Are ther car repairs worth it?

[Rob]

Well, my car just had some major work done on it.

I seem to remember there is some formula for estimating whether the work is worth it. It is something like if the work is more than one-half the value of the vehicle then it is not worth it. I checked out Kelly Blue Book, http://www.kbb.com and know the value of the vehicle. Anybody ever hear of that rule-of-thumb formula? Should I not have had the work done? Now that it is done it should last another 140,000 miles and eight years.

Thx, Rob

[Cutterpup]

The rule that I use is when the repairs cost as much as the new car payment for 3 months its time to buy a new car. Of course so far in my life I owned only 2 new cars and a whole bunch of used ones.

[Ma3tt]

Well I have not spent over $500 for the cars I drive, I have had a 71 bug and I am now on my 3rd Volvo 740, my son drives my old one and I gave one to a friend. reliable cheap to repair safe and don't die. so with the formula of one repair = three payments I would be on the wrong side of the equal sign by putting gas in the darn thing!

[PresTx82]

The Rule of Thumb?

Hmm, this has nothing to do with calculating a vehicle's worth!

In ancient times, society said that it was OK to beat your wife and children if the stick was no bigger than your thumb. Any bigger and you'd be breaking the law? Thus, The Rule of Thumb! I guess you can beat your car!

I didn't make the law, just repeating it!

[DrJerry]

My old work truck currently has 285000 miles on it. At 225000 I replaced the engine for about $1500, did a lot of the work myself. I will have a work pickup that looks and runs good for about another quarter million miles. I'm not afraid to drive it anywhere, and I don't have to worry about door dings... the wife won't ride in it, but my bulldog loves it!

[sftiggee]

well, i dunno bout that rule. My beetle is probably worth $7000, and right now its in the shop with about $1700 in repairs that are routine.

new timing belt, tensionor, and spring. new rear brakes.
the timing belt is the biggest expense as the entire engine has to be lifted slightly to be access it and repalce it.

anyway, i get to look forward to that expense EVERY 80K miles and for me, that equates to about every 3 years.

BUT, I know my diesel has the potential to go at least 350k miles so i've decided that i will do these things as needed so that i dont' have to buy a new car and deal with depreciation for awhile (until i finally give in and get a dodge magnum, btu even that will probably be used).

so, i guess its in the eye of the beholder, do whatever you feel is right for you.

[BrwBier]

I don't know any rules of thumb, but I would consider where I live before spending a lot of money on car repairs. If you live in the rust belt states I would not spend a lot on repairs on a car older than about ten years. I have been an ASE tech for more than 20 years and am forced to repair cars that would be better off replaced than repaired. Some people make poor decisions on what to fix. Evaluate how well the car has been maintained in the past and what condition the major systems are in. The best advice I can give is to read your owners Manuel, follow maintenance section B, where you change oil every 3 months or 3000 miles and always say "show me". Even if you don't know what you are looking at, its harder to get cheated if you ask to be shown what they are talking about. Do not buy into all the gimmicks that people try to sell you when times get slow. There is NOTHING to make your mileage better that justifies the cost. Maintenance is the only good deal. I enjoy maintaining a car way more than fixing a car. On older cars their are always hidden costs, you know, stuff breaks while trying to take something else apart.

[Cutterpup]

sftiggee

well, i dunno bout that rule. My beetle is probably worth $7000, and right now its in the shop with about $1700 in repairs that are routine.

new timing belt, tensionor, and spring. new rear brakes.
the timing belt is the biggest expense as the entire engine has to be lifted slightly to be access it and repalce it.

That's Routine Maintenance not repairs most people don't add the cost of maintenance in the purchase of a car/truck but some cars are much cheaper to own than others. And if you do your own maintenance (like I do)it still cost you time. But my rule of thump has always been repairs, such as replacement of a worn out transmission or engine, fixing the sunroof so it does not leak, and chasing electrical gremlins that kept the door locks and windows from working.

Dan

[sftiggee]

routine maintenence shouldnt' be included, that's true.

With that thought then, I've only spent maybe $1200 total on my beetle in "non routine maintenance, and a good $300 of that was for my hitch, installation, and wiring done twice. another $700 was spent on putting aftermarket shocks on for a sportier ride, adn the last $200 was spent on bigger injectors to give me the extra hp and torque needed to tow my tear. everythign else has been routine maintenance.

damn german cars for having EXPENSIVE routine maintenance. I try to do alot of stuff myself, liek oil changes, fuel filter swaps, etc; but when it comes to somehtign as major as a timing belt swap, i leave it to the pros because if the belt breaks or is messed up the engine goes blooie!!!

now, on my torino, we do most of the stuff ourselves because damn those nice old american cars have lots of room under the hood