why would you give up on a car you love?

**spider4** · 11-09-2011

hi folks.im new to your forum.i have just recently purchased a very high milage grand prix gt.car seems to still run pretty good,does have issues.body still looks good.i am a bit naive about automobile mechanicals.what i want to know is why would anyone let a car they really love and enjoy go r.i.p.,is it because of expense of repair?shouldnt a car last forever if your willing to buy parts and do repairs?im looking at the fact that pontiacs are going to be more rare since pontiac went out of business,wouldnt you want to keep repairing and replacing parts to keep it going?

**Explicit_Spade** · 11-09-2011

Grand Prixs are easy cars to learn mechanics on.

**TeeWX** · 11-10-2011

Originally Posted by Explicit_Spade

Grand Prixs are easy cars to learn mechanics on.

Did you even read his post lmao.

I guess when it comes to the grand prix, most people are just going to try and find another once theirs is all out of life. Mostly because they made so many of them and they really aren't hard to find in good condition and for cheap.

**BillBoost37** · 11-10-2011

Rust.. that's why some of us give up.

**codyAK** · 11-10-2011

Probably if someone wrecked into me.
Rust, if it were an issue, because for many it is.

**spider4** · 11-10-2011

thanks for the responses.unfortunately mine does have a bit of rust on a fender and a small spot inside the door,i believe it can be repaired and i can live with that.

**Tuner-Extraordinaire** · 11-10-2011

I can and have.

**TLSheff** · 11-10-2011

Besides rust and wreckage. Most people I see getting rid of the cars to get something "newer", or because its broken and "the cost to fix it outweighs the worth of the car".

To be honest after 150k-200k+ the value of the car will diminish to a couple thousand and if you have to do alot of suspension parts repairs, rebuild the engine, and or replace the tranny because they are now old and worn out and its time... you could double or triple the worth of the car and if you went to sell it now that its back in perfect working order, you would not get back what you put into it.

Most of us would keep it or find a cheaper solution to make it cost efficient, but alot of people look at it as not worth the money to fix an "old car"

**spider4** · 11-11-2011

i hear you on that tlsheff.and your right the cost of repairs,wanting something newer,and milage usually are the reasons they give up a car.plus what others said about rusting and obviously wrecking.i just think that given that pontiac has gone out of business and the fact that the grand prix in my opinion has nice eye appeal you wouldnt want to junk it.i personally dont care about the value of a car at resell its more about how the car makes me feel driving it.however on the subject of car value,when i was a teenager my uncle sold me his 71 camaro,i absolutely loved that car but not being mechanically inclined i gave it up when it started having problems.i paid $1000 for that car,now try to get a nice 71 camaro and your gonna pay several thousand.

**TLSheff** · 11-11-2011

Originally Posted by spider4

i hear you on that tlsheff.and your right the cost of repairs,wanting something newer,and milage usually are the reasons they give up a car.plus what others said about rusting and obviously wrecking.i just think that given that pontiac has gone out of business and the fact that the grand prix in my opinion has nice eye appeal you wouldnt want to junk it.i personally dont care about the value of a car at resell its more about how the car makes me feel driving it.however on the subject of car value,when i was a teenager my uncle sold me his 71 camaro,i absolutely loved that car but not being mechanically inclined i gave it up when it started having problems.i paid $1000 for that car,now try to get a nice 71 camaro and your gonna pay several thousand.

Its nice to keep them if they mean alot to you, and if you put money into it to have a unique car that doesn't look like every other GP out there. Plus alot of mods to the right person may get you more back than a normal GP assuming its in excellent condition.

I agree tho on the older cars, my first was a 1979 Mustang hatchback... if you don't know, thats the first year of the fox body cars and tho it was a I-6 / 3spd Auto... it was loaded and I loved that car. At the time (16) I wanted something newer and "better" like my friends who all had newer cars... but now...

**ItHurtz** · 11-11-2011

After you own a car for say 10years, a newer cars options blow away your current ride. People trade. Things wear out, people would rather pay 300$ a month for a "reliable" car than drop 5k and have it last another 10years.

My trans was replaced 50k ago by the 2nd owner of 10 years. I put in another engine, new cv's and some other ****. There really isnt much more to go on the car before its technically brand new.

