Well, the coolant leak could be as small as a bad hose clamp. The steering fluid could be a bad connection too. But I know how easy it is to run the worst cases through your head, I do it everytime I look at the SouthEast slope of my roof.
I'd say hold the truck together in any way you can. Then over that time budget for the new truck. The best advice I've ever heard on buying a vehicle is to pretend to have that new vehicle payment a year before you buy. Dump that monthly "payment" into a savings account. See how the household budget holds up, make adjustments. Then when the day comes to buy, you can whip out a $3,500 down payment + trade in. This method seems more like a soft landing than the sharp jolt of just going to a dealer today.
But then again, who has the money to do that? But it seems like a smart idea.
The other rude shock type cost of a new / newer vehicle is insurance. That goes up with a new vehicle.
pretend to have that new vehicle payment a year before you buy. Dump that monthly "payment" into a savings account. See how the household budget holds up, make adjustments. Then when the day comes to buy, you can whip out a $3,500 down payment + trade in.
The only problem with that is that the truck probably needs a couple of thousand bucks in repair if it is going to last another year. (I am less optimistic regarding the leaks.)
I hate the dice roll, I to am far too familar with it. Every year I need to do the dice roll with the Health Care spending account.
I think Grelvis has a good idea below. Lets take a look, have a beer and see what you have going on with the truck. Stop, get beer, sit down with the beer in front of the problem and think the problem through. This method works for me quite often with home repair.
Hey, that's hard. It's hard to know "what else" the truck might need.
Think of all of the major things that could go wrong, and bring the truck to a shop to have it looked over (like you would do to buy a used vehicle). They could tell you what things the truck is likely to need in the neerish future, and see how much all that would cost (look at tires, timing belt (not that you can see that), brakes (routers too), battery, altenator, all that crap). Maybe it'll look good, and you can be comfortable with what repairs it needs.
After buying a new car, I don't think I'll buy new again. A rental return on a current model year will do me quite nicely (Consumer Reports recently suggested rental returns over lease returns, as most people drive rentals nicely, and rental companies are diligent about maintenance (althought they usually get rid of them right before they need a required maintenace check (like 30K or so).
Good luck. I hate needing cars. When it rains, it pours.
Would someone, anyone, build me a freakin' electric car with 100 miles of range for a reasonable price? No coolant system, no fuel system, no transmission.
Although there is an interesting one out there...
( ... )
Probally the most expensive golf cart you've ever seen.
When I first ran into this little vehicle, I was impressed by the specs. I said to myself, I'd pony up $5,500 for that little bugger to make my little trips.
Then I noticed the price of $12,000 to $16,000....
I guess I've never considered replacing [part not inside engine] to be major surgery. Cooling system/brakes/power steering/electrical stuff I usually do myself.
And you can always put a DVD player in a car. Aftermarket DVD players are all over ebay/amazon/pricewatch/nextag/froogle.
Your bug may simply have a blown fuse, or worst case a broken stalk, neither of which is difficult I suppose it doesn't matter if it's int he shop already
( ... )
Comments 13
I'd say hold the truck together in any way you can. Then over that time budget for the new truck. The best advice I've ever heard on buying a vehicle is to pretend to have that new vehicle payment a year before you buy. Dump that monthly "payment" into a savings account. See how the household budget holds up, make adjustments. Then when the day comes to buy, you can whip out a $3,500 down payment + trade in. This method seems more like a soft landing than the sharp jolt of just going to a dealer today.
But then again, who has the money to do that? But it seems like a smart idea.
The other rude shock type cost of a new / newer vehicle is insurance. That goes up with a new vehicle.
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that is a good idea.
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I hate the dice roll, I to am far too familar with it. Every year I need to do the dice roll with the Health Care spending account.
I think Grelvis has a good idea below. Lets take a look, have a beer and see what you have going on with the truck. Stop, get beer, sit down with the beer in front of the problem and think the problem through. This method works for me quite often with home repair.
Reply
Think of all of the major things that could go wrong, and bring the truck to a shop to have it looked over (like you would do to buy a used vehicle). They could tell you what things the truck is likely to need in the neerish future, and see how much all that would cost (look at tires, timing belt (not that you can see that), brakes (routers too), battery, altenator, all that crap). Maybe it'll look good, and you can be comfortable with what repairs it needs.
After buying a new car, I don't think I'll buy new again. A rental return on a current model year will do me quite nicely (Consumer Reports recently suggested rental returns over lease returns, as most people drive rentals nicely, and rental companies are diligent about maintenance (althought they usually get rid of them right before they need a required maintenace check (like 30K or so).
Good luck. I hate needing cars.
When it rains, it pours.
Reply
WORD!
Would someone, anyone, build me a freakin' electric car with 100 miles of range for a reasonable price? No coolant system, no fuel system, no transmission.
Although there is an interesting one out there...
( ... )
Reply
That's the snazziest golf cart I've ever seen!
Reply
When I first ran into this little vehicle, I was impressed by the specs. I said to myself, I'd pony up $5,500 for that little bugger to make my little trips.
Then I noticed the price of $12,000 to $16,000....
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Good luck. (sorry, fresh out of advice, besides, I have the common sense of a turd eating beetle.)
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And you can always put a DVD player in a car. Aftermarket DVD players are all over ebay/amazon/pricewatch/nextag/froogle.
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