Buy a new car or fix the old one?
By dlkuku
@dlkuku (1935)
United States
February 8, 2008 7:41am CST
Last night my husband was coming home from work when the car suddenly bucked and then just died. Thankfully, we have AAA, so we had the car towed home last night.
This car has been a good car, with almost 200,000 miles on it, he has driven it for three years without one problem. It is in really good shape, has new tires, a good exhaust and we recently had it tuned up. He thinks it's the fuel pump, we did start it last night, but it's acting like it's starved for fuel. But then it could be the fuel injectors and in that case we're talking big money.
What this means for me, is that I am now carless, since my husband travels 50 miles to work and back each day, and he makes way more money than I do, he needs my car for the time being.
Last night we considered our options, but we just can't decide on which way to go.
Have the car fixed, hoping nothing else goes wrong with it, and considering we aren't sure what exactly is wrong with it too, so it may cost a whole lot to fix or put a down payment on another used car.
We really do need a running car, my job is three miles away from my house, so it is a bit far to walk. There is no public bussing system here, which would be an option if it was available. I can use a taxi but their fees are quite high, or try and scramble for rides from co-workers, which I hate doing unless it's absoulutely necessary.
So what do you all think? Buy another car or get this one fixed? What would you do? I am really stuck here.
1 person likes this
3 responses
@luvstochat (6907)
• United States
8 Feb 08
Considering the car has just about 200,000 miles on it I would buy a new car. Things are going to start going wrong with that many miles on the car.
Since your husband drives 50 miles to work you need to make sure he is in a realiable car that will get him to and from work without the worry of it breaking down.
That is what I would do.
1 person likes this
@dlkuku (1935)
• United States
9 Feb 08
That was our thought, even though we do have a newer vehicle, he doesn't want to rack the miles up on it, since we have a few years yet to pay it off. He is using it for the time being, but we really do need another (running) vehicle. And with that kind of mileage on the old one, it sure won't last forever. We are going to eventually fix it, but we are still going to buy another one first, that way we have a 'back up' vehicle.
@polachicago (18716)
• United States
8 Feb 08
I would fix the old one. I trade my old car and it was a big mistake. I should keep it as emergency car.
I would fix the old one. New cars are so expensive. I always check for second opinion on car fixing.
Good luck!
@starangel (414)
• United States
8 Feb 08
It sounds like it's a good car for taking you this far. It would depend on how much it will cost to fix VS. buying a new car. And if he's going to be using it to drive back and forth from his job, he might as well try to keep the car. The new car will most likely end up the same way, but it may not last as long. My husband is a mechanic. He says the newer cars are becoming harder to just fix in our driveway. They have to be taken to the dealership or autozone...and those places will tell you everything wrong w/ it except the real problem w/ it.
Check in and see how long it will take to fix it and how much. try to make sure you know for sure what's wrong so you don't get ripped off. Good luck. :)
@dlkuku (1935)
• United States
9 Feb 08
I've heard it's getting that people can not even change the oil in the newer cars because the way they are making them. Thanks for responding, I'll have to think about this, and we do also have to consider the high mileage on the car. Eventually, it will have to be replaced either way.
