When do I pull the plug?

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Razzle - 20 Oct 2004 15:55 GMT

I have a 1998 Ford Escort. Paid ?6,000 for it (by loan but now paid off) I
wanted to keep it for at least two more years because the loan deal I had
was so poor and I paid way over the odds once you add in interest . . .

Anyway, I'm not sure of the economics. I've just put it in for a service
which also revealed that it needed a new wheel baring, two new tyres and a
new brake drum . . . cost me ?277 pounds sterling.

A quick look through my accounts show that, so far this year, I've spent
?850. I expect that to be around the ?1,000 mark by the end of the year.

Is that good/bad/average? I don't have a clue . . .

I think the car cost me about ?8,000 (including interest) and I've had it
since July 2001. Mileage is 115,000 miles.

Would anyone tell me if I should buy a new car or keep paying for the
repairs on this one?

Thanks,

Rachael

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Backyard Mechanic - 20 Oct 2004 16:25 GMT

Really... it's not what you've put into it, -that's water over the bridge ;)
- it's what you WILL put into it versus payment on a warranted car.

Putting 1500 into it per year is not unreasonable... 105 a month.

Compare that to a payment, both ending up as zero-sum-equity which is now
designed into loan deals as well as leasing programs.

So it REALLY comes down to confidence and lifestyle issues.

> I have a 1998 Ford Escort. Paid ?6,000 for it (by loan but now paid off) I
> wanted to keep it for at least two more years because the loan deal I had
[quoted text clipped - 18 lines]
>
> Rachael

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pottsy - 20 Oct 2004 18:40 GMT

hiya,

An escort with that many miles on it is ready for a new owner, but as
Backyard Mechanic says, it's down to how confident you feel the reliability
will continue, especially if you have to use it for work. If you like the
car keep it and join the AA or RAC maybe?

m

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Razzle - 20 Oct 2004 17:00 GMT

Confidence and lifestyle issues?

My car has never let me down (failed to start or broken down) because I
have it serviced every 10K. And I use it for work (travel all over the
UK). It's definitely not a status symbol - obviously!

Are you working in dollars or ???s?

Thanks for comments

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Backyard Mechanic - 20 Oct 2004 20:35 GMT

> Confidence and lifestyle issues?
>
> My car has never let me down (failed to start or broken down) because I
> have it serviced every 10K. And I use it for work (travel all over the
> UK). It's definitely not a status symbol - obviously!

If you use it for work, can you deduct on your taxes/get mileage
reimbursements?

If so, then you are getting discounted use of the car, to some extent, which
alters the decision paradigm.

Even if you DONT, the car over time will become less dependable to some
extent. Balance that against lost time and employer/customer friction
resulting from failure to appear.

Either way, shifts toward new car.

> Are you working in dollars or ???

It doesnt matter... numbers are only relative, but just to simplfy say ?s

> Thanks for comments

You are welcome

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Pat - 21 Oct 2004 00:29 GMT

Replace when repair costs exceed the payments on a new one.

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Jeff - 22 Oct 2004 04:17 GMT

> I have a 1998 Ford Escort. Paid ?6,000 for it (by loan but now paid off) I
> wanted to keep it for at least two more years because the loan deal I had
> was so poor and I paid way over the odds once you add in interest . . .

Whether you got taken or not is irrelevent. What is relevent is the value
of the car now and the cost to maintain it.

> Anyway, I'm not sure of the economics. I've just put it in for a service
> which also revealed that it needed a new wheel baring, two new tyres and a
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
>
> Is that good/bad/average? I don't have a clue . . .

That's about 1/6th of the price of the car. If that includes oil changes and
regular maintainance, that doesn't sound all that bad. If you drive 15,000
mi/year, that comes to about ?1 for every 15 mi. That's about 1/2 of what
you pay in Petrol.

Besides, you have two new tyres (or tires as they say in some conutries), at
least one good wheel bearing and a new brake drum that won't go bad for some
time.

The question is, though, how much will it cost you next year? And how much
did it cost last year?

> I think the car cost me about ?8,000 (including interest) and I've had it
> since July 2001. Mileage is 115,000 miles.

That is not extremely high.

> Would anyone tell me if I should buy a new car or keep paying for the
> repairs on this one?

It is usually cheaper to keep an old car than to get a new one. With a new
one, there is interest, higher insurance and more risk if it gets in a
wreck. You should ask your mechanic about how good of shape it is in.

My guess is that it will be cheaper to keep the car. Oh, and start saving
for your next one so you won't have to pay as much interest. And shop around
for a good rate on the small loan that you will need.

Jeff

> Thanks,
>
> Rachael

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RustY ? - 23 Oct 2004 12:48 GMT

> Anyway, I'm not sure of the economics. I've just put it in for a service
> which also revealed that it needed a new wheel baring, two new tyres and a
> new brake drum . . . cost me ?277 pounds sterling.

Well, I can save you a few quid here. Don't but tyres from a ford dealer
but phone around the tyre places for the best deal [try the scrap yards
too - I just bought a good wheel and tyre for ?10]. The wheel bearing is
about ?15 [ I assume it's a rear one - they always go !] and the drums are
about ?20 each BUT FIT TWO. Both are straight forward with a Haynes manual
and you don't have to disturb the brakes etc. Even if you fork out ?200 for
tools and a manual (which you need not do) you've still saved money and you
know more about cars.

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SSaund9084 - 25 Oct 2004 04:11 GMT

I have a '95 Escort that just turned 179,000 miles today. It did it while
pulling a trailer with a 540 lb. (245 kg) motorcycle behind it. Had its share
of parts replaced...CV joints, alternator made it to 175,000, water pump,
ignition coil, cylinder head, inner and outer tie rods, struts and springs,
radiator and hoses, several sets of brakes, plus and wires. Gets its oil
changed every 3000 miles (just the cheap 5W30 from Wal-Mart) and a new timing
belt every 50,000 miles. The oil still looks almost new when it gets changed.
If yours has had regular oil changes, it should have lots of miles left. I
would say that it would take a lot more parts than you mentioned to justify
replacing the whole car. But, that's just me.
Scott
Ssaund9084@aol.com

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