Car question

[bort]

I'm going to be replacing my car soon, and when I do, I'm going to trade in my current car.

The problem is that my radiator just busted on my current car -- it has leaked out all of its coolant, and is set to overheat if I drive more than a couple quick miles. I had the radiator replaced a year or two ago, as well, and it'll cost around $400.

My question is, should I bother to try to get it fixed? Or get my car to limp into the dealership however I can, and get what I can for the car? It's an older car, but in good shape. Has been fixed from an accident, so if I even get $1,500 for it, I'll be impressed.

What do you think?

Thanks!

[Todd S. Malicoate]

Have you checked to see if your radiator was covered by a lifetime warranty? Ours at NAPA are as are most of our competitors.

[ShoelessWes]

I'm a coon-***, so to speak, so my advice is redneck/hillbilly scheik, at best. Even if I spend most of my time outside of marching season working car events and pushing new cars upon people...

I drive a 10 year old Hyundai Tiburon with 275k miles.

After I passed the 100k mark, I decided that I would spend half of what a car payment would be each month, in keeping my car running and good, quality maintanence and upkeep. I've not spent a penny on the exterior/interior, but have put all the money into the components that make it a car (engine, suspension, vital electronics, etc).

I've been stranded in 3 vehicles less than a year old in the last year, but not once has my Tiburon stranded me.

The weight of responsibility in reparing and maintaining (repairing most wear items before they fail) a car is far less than the weight of responsibility in paying for a new one.

All that said, I wouldn't drive anything without my Premier AAA membership.

[tbn.al]

I'm a coon-***

All this time I thought you were an "Arkie"?

[iiipopes]

What bloke and the others said. $400 is in the neighborhood of a car payment for a newer car or a small new car. If this is a one-time deal, including hoses and labor, and if there is nothing else wrong with the car, then it's worth it.

However, if this is the "tip of the iceberg," so to speak, where this month it's the radiator, next month it's the ball joints, the month after that it's the muffler, etc., then it's time to consider a newer (not necessarily new) vehicle.

The conventional wisdom is when the cost of repairs (not regular maintenance, such as oil changes, tires, battery, etc.) approaches the cost of a car payment, then it's time. I like the above "1/2 car payment" budget guideline. I've never seen it expressed in quite that way before, but it's a good way to think about it. Below that amount is conserving expenses. Above that amount approaches a car payment, and indicates time to get another vehicle.

[bort]

Thanks everyone!

Really is more "tip of the iceberg" than anything else. I have spent the past few years in repair mode, and think it's time to move on. Plus, I have reached a breaking point where a 2-door coupe is no longer practical.

My specific question though is this -- should I have the car fixed if I am just trading it in anyway? (can I trade a car with a busted radiator?). Might be a moot point, since I probably can't get to the dealership without getting it fixed anyway.

Thanks!

[ShoelessWes]

I'm a coon-***

All this time I thought you were an "Arkie"?

LOL, I didn't mean it as the degrading way we address cajuns. Some of the old timers use the phrase to mean someone who lives off the land, doesn't buy new stuff, and who isn't very social.

Born and raised in Arkansas, with some time on a cattle farm in Southern Missouri (bakersfield, if you have ever heard of it).

[ShoelessWes]

should I have the car fixed if I am just trading it in anyway? (can I trade a car with a busted radiator?). Might be a moot point, since I probably can't get to the dealership without getting it fixed anyway.

Yes. Then spend as much as you can reasonably spend on getting the car washed, waxed, and the interior detailed. For less than $100 of clean up before you take it in, you can make tons more money on the trade in. No matter what check system they use, people are naturally attracted to clean, sparkly, nice smelling things.

[bort]

Thanks...

And to clarify, I am not going to buy a brand new car. Likely going the "certified pre-owned" route, to get an 08 or 09 former lease vehicle for a good price.

[cjk]

you live in NYC and you have a car?

if it were me, i'd fix it, have it detailed, then sell it myself. What is it?

[bort]

It's a 97 Acura CL. I certainly could go without, but it's luxury we choose to afford. I never drive in Manhattan, but getting to/around the outer boroughs is a heck of a lot easier with a car. We also travel outside the city often enough that it's worth it...

[Ricko]

Fix the radiator, clean it up and sell the car to a private party via craigslist or ebay. You'll get at least $500 more for the car than you would in a trade and a cleaner deal than trying to negotiate a purchase with a trade at a dealer.

I've sold my last three cars to individuals and it's a lot easier than dealing with all the dealer crap.

Go to cartalk.com, use their mechanix files to find a good mechanic in your area, it will be a whole lot cheaper and better than the chain stores.

Good luck!

Ricko