Extreme Auto Repair - Tip Of The Month

The

Tip of the Month

	Should I fix my car or buy a new one?

	Your phone rings and the repair shop is on the line saying it will take $775.00 to fix your ’96 Buick. You feel your heart rate increase, and options start running through your mind. Should I fix the car? Should I put old Betsy out to pasture and pull the trigger on a new car. Granted, there is no replacing that new car smell, but after you drive off the lot and start making payments, think of a few things.

	New cars cost money too. We’ve already mentioned that nice car payment. On average, you can expect to pay about $400 a month on the low side. Your insurance is going up to. Call your agent to get a quote on the vehicle you are interested in. Call the DMV as well. Have you put plates on a new car lately?

	Everyone I know is getting a new car. I want one too. Spring is coming, you have a ton of projects around the house to get started and you need a truck to haul material. You can’t get enough mulch in the back of the Buick. You need a new truck! Have you ever thought of renting? Most home improvement stores have trucks to rent. The rental fee of $100 a weekend a few times a year is still cheaper than that new Powerstroke your neighbor just bought. Renting a car for a family vacation also gives you the benefit of driving a new vehicle without worrying about all the new car costs we discussed earlier.

	I am seeing the mechanic more than I would like to. Are little repairs coming more frequent? There is no doubt that keeping on top of maintenance is a key to longevity. For peace of mind, spend $50 on a AAA membership. If you get stranded, help is just a phone call away.

	The repair is not worth the cost of my car.Check with one of the many online services like Kelly Blue Book or NADA to see the actual value of the car. That will give you a start. But what is your car worth to you? That number is usually higher than what you can get out of the car. A typical new car can easily cost $22,000, about $400 a month for five years after 20% down. A typical transmission rebuild can cost about $2,000, a huge cost to absorb at once, but far less than the $4,800 you’d spend on new car payment alone. If you are driving an older car, set aside $75 a month for repairs. If you can’t afford to do that, then maybe you’re not ready for a car payment to begin with.

	How about buying a used car? You have a used car. If your Buick has been good to you, it stands to reason that with a little investment, your car will continue to run well. The risk of a used car is in most cases, you don’t know what has or has not been maintained.

	Keep on top of your scheduled maintenance. By staying on top of regular maintenance like oil changes, tire rotations and transmission tune-ups you can save yourself a lot of money in the long run. As your car gets older, some of the maintenance becomes more expensive. Many car makers recommend replacing the timing belt at 90,000 miles. A $600 repair bill never comes at a good time, but if you plan on keeping the car, that is far better than dealing with bent valves if the belt breaks.

	Let Extreme Auto Repair help. You don’t have to go to the dealer to get your manufacturer maintenance done. We have a huge on-line data base for all cars at our finger tips. The earlier you start, the less painful repairs can be in the future if the maintenance is neglected. We can work out a schedule that works best for you.




	*EXTREME* Auto Repair Staff