How much money do you put into a beater car before kicking it to the curb?

[zefflyn]

Let's say you bought some cheap-ass wheels for a back-up vehicle, for less than $1000. How much in annual maintenance would you put into it to keep it going?


Let's say the vehicle isn't in overall bad condition, all the electrics work, sunroof, power seats, interior is good, no leaks, minimal dents... fairly clean for a 15 - 20 year old car with 150,000+ miles. Starts every time, no smoke in the exhaust, etc.

Would you replace the tranny?

Or only minor repairs/maintenance, like brakes, tires, shocks, or windshield?

 

[puti]

Let's say you bought some cheap-ass wheels for a back-up vehicle, for less than $1000. How much in annual maintenance would you put into it to keep it going?


Let's say the vehicle isn't in overall bad condition, all the electrics work, sunroof, power seats, interior is good, no leaks, minimal dents... fairly clean for a 15 - 20 year old car with 150,000+ miles. Starts every time, no smoke in the exhaust, etc.

Would you replace the tranny?

Or only minor repairs/maintenance, like brakes, tires, shocks, or windshield?

one reason i bought a bike was to avoid pissin my money away like this

 

[pSykopSoMaTiK]

What's wrong with the tranny?

 

[zefflyn]

What's wrong with the tranny?

It makes a loudish screech at low RPM, going away at about 3,000 RPM. Took the bottom off, and there was a bunch of little bearings stuck to the magnet. So currently, I'm planning on just changing the fluids more frequently, to see how long it lasts.

 

[Blind_Io]

I will usually keep a car until the repairs start to approach a car payment, then I dump it for something more reliable.

 

[BLU_G.6K]

Well in my experience a lot of older cars will nickel and dime you to death just to keep them on the road. If it brakes down on you while commuting it could cost you lost wages or vacation/sick time as well as however much you are going to have to pay to get it towed. The bay area traffic makes it necessary to have reliable transportation. That said, if you are pretty good with working on cars and have all the tools, you could probably get a good used transmission at a wrecking yard and fix your car for a few hundred dollars.

Another way of looking at it is how much would you have to spend to replace the car? If it is a lot more than it cost to fix it, I would keep it and fix it. At least you know what is good and what is worn on your own car. You won't know that about another used car most of the time. Good luck.

 

[Ratters]

Well, I bought this old Dodge truck.....

 

[zefflyn]

one reason i bought a bike was to avoid pissin my money away like this

I hear ya. I should buy a new bike, but then, that's another $5,000 - $9,000, compared to much smaller maintenance costs... but the maintenance on a car adds up!

But on the other hand, this is the first car I've had that I actually like!

(Left side has the only dent, and peeling clearcoat, right side is nearly pristine. It's way nicer than the dreamy Sky Hawk it replaced... it actually has horsepower!)

 

[zefflyn]

Well, I bought this old Dodge truck.....

:rofl yeah, I'm trying to learn from that experience. :cry

 

[Sane_Man]

I hear ya. I should buy a new bike, but then, that's another $5,000 - $9,000, compared to much smaller maintenance costs... but the maintenance on a car adds up!

But on the other hand, this is the first car I've had that I actually like!

(Left side has the only dent, and peeling clearcoat, right side is nearly pristine. It's way nicer than the dreamy Sky Hawk it replaced... it actually has horsepower!)

I used to own a white M30 Convertible, but mine was clean. :laughing

The tranny went bad (would not upshift to 2nd), and the shop wanted $3500 to repair it. I found a garage in Oaktown who replaced it for $800 with a used tranny.

I could never be seen driving a beater though. Or a car with faded paint or dents. :laughing

 

[Mike T]

if you love it...do it...

hell..you have more options then i do... no power windows, alarms, or a sunroof....yet i still love my cage to death....:teeth

 

[AbeezieSoNeezie]

dude, i have a friend in the same situation but she put too much money into her ride already to not do some major work to keep it going for another 100,000 miles.
to each their own.
if you are feeling your ride and feel better about swinging the cost for a new tranny (and are sure that everything else is A-OK and the whole ride will last you for a minute you can live with then i say go for it.
me, in your position, i'd go buy a 5-series.

 

[pSykopSoMaTiK]

Check with some of the independent shops. They can usually replace the tranny at a fraction of the cost of the dealers. I just got my tranny replaced last year due to this http://www.bayarearidersforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=216274 and it came out to about 1600 with 300 going to a new clutch, PP, TO bearing so your auto should be less. Don't take my word for it, but I think you might share a transmission with a Maxima of the same generation.

 

[MtnRacer]

Also, a tranny job isn't that bad if you're mechanically inclined. The first time I did it on my RX-7 I had it out in about 2 hours and back in in 1. Then I had it out again in 40 minutes because I put the clutch in backwards. :cry Don't make that mistake.

Steve

 

[wiffledaddy]

First off, I'd have a look at some auto boards and see what kinds of repairs these cars generally need at your mileage. Maybe there is something else that happens at XXX miles. In which case, I'd bail out after the transmission fails. But, I think that is low mileage for that car, isn't it?

The formula for keeping a heap on the road is a personal one, I think. It would be nice to say "no repair that costs more than the initial purchase price of the heap", but what if that one repair is the last one it needs for 3 years? Or, 2 days after a major repair, you get hit by the Muni bus? Automobile comes from the Latin word for gamble.

However, keep in mind that there will be ten billion gas guzzlers on the used market soon and no buyers in sight. You'll be able to get a decent car/truck soon enough -- likely at a great price -- if you are willing to pay more for gas.

 

[Junkie]

What I've done on my 1990 Integra...
alternator
brakes (a few times, I beat on it HARD)
tires (duh) (again, twice as I beat on it hard)
remove unnecesary shit - like the PS belt (who needs that), AC belt (was in the way of the alternator belt), soon I'll probably remove the rest of those systems
remove some interior panels so I can adjust the heat, as the dashboard knob doesn't work
plug wires, plugs, valve adjustments, oil changes, etc
stainless brake lines
I beat on it hard and it takes it well, even if I go through brake pads in 15k miles and tires pretty quickly too (even with a good alignment)

 

[Johndicezx9]

I had 12 year stretch where I bought 3 old Volvo wagons in succession, never paying more than $1500 because I just needed them to ''mule'' me around. Never had to do much to them, and if a repair approached $500, I'd look for a new one. (I'm not sure I changed the oil in the last one, even though I drove it nearly 60k, but I did have to add a quart of oil about every month and a half.)

 

[dgb]

I will usually keep a car until the repairs start to approach a car payment, then I dump it for something more reliable.

Exactly my philosophy. When you start to make new car payments on an old car, it's time to get a new car.

...and mine is getting close.

 

[BlacKat]

Just run it into the ground and buy another clunker.

 

[wiffledaddy]

your new car

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/car/699764622.html

because you know you have skills when parking

comes with 8 track and nice little R&B collection!