Fix or Buy?

[Anonymous]

I would sell. Why. My 2012 Acadia with only 70K miles had a big AC bill of $4k to fix. Only thing wrong with car. I fixed it and guess what next day had AC on full blast driving and alternator crapped out. Turns out Alternator was old and going (did not know) running AC full blast drawing juice was last straw. I was shocked till I found out an Alternator lasts 10-15 years so it going at 13 years not a suprise.

It did not end there. Turns out had dry rot tires, battery was up for replacing, needed to flush radiator as been 7 years and for fun told not now but in next year or two struts and shocks need repalacing as slightly leaking and front pads are 80 percent worn.

This is not a GMC vs. Toyota thing or mileage thing. Large SUVs have expensive parts. Some parts regardless as struts, shockss, alertnator, radiator, battery, once you get to 13-15 years old need replacing. If I could go back I would have traded it in last year. Now I am stuck with vehicle as threw a ton of money in and my wifes newer vehicle I take on long trips as now I dont trust it anmore to drive to NYC or or Outerbanks any more. It has become just a drive to work and around town vehicle.

Some parts age just gets to them and you can hit a bunch going at once like I did.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would sell. Why. My 2012 Acadia with only 70K miles had a big AC bill of $4k to fix. Only thing wrong with car. I fixed it and guess what next day had AC on full blast driving and alternator crapped out. Turns out Alternator was old and going (did not know) running AC full blast drawing juice was last straw. I was shocked till I found out an Alternator lasts 10-15 years so it going at 13 years not a suprise.

It did not end there. Turns out had dry rot tires, battery was up for replacing, needed to flush radiator as been 7 years and for fun told not now but in next year or two struts and shocks need repalacing as slightly leaking and front pads are 80 percent worn.

This is not a GMC vs. Toyota thing or mileage thing. Large SUVs have expensive parts. Some parts regardless as struts, shockss, alertnator, radiator, battery, once you get to 13-15 years old need replacing. If I could go back I would have traded it in last year. Now I am stuck with vehicle as threw a ton of money in and my wifes newer vehicle I take on long trips as now I dont trust it anmore to drive to NYC or or Outerbanks any more. It has become just a drive to work and around town vehicle.

Some parts age just gets to them and you can hit a bunch going at once like I did.

If you have a vehicle that is 10+ years old and 100k+ miles you should expect to deal with repairs once or twice a year. It is normal for a starter, alternator, power steering pump, ac to have problems at this age/mileage. But if you are going to go to the dealer to do these repairs plus whatever other things the dealer says you need to do it is going to be very expensive. Either find a trustworthy independent mechanic (use yelp or checkbook for dmv), learn how to do basic repairs yourself or get a newer car.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would sell. Why. My 2012 Acadia with only 70K miles had a big AC bill of $4k to fix. Only thing wrong with car. I fixed it and guess what next day had AC on full blast driving and alternator crapped out. Turns out Alternator was old and going (did not know) running AC full blast drawing juice was last straw. I was shocked till I found out an Alternator lasts 10-15 years so it going at 13 years not a suprise.

It did not end there. Turns out had dry rot tires, battery was up for replacing, needed to flush radiator as been 7 years and for fun told not now but in next year or two struts and shocks need repalacing as slightly leaking and front pads are 80 percent worn.

This is not a GMC vs. Toyota thing or mileage thing. Large SUVs have expensive parts. Some parts regardless as struts, shockss, alertnator, radiator, battery, once you get to 13-15 years old need replacing. If I could go back I would have traded it in last year. Now I am stuck with vehicle as threw a ton of money in and my wifes newer vehicle I take on long trips as now I dont trust it anmore to drive to NYC or or Outerbanks any more. It has become just a drive to work and around town vehicle.

Some parts age just gets to them and you can hit a bunch going at once like I did.

That’s not terrible for a GMC. The only things that really stand out are the 4K AC repair and that it sounds like all these repairs happened at same time.

Tires, Brakes, Coolant and Battery are all considered maintenance. After you get those done they shouldn’t need to be repeated for several years. The alternator isn’t maintenance but it’s not unexpected for the year of your car. I could see you maybe getting a new starter eventually too.

