fix it or just get a new one

Okay, my faithful Hyundai Accent (99) is about to reach the 100,000
mile mark. I have beaten this car horribly. Oil changes infrequently
(every 6-8,000 miles), all I've had fixed on it ever was the front
brakes around 60,000 I believe.

Now the list is adding up. I have 98,000 miles on it (50 mile one way
commute to work in upstate NY...cold) It is having trouble starting
(won't start when it's more than 5 degrees below 0) and my check
engine light has gotten to the critical point (sometimes it just
blinks at me unhappily...that is a bad thing I think). And I need
struts!

So, I can take it and get it fixed. I'm betting $1,000 worth of work,
struts+ whatever else needs to be done, and I should have the timing
belt stuff done I think. I have never done any scheduled maintanence
on this.

If I take it to get fixed now do you think it will last another year
and another 25,000 miles? Or should I go get a new Accent (or for that
matter a Rio, or a Chevy Aveo??, or something similar, any
recommendations?)

Your advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

You've gone 100K and never had your timing belt replaced?!?! You can
add another $500 for that.

 

Not to mention that if you've never done any scheduled maintenance on
the car, it isn't covered under any warranty. The mechanics can tell,
trust me. So don't count on any of your problems being covered under
warranty.

Oh, and yes, it is bad when the check engine light flashes.

 

You'll probably be spending more than $1000 when it's all said & done. Plus
all the time you'll have to spend without a car, taking it back if any other
problems arise, etc.

You might clean it up, wait for a warm day, have the check engine light
reset, and trade it in on another hyundai or toyota echo maybe. I'd stay
away from the aveo until its reliability has been proven.

-T

 

Yes, it will last another year at least. It should last another ten years.
100,000 is not high mileage and the car is not in need of trading in. The
key is that you admit this is a good car that has run faithfully even with
abuse. It's well worth fixing and holding on to. If you really want a new
car every five years, that's another story. But this car will be fine if you
just take care of it.

Please don't be driving it with the check engine light on - that means
something needs fixing now, not later.

 

One thing about it, in another 7,000 miles or so when the belt breaks it
will be much easier to decide whether to fix or replace the car. <G>

 

Avoid the Aveo. I sat in one at the Philly autoshow this weekend and
it was junk! The switches and turn signal stalk felt like they would
break after a couple of uses. Also check the std. features of each
of the cars you are interested in. You will likely find the accent
comes out on top.

As far as your current car goes... well lets just say that is the
reason I won't buy a used car unless the history is documented. It
would probably last you much longer if the prescribed service had been
done. Its kinda like insurance. Nobody wants to pay for it, you
just gotta do it.

 

That's true. When the belt breaks you just replace the engine (or
whatever is left of it).

 

Okay, I decided what to do-- went with a new car, will try to sell my
old one in the paper.

Wanted a new Accent, but ended up with a new Civic "Value Package", 4
Door, air, auto, $12,650 (includes delivery charges) -- plus anoth
$700 for the 100,000 mile warranty (not sure if I need it on a Civic)
-- this way my car might be worth more than $250 in five years....then
again maybe not. Oh well. My Accent was faithful, and I beat it to
death, can't fault it in any way.