We were in a similar spot a little more than a year ago. We had whittled the fleet down to three, my Mustang at 307k, our Rav4, which was approaching 200k, and our Odyssey, which was around 160k. The A/C on our Odyssey went out (turned out to just be a leaky valve), any my wife had had enough. We bought a '16 Pilot figuring it could seat the six of us, and could also be the AWD replacement if the Rav4 had issues first. (She has to be able to get into work reliably in the winter, regardless of weather so AWD is really a necessity given our 275' uphill driveway.) I love my Mustang, but it's parked in the winter and my wife doesn't drive it, so it's really only useful three seasons out of the year for me. Plus, it only seats 4 (I'm being generous here), so it definitely is not a good family hauler.
She was right in pushing to buy the Pilot, the transmission on our Odyssey went out last summer, and the Pilot has been a great replacement. Most other 3rd row seats in an SUV are a joke, but the Pilot's are pretty good.
Last week we bought a '17 Odyssey with 193k as our replacement kid hauler, but we'll have the Rav4 and the Pilot as backups in case I'm working on that one. I'm doing an oil and transmission fluid analysis on the Rav4 and an engine oil analysis on the Mustang before we think about selling either so we can make an informed decision.
In your situation, I would fix the Flex and that should give you the time to think through your other decisions. It sounds like you have two fun, high maintenance cars in the Porsche and Audi. The challenge is that you seem to need two reliable vehicles, so if anything I'd think about dumping the Audi and pick up something more reliable. You'll get a lot more for the Audi when it's running, so I'd probably look to fix that (within reason) and then decide. I'd put the Boxster on the back burner, as it won't seat 4 or 6, which are your two key requirements. My second option would be to sell the Porsche and Audi and buy something that could haul 4 reliably and scratch the autox itch, but that may be hard to find.
In reply to AaronT :
We have money. Spending half the value on a 10-year old Audi to change piston rings doesn't make sense. Nor does spending half the value on a 7 year old Ford to do a water pump/timing chain.
That said, both cars run and drive fine. The Flex just started the leak, and it's a little drip. It actually appears to be the upper radiator hose/assembly area, so I will try that and/or UV the coolant. It does not get hot and it runs perfect.
The Audi runs and drives great, even makes full boost, it's just got an intermittent lack of boost (which I think in that N75 valve which controls the wastegate) and has some light smoking at idle and on decel, plus the oil consumption. It's paid for. I mean I could LS-swap the damn thing and be done with it if it came down to it.
Old Audi's, especially of that vintage when you don't know if the rings were fixed before you purchase, are a huge gamble. Everyone here knows I'm a huge German car whore and even I wouldn't take that gamble. You need to sell the Audi, ASAP. if it truly costs half the value to fix the coolant leak on the Flex, I'd sell it too.
Use the money from both cars to buy the newest, nicest, Japanese minivan or SUV that holds 7 people. Put new tires on the Boxster and call it good.
In reply to Javelin (Forum Supporter) :
there is a quick connect on the coolant resevoir that seems to leak a bit..
Javelin (Forum Supporter) said:
Spending half the value on a 10-year old Audi to change piston rings doesn't make sense. Nor does spending half the value on a 7 year old Ford to do a water pump/timing chain.
Gambling on outsized repair bills, especially when choosing to stack the deck against yourself, is simply the price of admission with depreciated cars. Cheaper to buy does not mean cheaper to own. Perhaps it would be prudent in your situation to start considering cars that come with a warranty.
Keep the Boxster, sell the others and get a Sequoia
90BuickCentury said:
Put tires on the Porsche.
Dump the A4.
Trade Flex in on a 3rd gen (05-10) Odyssey EX or similar age Sienna.
Yes. Yes. NO. That's a recipe for more frustration (odyssey). Sienna might be fine.
The way I look at it, don't try to make all of your cars 'interesting' cars. Interesting cars usually are more complex, maintenance intensive, difficult to work on, or unreliable (or all of the above). You need to have something in your fleet that is rock solid reliable. And it should be boring enough you aren't tempted to race it or modify it.
STM317
UberDork
8/4/20 11:09 a.m.
ProDarwin said:
The way I look at it, don't try to make all of your cars 'interesting' cars. Interesting cars usually are more complex, maintenance intensive, difficult to work on, or unreliable (or all of the above). You need to have something in your fleet that is rock solid reliable. And it should be boring enough you aren't tempted to race it or modify it.
And that needs to be the one capable of hauling your whole crew too.
Fueled by Caffeine said:
In reply to Javelin (Forum Supporter) :
there is a quick connect on the coolant resevoir that seems to leak a bit..
And wouldn't you know it, that seems to be at least part of it! Looks like the upper radiator hose assembly, which includes a plastic T and hose to the reservoir, is weeping out of every end when up to temp. Factory compression clamps on every connection. So buy a new hose assembly and real clamps looks like the fix.
STM317 said:
ProDarwin said:
The way I look at it, don't try to make all of your cars 'interesting' cars. Interesting cars usually are more complex, maintenance intensive, difficult to work on, or unreliable (or all of the above). You need to have something in your fleet that is rock solid reliable. And it should be boring enough you aren't tempted to race it or modify it.
And that needs to be the one capable of hauling your whole crew too.
That was the Mazda5, except it was too fun to drive and I ruined it with the crazy ass suspension. If I could leave one a lone it would be a great backup car, but I know I can't. Maybe I should get an old Land Cruiser or something as the backup? Like 80's/90's? Grand Wagoneer? Something slow and ponderous and 4x4 so I don't want to work on it.
I'm considering selling the minivan and both Jags and buying an NSX. If all 4 of us want to go to dinner I'll just take a few trips.
Update:
Ordered 2 Falken RT660's for the nose of the Boxster S.
Ordered an upper radiator hose assembly and fresh correct coolant along with a new reservoir/radiator cap for the Flex.
Attempting to find my leakdown test equipment to see if the Audi is rings (then I trade it in) or turbo (then I put a bigger one on).
Adapt a few harnesses like this and make the kids tow the Audi like sled dogs.
Let me get this straight. Your concern is reliability, so you're considering a Grand Wagoneer?
Fix the Flex, and it's very unlikely to nickel and dime you to death like ze Germans will. The only other major thing it may need is a PTU down the line.
I know no one said it, but for the sedan idea, how about Subaru wagon with a stick? outbacks and legey wagons from 01 and up to had for 1500 all day and great cars. I have had 4 wagons with over 200,000 on ave when i got them.
2 95 legecy L wagons, 210, when i got them or so. 2 years later with 242,000 when i dumped them, 1500 for the first, 700 for the 2nd.
02 outback wagon, 189.000 when i got it, 291,000 when i let go 4 years later. 1200 to buy, 500 sold.
07 impresza wagon for 2000 and 145,000 and just got in april.
Floating Doc (Forum Supporter) said:
Let me get this straight. Your concern is reliability, so you're considering a Grand Wagoneer?
If there's one thing I can keep running, it's an AMC V8.
