from the head and the tech had to remove most of the front end to get to the head. Luckily the shop owed me money but I know that the repair bill was over 2k. We replaced everything within reach because so much had been removed. Then while we were driving back from the Daytona 24 a couple of weeks later, the alternator started acting up if you were driving over 70 mph. We got home and sold it to a friend of mine. He hasnt had any issues. Oh well, but I do enjoy the GTO more
July 31, 2010 11:07 a.m. triumph5 Reader

flexi wrote:

Oh wise ones, how does one tell when it is time to give up on a car?

Car in question is a mere 12 YO, 172K miles. Lately, I've seen repair costs have been steadily escalating in the past two years. I try to do most of the wrenching, to a point. I willingly farm out the work when it is too tiring or hard to do out in the driveway.

Most cars ( that I buy, ) seem to have relatively low maintenance costs, for quite a while. Then, after x years, big stuff (or lots of little stuff) starts to require constant feeding of $$$.

When do you pull the plug? What would make you give up?

When the replacement parts no longer have rusted outmounts to bolt up to. Even though the body, trans and engine are fine. NE alt and brine-treated roads...
July 31, 2010 8:29 p.m. fornetti14 Reader

Subie? Depends how rusty it is.

They tend to have decent resale so list it high and see if it sells.
July 31, 2010 9:09 p.m. neon4891 SuperDork

Before I bought it...

My current car has been exspensive. I bought it for $2400 after looking at it at night and going for a test ride, not drive. It took $1k to pass inspection, almost gave up when I learned that. Then the thought of how much I have already spent kept me going thrue the little things. "I have $X into it already so what is another $Y" That thinking got me to put up with another $1k for a transaxle and a grand total of aprox. $2400 of repairs in the first year.
Aug. 1, 2010 7:51 a.m. DILYSI Dave SuperDork

ignorant wrote:

flexi wrote:

When do you pull the plug? What would make you give up?

If it is a daily driver I dont particularly care about, I give up at the point that the total maint costs for a year total more than what it would cost for car payments in that given year for a pretty new replacement car.

Which coincidentally, is almost never. A completely new drivetrain is still cheaper than a year's worth of new car payments.
Aug. 1, 2010 7:56 a.m. mad_machine SuperDork

that is pretty much true... I like not having carpayments and only shelling out a couple hundred once in a while in new parts
Aug. 1, 2010 9:14 a.m. fornetti14 Reader

DILYSI Dave wrote:

Which coincidentally, is almost never. A completely new drivetrain is still cheaper than a year's worth of new car payments.

That is a true statement.

FYI - Subies parted out on CL will get you decent $.
Aug. 1, 2010 10:19 a.m. Twin_Cam Dork

It's all about the greenbacks: if yearly repair costs are more than a new(er) car would cost, find a new one.

Except of course if the car has sentimental value or value of some other kind (crazy fast when it runs etc etc). Then the only person that can answer the "should I sell it?" question is you
Aug. 1, 2010 10:23 a.m. wbjones Dork

but keep in mind that when you're figuring the cost difference be sure to factor in the increased insurance cost (collision etc) needed on a new car vs not needed on something old... + the increased property tax (if you live in a state that thinks it's right to tax you on what you own, not just on what you spend )

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