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Message
Fix the car or get a new one
Posted on 5/29/14 at 10:13 am
Posted on 5/29/14 at 10:13 am
Wifes car is a 2008 Mazda 3 and things are starting to break. Currently A/C compressor, clutch, dryer, and headlight need to be replaced. Around $1,500 to get it all fixed.
Here's my thinking, we have a baby on the way and her car has 90k miles on it. We know we are going to end up in a crossover/midsize suv at some point. Better to just go ahead and trade in the mazda (its paid for) on something used with low miles or fix it and pray it holds on longer?
Looking at a used 2013 Ford Edge Limited with 40k miles.
TIA
Here's my thinking, we have a baby on the way and her car has 90k miles on it. We know we are going to end up in a crossover/midsize suv at some point. Better to just go ahead and trade in the mazda (its paid for) on something used with low miles or fix it and pray it holds on longer?
Looking at a used 2013 Ford Edge Limited with 40k miles.
TIA
Posted on 5/29/14 at 10:22 am to BoogaBear
So spend $1,500 to have a car in relatively good shape, or $25,000 to have a car in better shape (but likely out of warranty also)? Really just depends on your financial picture. If you can afford a new car, go ahead.
BUT
90,000 is nothing for a modern car. If you want to use it as an excuse to get into something better, more power to ya, but it has a lot of life left. I don't see a lot of upside to trading in now rather than a year or two down the line - assuming nothing else expensive breaks. The depreciation curve on the Mazda is flattening fast, and it's paid off.
BUT
90,000 is nothing for a modern car. If you want to use it as an excuse to get into something better, more power to ya, but it has a lot of life left. I don't see a lot of upside to trading in now rather than a year or two down the line - assuming nothing else expensive breaks. The depreciation curve on the Mazda is flattening fast, and it's paid off.
Posted on 5/29/14 at 10:38 am to GaryMyMan
I agree with this, but the baby on the way changes things. Mazda 3 is a pretty small car and your wife getting the carrier in and out of such a small car could pose a problem. I know it would for my wife. She's in a 2011 Edge Limited and we love it. Plenty of room(2 kids), nice power, and decent gas mileage(avg around 20mpg) for a V6.
Posted on 5/29/14 at 10:41 am to BoogaBear
The money board probably isn't going to tell you to buy a new car when your old one has good miles left on it. If ya'll really want a new car and can swing it then more power to you. Just be honest with yourself about why. On the other hand it's crazy how much decent used cars go for these days. You could probably get decent money for the 3 and not set yourself back too much.
This post was edited on 5/29/14 at 10:45 am
Posted on 5/29/14 at 11:00 am to beaverfever
Mazda has 500 off the new cx5 and you will get another $500 for customer loyalty
Posted on 5/29/14 at 11:05 am to geauxkw
quote:
Mazda has 500 off the new cx5 and you will get another $500 for customer loyalty
He's got one that's falling apart in less than 6 years and under 100k miles. I believe I'd rethink my loyalty, if I were him.
Posted on 5/29/14 at 11:11 am to Y.A. Tittle
quote:
He's got one that's falling apart in less than 6 years and under 100k miles. I believe I'd rethink my loyalty, if I were him.
In 2008 it was owned by Ford. The new CX-5's have gotten very good reviews. LINK
Posted on 5/29/14 at 11:35 am to BoogaBear
I will only offer that my wife loves her 13 Edge
Posted on 5/29/14 at 11:41 am to HeadyMurphey
This is along the lines of what I was thinking. We had plans to get her an SUV for the incoming kid and possibly next kids. I just can't stand dumping money into something when I know I'm going to get rid of it.
The edge we are looking at is a 2013 with 40k miles, for 23k. Blue book on her Mazda is 7-8k.
The edge we are looking at is a 2013 with 40k miles, for 23k. Blue book on her Mazda is 7-8k.
Posted on 5/29/14 at 12:16 pm to BoogaBear
How much is the note on the new car going to be, and how many months until you "need" the bigger car. Another factor is, how much more will you get for your trade in if you get those items fixed?
If you are 6 months out or more from needing the new car, and you get half of the cost of repairs back via increased trade in value, then you're looking at $125 per month for the repairs. Save the extra $200 that you would be spending on the note for a larger down payment.
If you are 6 months out or more from needing the new car, and you get half of the cost of repairs back via increased trade in value, then you're looking at $125 per month for the repairs. Save the extra $200 that you would be spending on the note for a larger down payment.
Posted on 5/29/14 at 12:46 pm to BoogaBear
quote:
Wifes car is a 2008 Mazda 3 and things are starting to break. Currently A/C compressor, clutch, dryer, and headlight need to be replaced. Around $1,500 to get it all fixed
This is not totally clear to me. What do you mean by get the clutch replaced? Where are you going to get transmission done in addition to an A/C compressor and the minor crap for around $1,500? And by headlight do you mean a burnt out bulb or she cracked it bumping into something, or are there underlying electrical problems.
