How should I handle this situation?

[SmiZ]

I'm driving a 1990 Grand Prix LE that I bought from my parents before I came to college. About a month ago, the brake light came on so I checked the fluid levels. They were fine so I took the car to a friend I know who owns a garage. He inspected the car and told me that it's possible the master cylinder is bad. He said in order to know he'd have to take the braking system apart and if he found anything in need of repair it would have to be fixed before it left the lot.

This year vehicle was one of the first that GM started putting ABS systems in. As a result the brake system is a single expensive part. ($2700)
Add labor cost to that job and we're looking at double the car's worth. Needless to say there's no way I can afford to get it fixed. I've put over $5000 into this car in the three years I've owned it. Gas tank rusted out, engine blew, alternator went, and lots of other fun stuff I had to get fixed. Now most of you probably think I'm crazy for holding onto this car, and you're right. I wanted to get rid of it the first time a major repair came along. My dad said that I should hang on to it. We've had the same discussion every time something goes wrong, each time he tells me I'm better off keeping it.

I've had two different mechanics inspect the car and both say they are unsure of the exact problem, but replacing the braking system is a deffinate possibility if they take it apart and they can't let an unsafe care leave their lot or they are liable. As of right now, I'm driving a car with possibly unsafe breaks on a daily basis.

This brings me to the main problem. I've got a mutual fund that was started in my name when I was young with some money that was given to me. I want to take this money and get a safer car. My father thinks I should hold off until I graduate from school. I need a car as I have to co-op in order to graduate and this means commuting as much as six months out of the year. My relationship with my parents is shaky at best and I would rather not go against my father's wishes. The money is rightfully mine and is in my name. To top it all off, my girl friend, sister, and friends are extremely mad at my parents for allowing me to drive an unsafe vehicle.

If you've made it this far, you must be interested, so anyone have advice or input?

 

[narzy]

if you belive your car to be unsafe stop driving it, use the fund, if your dad is that, well if he wants you to spend more then the car is worth to fix it tell him that would be fine by you if he pays for it.

sounds like its time for a new car bub

 

[Ponyboy25]

Screw 'em all (not literally). The way I see it, there are people out there that drive cars that are a HELL of a lot worse than yours. Your still in college, so make do with what you've got. Take your father's advice, wisdom comes with age (supposedly). Besides, if you happen to get into an accident because someday your brakes go out, which is not likely, your dad may feel pity that he gave you bad advice and help you in buying that new car that you wanted when you're outta school.

 

[tontod]

Hmm, tough one. When I went to college, I wanted a car badly in my last year, and with a great deal of difficulty convinced him to let me have a car near the end of the year. You should try and explain to him logically that you need a reliable car. Get a early 90's corolla or civic for about $5k or so. They'll serve you well. Or if you want something newer, get a hyundai elantra or accent. If you do, buy a 96 model or newer.

 

[Azraele]

I understand you wanting to respect your father's wishes, but driving an unsafe car is just well, unsafe. I'm sure your father would not want to get a call at 2am saying that your brakes failed and that you had not survived. Not only that, but the potential that not just you, but someone else could get hurt adds to the burden (say your brakes fail at a stop light and it causes someone to hit you as your car slides into oncoming traffic resulting in multiple people getting hurt). The best thing to do would be to get a new car, but my advice is go with your gut. If you do decide to go with the new car, perhaps you could have the mechanics call your dad and explain to him just how unsafe the old one is.

 

[iamwiz82]

how far is the college from your house? if its a long distance, you can prob. convince them that you are fearful of driving the whole way with it in the present condition.

 

[Pretender]

It seems like everyone except your dad wants you to get a new car. The one person you neglected to mention is your mom - if you can get her to listen to you, she could probably convince him that you'd be better off with a new car. Maybe try to sell your Grand Prix and use that money to buy a cheap little car until you graduate.

If you're going against both of them, it might be easier to just keep your car, or tell your dad that if he's really that much in love with the car, he should pay the $5,000 to get it fixed.

 

[Shack70]

I say if you father wants you to keep the car so bad, have him pay for the brakes or buy back the car so you can one and LIVE to get thru college. I would not touch the mutual find as it prob. took a big enough hit over the past year like mot mutual funds did. Ask you father if he wants to see you dead??

 

[bigd480]

Your problem: a car that is very unsafe and breaks down often; this endangers you, your passengers, and everyone who shares the road with you

Your means to fix the problem: your mutual fund money

Your solution: buy a safer car as soon as possible

I would recommend an early 90's Accord... I've had 3 in my family and all have needed nothing but scheduled maintenance and small repairs (alternator, timing belt)

 

[PG]

Don't touch that money. You'll regret it later in life.
Just drive that car into the ground. So what if the light comes on? It stops doesn't it?
Don't fix it unless it's REALLY broke. If these mechanics can't immediately find the problem, then I don't think it's that bad.


edit: Why have you given the car the label "unsafe"? Has it ever failed to stop?

