The First Cut Is The Deepest, But The Last Repair Could Spell Curtains For Your Vehicle
Unfortunately, all good things come to an end and, whether you had a good ten years together or merely three, there will come a day when a mechanic informs you of repairs that simply aren’t worth your while to pursue. Here, we’re going to consider just a few red flags that could prevent even repairs from fixing your relationship with a vehicle any longer.
Warning sign # 1 – Repairs exceed the value of your vehicle
If estimated repair costs significantly exceed the price you could get from taking steps to trade-in at top value or even, in some cases, trading your car for scraps, then it’s an undeniable sign that ongoing repairs probably aren’t worth anyone’s while. Unfortunately, the fact that all vehicles lose around 20% of their value annually means that this will become a reality for any car in the end. As such, any repairs that exceed an average $1,000 most definitely warrant thorough research and, depending on your findings, may be best avoided in place of a replacement.
Warning sign # 2 – Repairs have become temporary fixes
It’s not unusual to reach a stage where repairs are more of a temporary fix than a complete solution. With engine difficulties, especially, the general wear and tear of long-term usage means that, even if parts can be replaced, they’re unlikely to guarantee the long-term integrity of your engine without being totally (and expensively) reworked. Certainly where repeated repairs have become a band-aid on problems that are only set to get worse, it may be worth cutting your losses and accepting that, in the long term, you’ll likely save money by getting rid.
Warning sign # 3 – You’re considering a replacement in the distant future
Most of us like to dip a toe in the car-buying market for at least a year or two before we finally take the plunge. Unfortunately, if your existing vehicle experiences a need for significant or hefty repairs while you’re looking, you could quickly end up facing high repair costs for no justifiable reason. In this instance, it’s almost inevitably best to hasten your timings a little, and just make a commitment to that new vehicle that you’ve been eyeing up for the past few months.
Repairs are by no means an inevitable sign that you should give up on your vehicle but, if any of these warning signs make themselves known, it’s probably not a bad idea to consider breaking up in place of a more financially viable, and long-term, road-based solution.