Is It Time For A New Car?

[Rob Croson]

So, I have this car that needs some work. What do you think, should I get it fixed, or get a new one?

• 2004 Saturn L300, V6
• 140k miles
• It's been in 2 accidents: A low-speed frontal that mostly just knocked the bumper off, and a moderate rear-ending by a big pickup truck (~$4k damages on that one)
• The transmission leaks, maybe a quart a month (I can tell it needs more fluid when it starts to miss the 1st-to-2nd gear shift)
• The power steering appears to have developed a serious fluid leak today. Maybe fast enough to not be safe to drive without getting it fixed.
• Both front wheel bearings need replaced
• Windshield is cracked
• Passenger side power windows don't roll down (console switch is broken)
• The diver's seat bottom cushion gave out, and has a huge divot that I filled with an old pillow
• The cable for the hood release broke, and was replaced by a wire sticking out of the front grill with a lawnmower pull-start handle attached to the end
• And last, but not least: The key fob needs a new battery
• One the plus side, it still looks really good, and still gets about 25 mpg.

 

[floydv]

Gen 2 or 3 Miata. Can't go wrong.

 

[Ian442]

This list of yours makes mine sound like a gold mine .

I have 2 major deer dents...and a bumper crack from a trailer hitch.
285,000 miles - BUT no leaks, slight oil burning.
replaced LOTS of parts but it runs well.

 

[electroken]

New car.
The motorcyclist in me would like less ATF on the road.

 

[Coss]

So, I have this car that needs some work. What do you think, should I get it fixed, or get a new one?

• 2004 Saturn L300, V6
• 140k miles
• It's been in 2 accidents: A low-speed frontal that mostly just knocked the bumper off, and a moderate rear-ending by a big pickup truck (~$4k damages on that one)
• The transmission leaks, maybe a quart a month (I can tell it needs more fluid when it starts to miss the 1st-to-2nd gear shift)
• The power steering appears to have developed a serious fluid leak today. Maybe fast enough to not be safe to drive without getting it fixed.
• Both front wheel bearings need replaced
• Windshield is cracked
• Passenger side power windows don't roll down (console switch is broken)
• The diver's seat bottom cushion gave out, and has a huge divot that I filled with an old pillow
• The cable for the hood release broke, and was replaced by a wire sticking out of the front grill with a lawnmower pull-start handle attached to the end
• And last, but not least: The key fob needs a new battery
• One the plus side, it still looks really good, and still gets about 25 mpg.

What do you need it to do on a daily basis?
Do you have any other vehicle you can use if this one was DOA one morning?

 

[Sethodine]

My suggestion would be to assess how much it would cost you to get all the major mechanical issues fixed, then look at what else is on the market that you could get for that price. If you still like the Saturn, then fix it; otherwise it might be a good opportunity to swap.

 

[Ekh]

Looked at properly, cars are more like expenses than assets. Their value degrades from the day you get them, and the upkeep increases as they age. So -- the question isn't should you buy a new car, but how much per month you can afford to spend on personal transportation. You might be able to do better with a two year lease (and make sure you pay nothing down to get a reduced lease rate -- that's just giving money away).

So, in line with Seth, figure out what all the car repairs are, AND what else is coming up (tires, brakes, timing belt, clutch) that looks expensive. Divide that by the number of months you'd spend paying for a new car (plus the new car's anticipated expenses) to see what makes the most sense.

My guess is that a short term lease (maybe even 18 months, 18,000 miles) might get you something you really like for less money than you'd pay out either fixing your beater or buying something new.

 

[Ekh]

My own plans -- keep my aging Subaru running, then use it only for hauling heavy crap after my Elio shows up. The Forester is really showing its age, and its mpg is dropping again, despite a series of repairs. But the math is -- keep it, and just grit my teeth waiting for the Elio. Then the math is keep it, removing any kind of collision insurance, and reducing all the other insurance to minimums. Start it once a month or more often if hauling is needed. Otherwise ignore it. Drive the Elio for fun and thrift.

 

[Coss]

So, I have this car that needs some work. What do you think, should I get it fixed, or get a new one?

• 2004 Saturn L300, V6
• 140k miles
• It's been in 2 accidents: A low-speed frontal that mostly just knocked the bumper off, and a moderate rear-ending by a big pickup truck (~$4k damages on that one)
• The transmission leaks, maybe a quart a month (I can tell it needs more fluid when it starts to miss the 1st-to-2nd gear shift)
• The power steering appears to have developed a serious fluid leak today. Maybe fast enough to not be safe to drive without getting it fixed.
• Both front wheel bearings need replaced
• Windshield is cracked
• Passenger side power windows don't roll down (console switch is broken)
• The diver's seat bottom cushion gave out, and has a huge divot that I filled with an old pillow
• The cable for the hood release broke, and was replaced by a wire sticking out of the front grill with a lawnmower pull-start handle attached to the end
• And last, but not least: The key fob needs a new battery
• One the plus side, it still looks really good, and still gets about 25 mpg.

As you know, I like to see things from different angles.
On a search I do daily (PCH) I put in "a replacement for a Saturn SL1" (I was hoping that was the model.
What came up? Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic and Subaru Impreza.
Vs.
Recalls and reviews of Saturn's
Here's what I got http://repairpal.com/saturn/sl1/recalls

On a linking page from there are Saturn replacement parts and cost

If you like the car; set a budget for repairs; a realistic budget ($1,500 to $2,000)
Fix the major needed items, then fix the "fluff" with what's left over.

Or, sell the Saturn on Craig's List; take the $1,500 to $2,000 for repairs plus what you can get for the Saturn and see what's available.
Let me back up; allow a number that you were thinking about spending on a replacement, and see what's available.
Then decide; buy a replacement? Or take that money and show some love to the Saturn.

 

[Rob Croson]

What do you need it to do on a daily basis?
Do you have any other vehicle you can use if this one was DOA one morning?

Drive 84 miles round trip to work, 5 days a week.

I am borrowing my mother-in-law's Hundai Sonata for now. She also has a beater '99 Honda coupe that may be drive-able. She's having a mechanic look at it today.