 

[SmiZ]

I live in rochester NY year round, my parents live about two hours south. My dad asked me to bring my car to his mechanic when this first started. His guy said the same thing as my guy, then went on to explain that he wouldn't even drive it off the lot. He said total brake failure was a possibility and would probably not have any warning. He said if worse comes to worse to stomp on the E-brake or throw it into park in order to stop. As he said jokingly "that'll only work once".

I've tried numerous times to convince my dad to let me use my money for a new vehicle. I worry more for others saftey than my own. I don't know what I'd do if I were responsible for an innocent person being hurt by my negligence. I'm going to talk to him again when I go home next weekend for my birthday. I've saved up some money while on this co-op and maybe I can talk him into letting me withdraw my mutual fund. I'll let everyone know how it turns out. Til then, if any of you live in the rochester area and see me coming, get the hell out of the way. :Q

 

[milehigh]

Wow, $2700 seems pretty stiff for the braking system, even if you replaced everything. Have you shopped that around at all?? I'm a do-it yourself kind of guy so for each car I own I get the repair manual for. At least than I can understand the repair/problem and determine if I can do it myself or what it should really cost.

Leave the mutual fund intact if at all possible. Especially since it's probably taken a decent hit the past 6-8 months. You won't regret that down the road.

Good luck!!

 

[HomeBrewerDude]

Um...here is my advice:

Find a better mechanic (you don't have to offend your friend, just tell him your dad wants to pay for it and take it too your dad's mechanic.) Fix the car if you can do it for a reasonable amount (your friend isn't being reasonable). If not, sell it and buy another used car.

REgardless, do not touch your nest egg. You will want that money someday to put a downpayment on a house (i assuming its about 10-20k total worth). Spending a nest egg on a car will only buy you 5 years (at the most) of comfort. You should only use it towards an INvestment, like a house or retirement fund.

Why do I think your mechanic friend shouldn't be allowed to work on the car? Your friend doesn't sound like he is qualified to work on newer braking systems. One, you can check a master cylinder without replacing it. When they go out, they either leak, or lose the ability to generate pressure, so if yours isn't leaking and you have good pressure, then its isn't bad. Two, ABS systems are controlled by a computer, but I would be very dubious if that part cast 2500. I have a friend who had a very similar problem with a Dodge Stratus , (ie the brake warning light would come on and he had early model ABS), turns out that the fuse box contacts needed cleaning. 5 bucks for labor and 1 buck for a fuse. Also, I assume you have checked your brake lights. Three, if your brakes are working fine, then you should be ok until they start feeling squishy or you have to start pumping the brake to get pressure.

 

[SmiZ]

<< Why have you given the car the label &quot;unsafe&quot;? >>


I consider it unsafe as I've been told the brakes could fail at any moment.



<< Has it ever failed to stop? >>


It only takes one time.



I agree that $2700 is a hell of a lot for a single part. The garage I get my car worked on is owned by my best friend's father. I also have another friend who works at a GM dealership. Both looked up prices and came back with ~$2700.

 

[SmiZ]

yamahaXS:

I completely agree on your analysis. I know it isn't the master cylinder because of the reasons you listed. My brakes still have presure and the pedal doesn't fall to the floor when depressed. The only reason I called it a faulty master cylinder is because that's the best I could describe it. The braking system in this year of this model car is one big hulking piece. The car has been plugged into numerous computers and it is inconclusive as to what part of the system is malfuncioning, but there is a problem.

Trust me people, I've had this car looked at by four different garages and each one has given me similar responses. I would love for it to be something simple and inexpensive, but I know it isn't.

 

[HomeBrewerDude]

Okay so the computer part is 2700. BUT your mechanic sounds like he doesn't know what the problem is (might be the master cylinder, might be the computer)...that alone is enough of a reason to take it somewhere else. Try searching Car Talk good mechanic database.

You are right when you describe you situation. There are two issues, one is the car and the other is whether or not you should touch the mutual fund. You aren't getting good advice on your car so you can't decide whether or not to get it fixed. After you make that decision, the other can be addressed.

btw, you never described how the car was braking...

 

[ArkAoss]

OK, either the grand prix is a bad car, or your buddy is messed up. How could a braking system cost 2700 bux.?!?!?!? I say, for a car that old, DO NOT get it fixed,
I had a 92 van, the engine died on it, but the tranny was less than a yr old, the body was nice, interior very nice, (paint was bad, very bad year for paint) but ended up selling the van to a mechanic buddy. He had an engine kicking around, and had it running by the end of the weekend.

