New Car or Keep Putting $$$ toward repairs

[Anonymous]

We bought a 2020 Honda Pilot brand new (first brand new car for us) 6 years ago for $40k and have put 75k miles on it. Since Hondas have a reputation of lasting 200K++ miles, we bought it planning to drive it into the ground and have kept up with regular maintenance.

We just spent $3,000 on repairs and are looking at an additional $3,000 worth of repairs. We probably have spent $5-$6k in repairs that were not covered by a warranty since we bought it. I've had some sticker shock at the costs for a six year old car and expect we should continue to expect big ticket repairs in the future.

So how much is too much to dump into a car vs. cut our losses and replace it?

[Anonymous]

How much would you get if you sold it?

[Anonymous]

Tell us more about the repairs. Is this from the dealer or a shop? Could they be gouging you?

[Anonymous]

Repairs for what? I couldn't care less what you do with a Honda Pilot. it's a disposable tin can.

Of course, you need to compare the cost with a new car, and if that new car would provide any valuable additional utility. Although everything you've spent so far is a sunk cost, so irrelevant.

[Anonymous]

The majority of the repairs are related to the front suspension, wheel alignment, replacement of the front control arms, front sway bar joints, leaking front struts. Wear and tear items?

We are going to the dealer for these repairs. In the past, we have priced out the repairs with an independent mechanic but estimates were always close. This time we went straight to the dealer.

Could they be gouging me? Sure.

Value is probably somewhere between $17k-$20k.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The majority of the repairs are related to the front suspension, wheel alignment, replacement of the front control arms, front sway bar joints, leaking front struts. Wear and tear items?

We are going to the dealer for these repairs. In the past, we have priced out the repairs with an independent mechanic but estimates were always close. This time we went straight to the dealer.

Could they be gouging me? Sure.

Value is probably somewhere between $17k-$20k.

Cars rarely need suspension work prior to 100k miles. If you spent $5-6k on suspension prior to hitting 75k miles on your pilot tells me that your dealer is most likely recommending unnecessary work. I had multiple Hondas and never spent a dollar on anything suspension related over the first 100k.

[Anonymous]

Or somebody drives it fast over very big potholes

[Anonymous]

Putting 6k into a 6 year old car isn’t bad compared to a new car that is 50k. Of course you keep putting money into the car to get fixed unless it is a hazard. By the way, never go to a dealer. You need to find someone you trust. Also, if you are a female and going alone, stop! Always take another man that knows the basics. They get over on females because they don’t know much about cars.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We bought a 2020 Honda Pilot brand new (first brand new car for us) 6 years ago for $40k and have put 75k miles on it. Since Hondas have a reputation of lasting 200K++ miles, we bought it planning to drive it into the ground and have kept up with regular maintenance.

We just spent $3,000 on repairs and are looking at an additional $3,000 worth of repairs. We probably have spent $5-$6k in repairs that were not covered by a warranty since we bought it. I've had some sticker shock at the costs for a six year old car and expect we should continue to expect big ticket repairs in the future.

So how much is too much to dump into a car vs. cut our losses and replace it?

If 100,000 miles, 10 years or repairs costing more than $10k, I would sell and buy new.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The majority of the repairs are related to the front suspension, wheel alignment, replacement of the front control arms, front sway bar joints, leaking front struts. Wear and tear items?

We are going to the dealer for these repairs. In the past, we have priced out the repairs with an independent mechanic but estimates were always close. This time we went straight to the dealer.

Could they be gouging me? Sure.

Value is probably somewhere between $17k-$20k.

You had your control arms replaced? Leaking struts? Someone hit something.

[Anonymous]

Keep fixing the old one until we can get access to the Chinese electric cars. Very affordable and charge in 5 minutes.

[Anonymous]

Don’t go to a dealer for repairs. Seriously.
Don't buy brand new. Buy a dealers car or one a year old. You waste a ton of money just to drive a new car off the lot.

[Anonymous]

You need to find a mechanic whose waiting room looks nothing like a dealership. Example Backlick Road Service Station. Actually they barely have a waiting room, but those that aren't trying to impress you or add huge shop fees are the ones I've found with low labor rates that do great work.

Get recommendations and call around now for hourly rates so you know where to go next time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The majority of the repairs are related to the front suspension, wheel alignment, replacement of the front control arms, front sway bar joints, leaking front struts. Wear and tear items?

We are going to the dealer for these repairs. In the past, we have priced out the repairs with an independent mechanic but estimates were always close. This time we went straight to the dealer.

Could they be gouging me? Sure.

Value is probably somewhere between $17k-$20k.

I don't understand. Did you hit something BIG at a high speed with your car?

[Anonymous]

You must’ve hit something or gone over a curb. That’s not normal wear and tear for a 6 year old car. We have one car that is 20 years old and the other is 12. We’ve had repairs done over the years on both but it’s stuff like the AC, power steering pump leak, new battery, new brakes, new tires of course. We may have done the front suspension on one car a few years ago. We take it to a repair shop. Never the dealer. Even with the repairs every few years or so, it’s cheaper than buying or leasing a new car, at least for now.