Car

[ellenmillion]

As if I didn't have enough to do and think about, my car broke this weekend.

I got it into the shop in miracle-speed time, and went to the dealer with Jake to look at a promising used vehicle and ended up test-driving a new Subaru.

Wants. Wants lots.

Got the prognosis on my car and... it's not so good. I mean, it's not terrible, but the car does have 134 thousand miles on it, and it's leaking from the engine like woah, bad brakes, and really awful spark plugs (which isn't dastardly, but could kill the catalytic converter, which is way, way bad). $3300 to fix. PLUS some rear differential leakage, wiring and struts that will need attention soon-but-not-now.

Or, I could go buy a new car.

The new one is so niiiiice, and pretty and doesn't have punctures in the door where lumber was pushed into it during our housebuilding, or scrapes on the roof where we tied plywood to it. It doesn't squeak, and it goes up hill with energy. The seat is more comfortable than mine, and it has a CD player. It's an ugly color - my choices are white, silver or black. What happened to cars with color? I want a bright yellow car that everyone can see. /digress

They have zero percent financing. And incentives. And it's SHINY.

I wasn't ready to make this choice yet. *gnaws fingers* As timing goes - well, it's better timing than it coulda been.

Comments

[pseudopagan.livejournal.com]

Poor Ellen. :(

I was talking to my mother yesterday, who is still up there in wild northland with you, and her brand new car (less than a year old) got completely smashed up when some drunk lady tore into her. :/

I'd say go new. There comes a point when an old car becomes a cash suck with its own momentum and it's best to just rip the bandaid off.

[pixiewildflower.livejournal.com]

I am sorry about your car hon.

[piotrov.livejournal.com]

I'd say go new as well. We weren't planning on getting a new car, but when the truck finally died and needed a new engine... well, when it's time, it's time.

That does suck that your choices are so mono-chromatic. We were lucky they had what we wanted in blue. Blue and shiny. :)

[astein142.livejournal.com]

Subaru makes great cars that live a long, long time....

[puffbird.livejournal.com]

It sounds to me as though fixing your car would cost more than the thing is worth -- especially as a trade-in! I'd go new. :) (Though I lean towards gently-used cars, myself...)

[(Anonymous)]

Jenny here: our car is trying to die as well ( it has mucho miles, and it smokes because it needs a ring job or a new engine). I don't know what it is about our cars that just makes them seem to last only a year...this one didn't even get to one year yet. Sucks to only be able to afford $1000 for a car, and the baltimore city streets really do a number on them.
I'd say go with new if you can, they are better for the environment. Usually.

[metasilk.livejournal.com]

Both my Subarus (Legacy then Legacy Outback) made it to over 200,000 miles (I bought them both at roughly 100,000 miles also). In both cases, the last 30,000 miles were depressing money-drains, but I could sorta scrape up the money for maintenance and couldn't for replacement.... sorta. I think. We gave up on each when the fuel filler tubes rusted--something about driving with the smell of gas and worrying about gasoline vapors, y'know... And didn't fix the last $5k worth of stuff we coulda done (leaks, sensors, struts, body work, etc...).

I would say go ahead and trade-in, especially if you have salted roads (I don't know if you folks use sand, salt, or chemical de-icers -- none of the above in your own long drive, I know). Whether you trade-in for new or other used is up to you. Check into that new "clunker" regulation -- maybe there's a tax break you can find or use.

We wound up getting a Pontiac Vibe this time, for several reasons. Not really relevant here, though. If I lived where you are, I'd've gotten another Subie. Hope your markup isn't as high (Subaru Outback was for a bunch of years sort of the "State Car" of Vermont if you didn't need/use an old pick-up truck).

[jenelycam.livejournal.com]

*HUGS* Sounds like it would be more worth it to buy a new car...