$4500 Estimate to Fix 2014 Hyundai Tucson with 100K

[Anonymous]

Help! We are paralyzed with this decision-making. Definitely do NOT want a new car, but this car is getting old and $4,500 is a hefty cost to fix (new brakes, new tires and new suspension). Is there a formula to help decide if it's worth fixing, or just move on! Was hoping this cars would last a little longer because we have a kid headed to college in a few years and wanted to focus on beefing up that 529 account!

What would you do? Fix or replace?

Thanks for any advice!

[Anonymous]

I'd be in the replace camp.

[Anonymous]

Ten years old and not even the best brand?

Replace. You can replace with something 4-6 years old and you'll be happier.

[Anonymous]

If you have a kid headed to college soon, you have a kid driving sooner. Think of it as getting a safer vehicle for them to learn to drive on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Help! We are paralyzed with this decision-making. Definitely do NOT want a new car, but this car is getting old and $4,500 is a hefty cost to fix (new brakes, new tires and new suspension). Is there a formula to help decide if it's worth fixing, or just move on! Was hoping this cars would last a little longer because we have a kid headed to college in a few years and wanted to focus on beefing up that 529 account!

What would you do? Fix or replace?

Thanks for any advice!

Get another quote.
Someone is trying to rip you off!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Help! We are paralyzed with this decision-making. Definitely do NOT want a new car, but this car is getting old and $4,500 is a hefty cost to fix (new brakes, new tires and new suspension). Is there a formula to help decide if it's worth fixing, or just move on! Was hoping this cars would last a little longer because we have a kid headed to college in a few years and wanted to focus on beefing up that 529 account!

What would you do? Fix or replace?

Thanks for any advice!

Get another quote.
Someone is trying to rip you off!

I agree! I'd check independent shops, and even an automotive trade school (some work on the public's cars). It should not cost that much, and for less I'd go ahead with it. 100k miles is nothing these days.

[Anonymous]

Fix it! Get another estimate.that is crazy high

[Anonymous]

Normally I don’t recommend Mr. Tire but for brakes and tires in a basic car they are way less than dealer and warranty their work.

The suspension find a good small independent shop.

I would fix. $4,500 is basically just tax and fees a new car

[Anonymous]

10 year old Hyundai? Replace.

[Anonymous]

You have to consider future repairs too. At 10 years old it starts to be an annual thing. We replaced a car we'd hope to keep when the repair cost was close to the value of the car. We figured that saving $6k, plus selling the car for $6k, put enough of a dent in buying a new car. That car was 11 years old and 140k miles.

[Anonymous]

New brakes and new tires are not repairs. They are basic maintenance. The only repair is the suspension. Shop around for the tires separate
From the repair and maintenance.

&4500 for maintenance and repair on a car that is less than halfway through its useful life is a bargain. And I’m betting that it won’t even be that much when you tire shop separately and shop around.

Another idea is to do your own brakes. It isn’t hard.

[Anonymous]

Shop around.

[Anonymous]

How many years of weather wear has it had?

Garage or street park?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Fix it! Get another estimate.that is crazy high

Agreed. Sounds like tires, brakes, shocks and perhaps some miscellaneous bushings for suspension. No way that should be close to 4500. 750 or so for brakes, 1000 for tires (probably less). Unless there’s a lot more going on with the suspension it’s hard to imagine the rest would cost that much.

If the car has been otherwise reliable, I’d spend 3k to keep it running. Most of these costs are wear items anyway.