Car Repair Update

[kybearfuzz]

While stuck in a meeting this morning, the garage called to give the estimate for the car repairs. This isn't just for the muffler issue, but also changing of the timing belt and some other odds and ends that I've been meaning to get fixed. I figured while it's there, these things need to get done.

The estimate was considerable ($1400!). Yikes! There goes the rest of the tax return. I drive a 1997 Honda Civic. I like the car and odds are I will buy another one in the near future. Several coworkers had to hear me lament over the estimate and one noted that I should just get a new car instead.

He made a good argument, I admit. There are, however, several reasons why I don't want to get one right now. Money isn't really the issue as I've been socking away the monthly car payment I've not had to make since the car was paid off. However, I never like being in the position where I HAVE to get a new car. I've been in that situation twice in the past and I'm never satisfied with the end result, mostly because I always feel rushed and desperate about the purchase.

When I buy my next car, probably within the next 12 months or so, I want to take my time, do the research, be prepared. If my buddy's way was the way I was going I'd be scrambling to visit multiple car lots this weekend and that's no way to buy a car. Sadly, my car wont be ready until Monday afternoon, so I have to reschedule my work travel for next week... :(

Comments

[mikiedoggie.livejournal.com]

While that's a little pricey, if its the only set of repairs you do, that's far cheaper than car payments over the next year.

Its hard to know when to let a car go, and I totally understand the urge to take your time and research. I did that when I bought my first new car. The second car was more of a lark, I took my Saturns SL2 in for an oil change and left with a Saturn VUE 2 hours later. LOL.

[ciddyguy.livejournal.com]

Or have what happen to me. A friend took pity on me when he saw my car in it's sad state and not able to replace it due to lack of finances and turn around after talking it over with his father and selling me for $3K, $100 a month a very, very clean 1992 Ford Ranger pickup. :-)

The car was his dads but he was driving it at the time. That was 3 weeks ago.

[mikiedoggie.livejournal.com]

That's great! My first car that I bought (not new) was my from my mentor in college. He took pity on me and sold me his 1985 Honda Civic Wagovan for $100. I didn't care that it had 130,000 miles on it at the time, it was a deal that couldn't be beat and I drove it through the next five years with almost no problems.

It finally went into 'multiple organ system failure' in Dec 1999. While I was away for the holidays my friend was borrowing the car. The radiator exploded, the engine block cracked, the carburator died and several other things all happened within minutes. That was when I knew I had to get a new car. Heh.

[ciddyguy.livejournal.com]

Funny thing is the car I'm selling is an 88 Honda Accord that while it runs fine, just needs fresh tires, brakes, a new exhaust from the cat back (completely missing), water leakage fixed as it leaked inside the car. Power door locks and moonroof only half worked etc.

Also, a rear ender last summer didn't help things. Oh the car looked fine from the outside, the rest? That was another story all together.

I owned the car for 7 years and prior to that, similar issues with an 83 Civic that I had for 6 years. :-)