**spider4** · 11-12-2011

ithurtz,i hear ya.but ive learned my lesson on new cars.first new doesnt mean "no problems".i bought both a 2002 vw passat(german engineering my ass)was back at the dealer constantly,i was lucky most things were covered but what about after?i also bought a 2005 nissan xterra,and i loved that truck and had it til recently but it too had so many issues and after the warranty was up but i was still making payments i had major repair cost.the fact is generally after a certain amount of time you are responsible for paying for all repairs double that with car payments and it is a headache.but consider this,most new cars at about $20000 and no downpayment would run you more like $500 a month paid over most terms runs you 72 months.that comes out to $36000 dollars you paid for that car,then add all the maintainence and tires,etc that you pay out of pocket your now near $40000 spent in six years on that "new car".and if you get tired of it and want to sell it or trade it in you will get no where near that value.now in my case i bought a used pontiac grand prix for $500.i priced a new engine and transmission from jasper for $5300 and then you get a core value of $800 back,add in labor of install.add in just for good measure some other major repairs over that six years i will have spent $10000 dollars,but with all the replacements my car is practically new again and ive saved spending nearly $30000 more.i dont need new so much when i do the math.

**ItHurtz** · 11-12-2011

I bought a mazda 3 back in 06 new. I can also probably say I wont buy new again. The first 1.5yrs I went through 2 batteries. The oem shorted. Pepboys shorted. 3rd one kept with me.

3.5yrs after owning it, the driver side window needed adjustment as it would push 1/2" away from the pillar.

The final straw which helped dumping it. Spun a rod bearing out of no where. Some people check their oil once a week then bam they spin a bearing and find out no oil. I had 2 qts left when I spun her. Dropped the pan, replaced all connecting rod bearings and put 2k miles (still slight knocking) before I had it repoed. I couldnt justify paying $440 a month for a 5 year old car ( I had a 6yr loan) that needed a new engine already. PLus she already started to get cancer around the rear tail lights, wheel well and pillar. Got the gtp for 1400 with rod knock. $600 dropped in a engine with 105k, snapped a halfshaft, and fuel pump went out. Other than that shes strong.

So far I have saved $950 lol. Insurance is cheaper to (full coverage)

**98GPGT2D** · 11-12-2011

Rust....my 98 2 door is ROTTEN beyond rotten...its already had a strut go up through the tower in the left rear...wheel openings are rotted right through....sills and rockers..what are they?

**spider4** · 11-12-2011

98gpgtsd i was about to ask if you lived up north,but i see you live way up north.do you get alot of salt put on your roads in the winter?thats what i found out about mine,it came from up north.it does have rust on the bottom along the edges.im hoping to have it blasted and then seal protected.

**98GPGT2D** · 11-12-2011

I live in Southwestern Ontario. Im about an hour from the Sarnia/Port Huron (michigan) boarder.

Yea, Roads department here loves the salt..

**z3r0** · 11-13-2011

i ditched my old gtp when everything went out at the same time

**machinegunsquid** · 11-13-2011

Gave up on mine when the county said if it sat for 1 more day without it running, there would be a $2000 fine, +$25 a day until it ran..

This was when the engine was out, and I was working on rebuilding an engine...because the first 2 decided they didnt want all 6 pistons.

**Tuner-Extraordinaire** · 11-13-2011

Originally Posted by machinegunsquid

Gave up on mine when the county said if it sat for 1 more day without it running, there would be a $2000 fine, +$25 a day until it ran..

This was when the engine was out, and I was working on rebuilding an engine...because the first 2 decided they didnt want all 6 pistons.

Morning sickness.

**SJAndrew** · 11-13-2011

It's time to give up when you have kids or can no longer afford to dump money into it.

My wife gives me the eyeroll with my GTP when I fix this, that or the other. From her (rational) standpoint, I have good money chasing bad when I repair a 14 year-old car with 141k miles on it.

In the last year I bet I've dumped $2k into it for various repairs, and that's ignoring my time. From LCAs, shocks, tie-rod ends, water pump, belts, 2 window regulators, headlights, etc etc...it never ends.

When you are married and have other obligations, sometimes there are extenuating circumstances that compel you to settle for something that doesn't require constant attention.

I'm not there yet - and I LOVE working on my car. But, at some point financial reality catches up.