How does your dad expect you to pay for the brake system,? with your fund money?? IF you get a new car, you can get a loan for say the 8 grand you spend, and pay it back over a period of time.
But to spend $5000 on repair, you can't get loans for repair. But if your dad is able to pull $5000 out of where ever (tempted to say his butt) for a repair, why not spend the $5000 on a car that'll last another 6 yrs, rather than the maybe 2-3 you might get before the grand pri breaks again.
OR at least, have him cosign for a loan on a newer vehicle, say a 96. Because if you put 5G into the GP now, the next time it breaks down, it really won't be worth it. It's time for new wheels.

And if you can convince your pops, give mine a call too. I'm driving an 89 oldsmobile with bald tires, I need some help convincing him to let me get any thing better than the tires I have now.

there is such a thing as holding onto a car too long..

 

[SmiZ]

Keeping the GP is not an option. Way too many problems. Regardless of how much the repair is, I'm not getting it done. The car only books at $1500. The question I'm asking is do I take my chances in a dangerous car (as I have been doing for months) or do I go against my dad's wishes and get something new?

 

[ArkAoss]

I say, if you have legal access to the funds, and you need it, (which you do) Go for it. I'd get something slightly utility, like a truck, or van, or like a 96 SUV of some sort. I like handy vehicles. My GF has a very nice little ford truck.

 

[HomeBrewerDude]

ok, you seem sure that the car isn't safe, AND that you aren't going to spend the money to fix it. Then your only question would be whether or not to pull money out of the fund to buy a car nicer than what you could afford otherwise. I still say that you shouldn't touch that fund. You should try to make do with what you money you have otherwise. Sell the car, be honest about hte brake problem to prospective buyers.

As far as getting along with your dad on this. You should discuss it rationally with him and build a consensus with him. Surely, he wouldn't suggets you spend more on fixing the car than what it is worth. If he does, then you need to go on your own with this one.

 

[Soybomb]

If keeping its not an option why the hell did you ask us what you should do? I agree with yamaha, you're seeing bad mechanics. The break system on that car ISNT one big piece. The brakes are not under total electronic control. You push the pedal and pressure is built and send to each brake via mechanical means. If the abs computer is causing a problem, pull the fuse. You'll loose abs but should have no more braking problems. A computer should not interfere with your braking in any way. Its a bad booster, master cyliner, proportioning valve, air in the lines, but its mechanical like that. Find a better mechanic. After sinking all the money in the car for a new engine, etc tossing it and buying another car is dumb. If you post and tell us what the brakes feel like we can probably give you a fair guess. Above all find a different mechanic, take it to the dealer, something, you're being given the run around, but the braking system is just that, a system, not an individual part.

 

[jeremy806]

Ask a few more mechanics for advice. If you have to pay anything over about $1300, screw it, and have your dad donate the vehicle to a charity as a tax deduction. Most of those places will allow you to be aggressive in the value that you place on your write off (just don't get too greedy, you never know when you'll get audited). In this way, your dad can at least get some money back out of the car, even if the write off is only $1500.

Then, look for a good used car, from a dealership with a warranty, and beg your dad to cosign a loan with you.

Lastly, try to avoid touching your savings, if possible, especially with the current market. If you are that hard up for money, take out some (more) federal school loans because they are tax free (or deferred depending on how much you borrow) until you graduate.



jeremy806

 

[HomeBrewerDude]

Does the ABS engage? (find a wet parking lot and stamp on the brakes)

 

[SmiZ]

ABS engages, but feels different than it used to. It sort of pulses, then stops, then pulses. Kind of hard to explain. The normal brakes feel about like they always have.

I find it hard to believe that four different mechanics, two that I have known personally for years would mess with me, but I have listened to each of your opinions and I thank you for them.

I haven't been in a situation where the brakes have failed to function, I'm just fearing that the time might come eventually. Some of you don't realize that this car was paid for by me as well as the repairs on it. My dad hasn't taken the loss here and it wouldn't be his money buying a new one. Needless to say the repair bills have dropped my savings to a low level and being in school full time hasn't helped either.

To summarize, options are:

Drive a possibly unsafe car and hope everything remains fine.
Dip into mutual fund and go against dad's wishes to get a new car.

 

[Emulex]

disconnect the brake light, or remove it, trade it in, it will be auctioned off as-is since its so old..


I mean your driving a car worth maybe $1000, how can you expect it to be safe???

find a clearing, like a school parking lot, familiarize yourself with the e-brake, then go speed up to like 40 and slam on the brakes.

if the breaks fail, hit the e-brake and stop, junk the car.

if the brakes lock up, your abs is shot, but the brake unit is working (possible abs sender unit in wheel).

if your car can't do the above say 10 times in a row safely, you need to not be driving it..