<< Did I read that right; you put 64k miles on it in the last year? No wonder $2600 in repairs! That's a damn high number of miles in a year. If I read that right I'd say that $2600 in repairs isn't that bad really. >>
LOL. Ok let me explain. We have had the car for a few years. We bought it with 39k miles. We have put on the rest in the last 3 years (so no warranty here). My wife did a lot of driving in that time because 1) she went to school in Galveston TX, her house is in Dallas and 2) she was on rotations in small towns and did a lot of bouncing around to different rural hospitals. So that is about 20k miles a year, whereas most people who work put about 15k a year on theirs. Plus being highway miles, its not like WE were the ones that ragged the car out. Plus, I babied that car. Every 3-3.5k miles it got its oil done. I stood over them and made sure they put in a new filter every time. I did ALL of the maintenance on the car at the time is was supposed to be done. I waxed it, conditioned and cleaned the leather, etc... This car has only every had premium gas (that is what is required by the manual), we NEVER cheaped out and put in anything else. I never used any sort of fuel additives either.
Since it was a lease car originally, I think the first owner, knowing they were going to exchange it at the end of their lease, neglected it. I pointed this possibility out before we bought the car, but nobody listened. Thats frustration pt. #1.
<< If you have a car over 100k miles, of course the maintainence is going to be expensive. $2600 bucks is bad compared to what you would pay for a new car >>
Yeah but you are missing the pt. Sorry if I did not explain clearly. We drove to the Honda dealership (reliable, I have used them all my life) locally to get a new Civic. They had about 10 Infiniti cars on the lot that were used as leases. We could have gotten either the Civic or J30 for almost exactly the SAME price. Her parents paid CASH, upfront, no financing whatsoever. They are really frugral people, being Asian this is pretty normal, and very economical and sensible people. Even though I argued strontgly (nicely as well) that we should buy the newer car due to 1) insurance 2) maintenance 3) gas costs, her dad fell in love with the damn leather seat, bose radio, decked out luxo car instead of the econo-box Honda. Frustration pt. #2. I mean we could have had either, why make it hard on yourself????
<< What do you expect though? The car is 8 years old now. I had engine problems with my 3 year old Mazda 626. >>
I agree. Nobody frickin' listened to me. However, Infiniti are nice cars and should be expected to get more than 100k miles before stuff starts falling apart. That's what domestics do 😛
<< Yeah, this last year you've spent probably twice as much as is normal for an older car. Generally an older car will cost between $100 and $150 per month to keep running, not counting normal maintenance. Just playing devil's advocate here, but there is always that chance that you have finally fixed the last thing that will go wrong with the car for a long time. Always that to think about.
>>
That is what I am hoping. I was optimistic last time, but in less than a year I had to drop another wad of cash to fix it. Still hopefull this is the last time though.
<< i realize that you want to be diplomatic with your wife's parents, but you're also a big boy.
don't let them (or anyone else) make decisions that are yours to make; ya so they got it for your wife, but it obviously affects you and is pissing you off. if you don't take your own matters into your own hands, it's your own fault when they don't go your way.
simplify your life (when i say "your" it can also be the royal "your", inclusive of your wife, too) and pay attention to the truly important stuff, like getting her thru med. school, etc. worry bout overbearing inlaws in due time. >>
You are right of course. It was awkward since I didn't PAY for the car originally. So its not like I can call it my property outright. But then again maybe I will 😀
