Buy new car or fix old one

[tyler811]

I know that the forum Garage is there but I need opinions and what ifs that I had not thought of and need them fast.

Short version


1999 Pontiac Montana 138,000 mile needs new head. Cost $2000 plus whatever might be wrong when it is fixed. But garage says no other codes show up on computer so probably good there.

Pros:
Paid off
Ummm we like the vehicle. Good mileage on our annual trips to Kentucky and Florida. We do a lot day trips in the summer in upwards 300- 500 miles round trip from home going to zoo's and historical places and parks. So very comfortable to travel in. New tires all the way around. Pulls our boat okay though we never go further then 1/2 hour away with it. New stabilizer bar and lower balls joints on both sides. New right wheel assembly.

Cons:
Michigan winters are hell on body. Rusted through on both sides just in front rear wheels. In very small spots.
Needs new windshield $200
Needs new rear wiper motor $75 for part. Wife can do the labor. My shoulder is screwed. Cannot do any heavy lifting or pulling or prying.
Vibration on left side meaning another wheel assembly at about $700
ABS is screwing up, cost about $1400 according to dealer. We will still have brakes if we do not fix it but ABS light in dashboard will be on al the time as ABS will not work.

Looking at same vehicles in the 2004-2005 range between $10,000 $11,000 with less 50,000 miles that are still covered under warrenty.
But we do not want to go more into debt. We have enough money to pay off my car ($3165) and just leave us c.c. and house payments.

We can still pay off my car and do a $2000 down payment on another one but again shit the debt is what we are trying to get out of.

 

[Terabyte]

Buy a working beater car. 😛

 

[Capitalizt]

Sell it, pay off as much as you can, borrow $4000-5000 and look for an older car (97-2004) with relatively low mileage. I found a 96 Buick in the paper the other day with only 29,000 miles on it...virtually new condition (driven by an old lady) 😉 Asking $4000.

There are real bargains out there for under $5k. You just need a box on wheels with a decent engine to get you from point A to B...nothing fancy, and certainly nothing made in the last 5 years. Get a cheap, reliable, older model car with less than 100k miles..and pay it off as fast as you can.

 

[spaceman]

sell it for parts, that vehicle is just an endless potential list of headaches with no end in sight.

 

[child of wonder]

Debt is what makes the American economy go! 🙂

Seriously, sounds like it'll cost almost $5,000 just to get your current car in top shape.

How much can you save every month? Maybe you should get it fixed for now, then save for another year (if you think it will last that long) and look at getting a replacement.

 

[spaceman]

you could get a decent/great running vehicle with little to no major issues for 2 grand outright.
sinking it into that heap makes no sense on any level

 

[grohl]

Six years ago I had to rebuild the engine in my 1995 Tahoe, cost me 2500. Still running with no major problems. I was lucky though.

Its a gamble. Despite my good luck I would consider the used market, good deals to be found.

 

[potato28]

Originally posted by: clowntard
sell it for parts, that vehicle is just an endless potential list of headaches with no end in sight.

I agree, or if you're looking to buy a similar or the same vehicle keep it for extra parts.

 

[jlee]

From what you've posted, you're looking at $4375 to fix it. KBB trade-in on a '99 Montana with the default options listed is, with condition "fair", $1290. Suggested retail in "excellent" condition is $4740. I don't think it's worth fixing.

 

[Perknose]

WAY too much money to put into that beater, no matter how fond you are of the service it gave you.

If you decide not to listen to the folks here anyway, then please don't pay anyone $2000 to put a new head on your V-6 there. That engine was used nearly corporate-wide by GM for a long time.

You should be able to get a guaranteed one from a junkyard for less than half of that. I'm pulling these number off the top of my non-mechanic head, still . . .

Right now, if you are judicious and search through all available avenues, you could probably get a fine, truck-based, gas guzzling SUV with a decent pedigree for a relative steal.

A lot of people will be selling their guzzlers now, not because they're beat to crap, but because they're part of the recent lemming rush to higher mileage vehicles.

It's a good time out there for you, but please, judging from your post, pay a mechanic you trust to vet any vehicle for you before pulling the trigger. Don't cheap out on this. By the looks of it, you can't afford to guess wrong.

Edit: Because of the recent rise in petroleum prices, NOW is a good time for you to buy privately.

Craig's list, asking friends & co-workers, keeping your eyes peeled for signs as you drive by, your local Penny Saver type throwaway, mysterious skywriting by motivated sellers --

Right now, there will likely be an even larger disparity between what lots with warranties will offer and the most distressed of private sellers.

I've heard news reports about dealers not wanting their customer's guzzlers at any price.

Hell, go hang out at a dealer. Find one of these peeps. Make them a low-ball offer. Profit.

 

[jme5343]

I just bought a 99 Venture - sister vehicle to the Montana - for $2000. New intake gaskets and the like for $2000.

I wouldn't spend 2k to get yours going again. Before I got this one, I spent $400 on my 99 Venture to have the gaskets replaced only to find the head was cracked when we picked it up. D'oh.

 

[yakko]

Buy mine. You will enjoy the 45mpg.

 

[Eos]

I've always thought that UP TO complete engine replacement was the most to pay on a car repair. Anything over that, I would find something to replace it.

A couple grand is still cheaper than 3 or 4 years of car payments. $5k is a little more difficult to swallow.