Friday, November 19, 2010

How do you know when to change your Car?

I drive a 1989 Corolla and I was wondering what are the signs or symptoms to know that it is time to change to a diffrent vhiecle. I am not the kind of person who likes to get rid of something that works. I have had this car for a while now and there is nothing wrong with it. Just recently brought a new battery and everything works fine. But I have seen friends that change there car in 5-6 years. They say ';something was worng with it'; and never tell me what it is or I do not understand it.The car is 17 years old. It has only been in one major accident and the rest were minor. (People damaging the back bumper.)



Vhiecle Status: The paint on the car is fine no dents: There is rust that occurs near the wheel.



The A/C, Radio all still work. All the lights in the car still works. I have felt no diffrence in power over the years I have tried it.



The engine is fine a bit dusty and some rusted parts but nothing serious. No holes. The rims are rusted metal coating has fallen off.How do you know when to change your Car?
Since it sounds like the car is in expected shape for being 17 years old and you are happy with it and do not feel a need for a new car then drive it till it breaks beyond the cost of repairing it. What I mean that as long as the repairs are normal expenses and you can afford it then keep it going. If the engine dies or the tranny throws a gear and you are looking at major expenses then it would be time to sell car for parts and spend your money towards a new or newer car. You can always have a mechanic check the commpression of the engine and other major parts of the car for any tell tale signs of major issues to come.



If you car in not burning oil, has good compression, the tranny shifts well, the steering is stright and tight and the brakes are solid then you are good to go. The rest of the car may nickel and dime you but it may be less then a new car.How do you know when to change your Car?
when you have the money to do so

when repair and maint costs exceed the value of the car / your expendable budget
Your car probably has little value if sold or traded in due to the fact it is 17 years old. Since you report no big problems I would be willing to stick with the car until problems develop. Those who trade every few years do it for a variety of reasons usually unrelated to performance and reliability.
when your car starts to burn oil, or if the car is running hotter than normal - not necessarily overheating, but the temperature gauge points higher than you remember.
Not to be mean, but by chance are you a compulsive collector, or the type who can't throw out anything that isn't broken? In my family, my mom would get a different car every 2-3 years. She would get a new car because she wanted to change looks. Just like furniture or clothes or hairstyles. We were considered low income for years and then made it into middle class, so the cars got a little nicer, but that's it. We didn't drive a car for 20 years until a catastrophic failure and then start all over again. That just seems ridiculous to me. Now that I'm a young adult and am just getting on my feet, I don't have much money for a vehicle so I've basically gone from beater to beater in the last 5 years. Some cars were nicer than others. I always keep up on maintenance, but usually I am given a vehicle on it's last leg and it ends up dying on me. I have been the last owner of 8 out of the 10 cars I've had in the last 5 years. Personally, I just don't see the point in keeping a vehicle for that long unless you don't have money to buy another one or unless it's a sports car or rare car.
when repairs cost more than the value of the car is the major one. most people trade in more for the fact of not wanting something old. or they get tired of it after a few years.



beings everything is fine (as far as you know) and your happy with it. keep it till the tires fall off. Toyota's are known to last for a long time.
I have lived around mechanics all my life.. Even my ex husband was a tech.. Toyotas are good vehicles.. I owned a 86 tercel and it lasted me a long time.. of course regular maintence, but other than that if it still gets u from point a to point b then why get rid of it?

No comments:

Post a Comment