Posted on 5/29/14 at 1:16 pm to BoogaBear
quote:
The edge we are looking at is a 2013 with 40k miles, for 23k. Blue book on her Mazda is 7-8k.
One thing to keep in mind that I ran into buying our Edge last year(though it may be different in your market) is the demand for that class late model used SUV is really high. We went to 3 dealerships and none of them were willing to budge much on price, but were open to negotiate on our trade-in. Getting yours fixed may help the trade-in value. Will it help it to the tune of $1500 right now, probably not. But if you could wait until closer to the baby arriving, you may be able to recoup some of that cost.
Posted on 5/29/14 at 1:25 pm to BoogaBear
quote:
Looking at a used 2013 Ford Edge Limited with 40k miles
Friend worked at a Cadilac dealership and they just got a 2010 SRX lease trade in with 22k miles on it that they were looking for 23k. Has upgraded features too
If you are looking at midsize SUV in that price range, Cadilac SRX used is very affordable
Posted on 5/29/14 at 1:48 pm to BoogaBear
I don't know what a "good" life for a Mazda 3 is... but I would think with 90K miles on it, there should be at least a few more years of life to it, right?
Personally I hate car payments. I'd rather fix things here and there. $1,500 to me is not a huge amount of money for repairs, but again, it depends on what else is in the car.
If you live near a CarMax, get a quote on them buying the car from you, and ask them what they think you fixing the stuff would do to the quote. I've found that their quotes tend to approximate what you can get on a trade-in (assuming the dealer doesn't play games with the trade-in).
Also, you are only getting 50K miles in the trade (trading a 90K for a 40K). To me, that's not that great.
However, most important, is this...
Happy wife, happy life... especially when she is preggers and post-partem.
Personally I hate car payments. I'd rather fix things here and there. $1,500 to me is not a huge amount of money for repairs, but again, it depends on what else is in the car.
If you live near a CarMax, get a quote on them buying the car from you, and ask them what they think you fixing the stuff would do to the quote. I've found that their quotes tend to approximate what you can get on a trade-in (assuming the dealer doesn't play games with the trade-in).
Also, you are only getting 50K miles in the trade (trading a 90K for a 40K). To me, that's not that great.
However, most important, is this...
quote:
Wifes car
Happy wife, happy life... especially when she is preggers and post-partem.
Posted on 5/29/14 at 2:22 pm to LSUFanHouston
quote:
Happy wife, happy life
Pretty much it in a nutshell.
Posted on 5/29/14 at 2:38 pm to BoogaBear
My 06 Nissan Sentra has about 160k miles on it and is still going. Needs a new power steering pump, but other than that it's still running like a gem. Riding this bitch out til the wheels fall off! Started to look at new cars a couple months ago and quickly stopped myself. No need to add another bill when this car still gets me from A to B...How I see it anyways.
Also no kids and shite either, so maybe I'd look at it differently if my situation was somewhat like yours.
Also no kids and shite either, so maybe I'd look at it differently if my situation was somewhat like yours.
This post was edited on 5/29/14 at 2:40 pm
Posted on 5/29/14 at 2:44 pm to Cold Cous Cous
quote:
This is not totally clear to me. What do you mean by get the clutch replaced?
Guessing it's a manual transmission. New clutch on a manual is considerably less than transmission work on an automatic.
Posted on 5/29/14 at 5:21 pm to NOFLyZ0ne28
quote:
My 06 Nissan Sentra has about 160k miles on it and is still going.
Many people experience that "new" car itch. It happens at different times. Once you get past this, there's the other "itch" such as I am going to keep this car and drive it until the wheels fall off.
Posted on 5/29/14 at 5:25 pm to BoogaBear
the rule of thumb I was taught is to get rid of your car when the repairs cost more than the car is worth.
Its served me well over my 7 cars in 24 years.
I will say that a mazda 3 with a baby sound miserable. I know a couple that has a toyota yaruza (or whatever their micro car is) and a kid. They say its really fricking miserable.
Its served me well over my 7 cars in 24 years.
I will say that a mazda 3 with a baby sound miserable. I know a couple that has a toyota yaruza (or whatever their micro car is) and a kid. They say its really fricking miserable.
Posted on 5/29/14 at 6:01 pm to Will Cover
quote:
Once you get past this, there's the other "itch" such as I am going to keep this car and drive it until the wheels fall off.
My Cadilac CTS has 140k miles on it. That sucker is going to make it to 200k. Fug. Da. Haterz.
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