Old Thread

[SpeedGrid]

Old Thread

[REDCRAPGP]

So are you going to post this in every single thread?

[robblk04]

Sometimes its like a woman its cheaper to keep her.

[ILoveAudi]

Haven't we all done this? Who cares? You're not alone.

[blackflag]

As everyone can tell you, I have a love hate relationship with my car.

[Z34Phoenix]

i for one love my car and my woman. end of story...

When it comes to my car, i have way to much done to her to just sell it. I would have to write a big list of what all was done to it for someone to properly take care of it. very little is stock. heck it has the wrong engine and trans! soon it will be top swapped. before when i had my DOHC, it was even worse as that is an odd engine to begin with and then i had a gear swap and l67 injectors and mod'd maf the list goes on. if i were to sell the car and there was a problem, your average mechanic wouldnt know where to start. after seeing missing emissions they prob would make them reinstall of it... then reflash the pcm, then the car would either not run or go BOOM!

so NO i would never sell my car. it would be a death sentence. once i am done with her she prob will be crushed and made into a toaster or fridge or something else.

[Chadgervais]

When I get to thinking those thoughts, I just remember this:

My car is paid off, completely. If I were to go out and buy a reasonably priced used car, I would have to finance. Lets say I were to get a 2009 Impala for example, with 75k. I would have a monthly payment of about 200 bucks, on a car that will soon begin nickel and diming me.

I plan to spend about $2000 a year to keep my car running, a little high, but it covers some of the more major stuff. Divide that by 12 and it works out to $167 per month. My car has 240k miles on it, the engine itself is solid for at least another 100k, and the trans will last if I dont beat on it too much. Here is the breakdown of what I spent in 2012 to keep her running: (parts and labor inclusive)

Battery(Original) at 223K - $95
Upper intake plenum at 199K - $135
Water Pump and PS Pump(both original) at 218K - $400
Sway Bar Link, Front rotors/pads, rear pads, control arm bushing at 229K - $550
Windshield (dang truckers and their rocks) - $225

So in 2012 I spent $1405 on essential mechanical parts/work. Divide that out by 12 months and thats $117 per month. I know that some of these parts lasted much longer than average, especially the battery and water pump. The battery in my grandmother's civic crapped out at 45k/6 years (she has a 2004, had it since new and has 56K on it now).

If I bought the 09 Impala, after the 3800 was put out to pasture, I could expect similar things beginning to fail, depending on the previous owner's care and the fact that I live in a salt brine state.

Hope that helps...