I bought a used 2000 Honda Civic with 130,000 miles in 2011. I paid $3,200 for it. The last year and a half it seems to be in the shop frequently. The last 12 months I've had: a new distributer, new exhaust pipes & muffler, heater control valve, brake rotors. At what point do I throw in the towel and junk it? I have a good indy shop that I trust and they charge me like 50-60 bucks an hour labor. I should mention that it's spent it's entire life in Chicago where we have extreme weather (has some rust) and pot holes. I have no money for another car so may have to go back to biking it. Thanks for any advise.
When To Get Rid Of A Used Car?????
- Thread starter qwerty1234
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Ride it out. You can only replace so many parts until its a new car!
Sounds like normal maintenance stuff on a 130k car, you could save lots by doing stuff yourself
If money is tight, you keep the car and replace the parts as necessary. If money is not so tight and you can afford it, trade it in on a newer used car when it starts to nickel and dime you to death.
I spent my teens and early 20"s driving junkers. Now that I'm better off financially, I drive better cars, but I refuse to buy a new car for myself. I always get a decent used car while the wife still gets a new car every 4-5 years. I don't like having more than one car payment at a time if I don't have to.
I spent my teens and early 20"s driving junkers. Now that I'm better off financially, I drive better cars, but I refuse to buy a new car for myself. I always get a decent used car while the wife still gets a new car every 4-5 years. I don't like having more than one car payment at a time if I don't have to.
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Assuming the car's been maintained well, 130K miles is nothing for a Honda. Keep on trucking until something major like the transmission or engine breaks. You can do fluid changes, suspension work, filters, tune ups, brakes on your own and save a pretty penny.
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Do a running total, and calculate what you spend on it per month.
Wait until you can not take living with the car anymore for another second...Then wait 1 more year and get rid of it.
Chances are the car will hate you just as much as you hate it, so hang on to it longer just to spite it.
That stuff you replaced is very, very far from "junk it" problems.
It's all general maintenance.
It's all general maintenance.
I drive em to the bitter end. I've actually picked up a few cars where the previous owner did the very thing you have done - fixed or had someone else repair a bunch of little do dads till they finally got fed up with the car and wanted to sell it. What I got was all their hard work and new parts at a fraction of the cost. Usually, I keep a car till something major goes wrong with it, (i.e. transmission failure). Then comes joy with additives and unholy mixtures of different, often contradictory products which serve as fodder for shocking bitog posts.
Personally, if I have a car and it averages repairs less than a monthly payment I'd keep it.
Once you get through some repairs you can have long stretches of no repairs and NO car payments.
If the body is decent, and there is no engine or trans issues, and you know good independent guys that know this current vehicle, I'd keep the car.
Once you get through some repairs you can have long stretches of no repairs and NO car payments.
If the body is decent, and there is no engine or trans issues, and you know good independent guys that know this current vehicle, I'd keep the car.
Hello, A quick recap.
1) Do keep a time line expense record (an absolute must, really)
2) Your repairs so far are normal maintenance
3) The more you do yourself, the more you save. You make repairs or you make payments.
I add
4) Now is the time to look at used cars people are selling. at least 2 per week.
DO NOT wait until a break-down or tantrum on your part to go out and buy a car. You can't afford that.
5) Do the coolant AND clean the reservoir. Brightly colored coolant really helps sell a car.
5a) Do check the hoses. A burst hose can burn an engine and scuttle any schedule you may have.
6) Start walking around the car with touch up paint as soon as freezing weather passes.
7) You're ALWAYS better off handing a prospective buyer a list of things you've done to the car.
Dream Dept:
8) If your car is ratty, try your own hand at body work. You have very little to lose. Amateurishly repaired holes look better than rust.
As usual, all this stuff is easier said than done-everything in life is.
So grab hold, get your hands dirty as soon as the weather breaks.
See if there are any viable newspapers which advertise cars in near you. You'd be surprised how cheap and effective they can be. Kira
1) Do keep a time line expense record (an absolute must, really)
2) Your repairs so far are normal maintenance
3) The more you do yourself, the more you save. You make repairs or you make payments.
I add
4) Now is the time to look at used cars people are selling. at least 2 per week.
DO NOT wait until a break-down or tantrum on your part to go out and buy a car. You can't afford that.
5) Do the coolant AND clean the reservoir. Brightly colored coolant really helps sell a car.
5a) Do check the hoses. A burst hose can burn an engine and scuttle any schedule you may have.
6) Start walking around the car with touch up paint as soon as freezing weather passes.
7) You're ALWAYS better off handing a prospective buyer a list of things you've done to the car.
Dream Dept:
8) If your car is ratty, try your own hand at body work. You have very little to lose. Amateurishly repaired holes look better than rust.
As usual, all this stuff is easier said than done-everything in life is.
So grab hold, get your hands dirty as soon as the weather breaks.
See if there are any viable newspapers which advertise cars in near you. You'd be surprised how cheap and effective they can be. Kira
Maintenance is cheaper than a car payment. 130k is just getting broke in. Try to push it to 300
Junk it!
It's obviously a lemon, as we all know that Hondas and Toyotas only need oil changes, brakes and tires...
Seriously though, if these kinds of repairs are straining you, perhaps you are not ready for a car ownership from the financial point of view.
At that age and miles, given the environment the car operates in, these types of repairs are considered normal.
It's obviously a lemon, as we all know that Hondas and Toyotas only need oil changes, brakes and tires...
Seriously though, if these kinds of repairs are straining you, perhaps you are not ready for a car ownership from the financial point of view.
At that age and miles, given the environment the car operates in, these types of repairs are considered normal.
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You have nothing to worry about. Its a 130K Honda that you are replacing normal wear parts on. Brakes & tires should be an expected thing. At 130K and 10 or so yrs old, of course you are gonna run into other stuff. As long as its nothing high cost and major work...run it!
It seems like the inconvenience factor is what's getting you. Either the shop makes you take time off from work, beg for a ride, won't answer the phone, etc.
This is like waiting out a toothache until your jaw is falling off.
If you DIY on your schedule and like or at least tolerate it, it's something to do for an evening or weekend day. And you don't have to interfere with your own schedule.
If you think buying a (perceived) reliable car is the key to "never" seeing a shop, mentally, any trip to a mechanic is an acknowledgement of defeat.
So buck up, take control, learn more about your car and how to fix it and how to diagnose things that are starting to happen-- and when to proactively make repairs.
This is like waiting out a toothache until your jaw is falling off.
If you DIY on your schedule and like or at least tolerate it, it's something to do for an evening or weekend day. And you don't have to interfere with your own schedule.
If you think buying a (perceived) reliable car is the key to "never" seeing a shop, mentally, any trip to a mechanic is an acknowledgement of defeat.
So buck up, take control, learn more about your car and how to fix it and how to diagnose things that are starting to happen-- and when to proactively make repairs.
Originally Posted By: stro_cruiser
You have nothing to worry about. Its a 130K Honda that you are replacing normal wear parts on. Brakes & tires should be an expected thing. At 130K and 10 or so yrs old, of course you are gonna run into other stuff. As long as its nothing high cost and major work...run it!
This.
You have nothing to worry about. Its a 130K Honda that you are replacing normal wear parts on. Brakes & tires should be an expected thing. At 130K and 10 or so yrs old, of course you are gonna run into other stuff. As long as its nothing high cost and major work...run it!
This.
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