When do you call it quits?

[EWC88]

So when do you call it quits on your car? After repairing so much, and now there more parts that need replacing (at least $400 worth) Who knows what else is going go on it next. So to those people who have sold their bonnevilles, when did you know it was right? Or even to people who haven't sold there Bonneville when do you know?

Its just so hard right now how I keep having to put more and more money into it. Right when one big expense is done, give about a couple months and I'm spending another couple hundred again easily.


Problem is I do love the car, and the choices would be is sell it and get a new car and do payments.

[J Wikoff]

Well, are the payments you'd do more or less then you spend on maintenance?

[EWC88]

Hard to say because I never know what is going to crap out on me next. Right now I need to spend $400 for parts needed on the bonne. Has 150k on it, rebuilt tranny and engine.

[harofreak00]

whats wrong with it?

honestly, $400 isn't much. $2000 is much.

[Gumball]

if its payed off, keep it.

[00Beast]

But when it's $4k every 3 months, it adds up quick.

[EWC88]

Yea thank god its not $2000, grant it $3000 has already been dropped into the car..

$400 is for: Shocks/Struts, Shocks/Strut mounts, Oil pressure sending unit, and ANOTHER window regulator and motor

Then it just needs a tune up (got most of that)

Then hopefully it'll be all good then.


Edit: Yes it is paid off, have been ever since I got it (dad bought it for me). I mean I don't have to worry about the tranny because I have a lifetime warranty on it but everything else on the car makes me nervous lol

[clm2112]

I apply the laws of diminishing returns.

There comes a point where the car is more expensive to maintain than a replacement vehicle would be (though, if you are dropping a few hundred every couple of months, then you are probably doing pretty good in terms of miles per dollar spent.) Cars that were not serviced much during their life, have a higher rate of failure at the end..seems like everything breaks at once. But usually the sum of the repair parts is cheaper than starting over with another vehicle. If you have to pay someone else to do the labor as well, then it may be more cost-effective to send the car to the scrap yard and start over with a newer (or brand new) car.

[01bonneSC]

But once everything is replaced you wont have to again for years and years.

Thats the point of being a car guy, you love your car and youll wont mind working on it. You already have a reuilt egine and trans, everything else is chump change.

[myfirstbonnie]

Or even to people who haven't sold there Bonneville when do you know?

When I die, because I know the kids won't want it.


Seriously though, I plan on keeping all of mine for a long time. Even with the trans in the Burb costing $1800 and 215k miles on it, the cost is still less than a car payment and the full coverage insurance. Besides that, I already know what I have and what has been done to it.

You may think you are getting rid of a car needing repairs, but you may trade it for something that needs all the same things you already did to the old one.

[malatu]

You'll know when it's time. I thought I was going to keep my 92 forever (I almost did.. 15 years). It's always good to crunch the numbers in determining whether to keep a car. Sometimes it just doesn't make any sense to keep one. In my case, I always crunched the numbers. Then I decided it was time to move on (even though it made sense to keep it, monetarily speaking). I don't regret it a bit.

If you are not sure, I suggest keeping what you've got.

[Skippy1827]

I averaged repairs over the course of a year and mine was costing me more than car payments would be, and the rust was showing up faster than I could fix it... I still miss it, but I am glad I found my caddy.
If you pay more in repairs than a car payment would be, then you may want to sell it.

[EWC88]

I'm just going keep her, for a couple reasons.

I do really like the car, engine and tranny has been rebuilt, and the problems I am having are common for the mileage.

[crzydmnd72]

Don't think there is a right or wrong. Depends on what you want and can afford.

Personally, ours are faded, imperfect, some may say junky. But they work for us, we like em, we like to wrench on them, and I may go for months without so much as spending a dime on them beyond oil changes. Then when I do have to spend 500 or so on them, I look at it as 2 car payments, using a payment of 250 a month.

When I quit enjoying wrenching on mine, its replacement time.

[malatu]

Don't think there is a right or wrong. Depends on what you want and can afford.

Personally, ours are faded, imperfect, some may say junky. But they work for us, we like em, we like to wrench on them, and I may go for months without so much as spending a dime on them beyond oil changes. Then when I do have to spend 500 or so on them, I look at it as 2 car payments, using a payment of 250 a month.

When I quit enjoying wrenching on mine, its replacement time.

Heck, 250 a month ..... I use 400 per month.... makes it much easer to spend money on a repair!

[LeSabre in Buffalo]

Average car payment is $300 a month plus insurance. So $400 a month is ballpark for a new car.

If you're going from a Bonne that averages low to mid 20's for MPG's to a car that averages low to mid 30's or 40's for mileage, then it makes more sense to get another car.

[crzydmnd72]

Dang. Its been awhile since I had a car payment lol. Didn't know they had went up that much.

so 300x12 is 3600 a year. What can you repair/improve on your car for 3600 a year, NOT counting maintenance that's going to be required of ANY car?

[malatu]

Dang. Its been awhile since I had a car payment lol. Didn't know they had went up that much.

so 300x12 is 3600 a year. What can you repair/improve on your car for 3600 a year, NOT counting maintenance that's going to be required of ANY car?

It's a vicious circle!

[LeSabre in Buffalo]

The first year or two is basically maintenance-free aside from oil changes and washer fluid. After that you're looking at brakes and tires at a start. So year 3 out of the average 5-year car loan is when you're paying $4-5k on the loan PLUS $1k or so in maintenance that's done at a shop.

[crzydmnd72]

Dang. Its been awhile since I had a car payment lol. Didn't know they had went up that much.

so 300x12 is 3600 a year. What can you repair/improve on your car for 3600 a year, NOT counting maintenance that's going to be required of ANY car?

It's a vicious circle!

Lol, yes it is!

Thats why I think its all a matter of what you can afford, verses what you want, verses what you are willing to do. Not everyone wants to wrench on thier car all the time. So personal preference comes into play here