For the shocks and struts, maybe get a second opinion?

If your car has nothing else wrong with it, you just weathered a maintenance storm and you should be good for several years. Now you have a car with no payments, low insurance bill and low taxes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You keep the car and fix the a/c.

This and drive it until it won't go at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would sell. Why. My 2012 Acadia with only 70K miles had a big AC bill of $4k to fix. Only thing wrong with car. I fixed it and guess what next day had AC on full blast driving and alternator crapped out. Turns out Alternator was old and going (did not know) running AC full blast drawing juice was last straw. I was shocked till I found out an Alternator lasts 10-15 years so it going at 13 years not a suprise.

It did not end there. Turns out had dry rot tires, battery was up for replacing, needed to flush radiator as been 7 years and for fun told not now but in next year or two struts and shocks need repalacing as slightly leaking and front pads are 80 percent worn.

This is not a GMC vs. Toyota thing or mileage thing. Large SUVs have expensive parts. Some parts regardless as struts, shockss, alertnator, radiator, battery, once you get to 13-15 years old need replacing. If I could go back I would have traded it in last year. Now I am stuck with vehicle as threw a ton of money in and my wifes newer vehicle I take on long trips as now I dont trust it anmore to drive to NYC or or Outerbanks any more. It has become just a drive to work and around town vehicle.

Some parts age just gets to them and you can hit a bunch going at once like I did.

That’s not terrible for a GMC. The only things that really stand out are the 4K AC repair and that it sounds like all these repairs happened at same time.

Tires, Brakes, Coolant and Battery are all considered maintenance. After you get those done they shouldn’t need to be repeated for several years. The alternator isn’t maintenance but it’s not unexpected for the year of your car. I could see you maybe getting a new starter eventually too.

For the shocks and struts, maybe get a second opinion?

If your car has nothing else wrong with it, you just weathered a maintenance storm and you should be good for several years. Now you have a car with no payments, low insurance bill and low taxes.

The AC it was blend doors that were stuck and a few electric parts. It is like 10 hours labor as have to take apart whole dash so that is where it ran up to 4K plus parts and sales tax.

But it is a back up SUV now. If it was my only family SUV I would have traded it in. Please dont laugh at me. But last year I needed a fourth car. I had two kids at home driving. My wife had this 2012 Acadia. I had two smaller cars, one I drove and one my middle kid drove. But youngest kid also needed car. I went to buy her a used small car and they had one at dealer near me. As soon as we went to look at it my wife saw a 2023 Acadia Denali Ultimate every option with only 8K miles just traded in. She was in love. Next thing I know she decides to buy it and give me her 2012 Acadia (since it is a fantastic car always runs great and not worth much in trade in) and I give my daughter my smaller car Then 9 months later the 2012 acadia needed a ton of work all at once. Funny how my wife things Acadias are great as she bought one brand new in 2012 and drove it to 2024 no big problems, yet I inherited the time bomb.

The person with the 2012 Toyota SUV I feel bad for husband if the Toyota craps out like mine did and they start dumping money in and wife is mad. She will be like me.

[Anonymous]

I think it makes much more sense to hold on to this vehicle.

Reason being is that the Toyota Sienna is a very reliable ➕ solid vehicle and that even at 132 miles it still has a very long life attached to it.

[Anonymous]

It’s a solid vehicle. This is a normal repair for a car that age. Fix it.

It is just a people hauler. A new one will just get beaten up with three teenagers anyways.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would sell. Why. My 2012 Acadia with only 70K miles had a big AC bill of $4k to fix. Only thing wrong with car. I fixed it and guess what next day had AC on full blast driving and alternator crapped out. Turns out Alternator was old and going (did not know) running AC full blast drawing juice was last straw. I was shocked till I found out an Alternator lasts 10-15 years so it going at 13 years not a suprise.

It did not end there. Turns out had dry rot tires, battery was up for replacing, needed to flush radiator as been 7 years and for fun told not now but in next year or two struts and shocks need repalacing as slightly leaking and front pads are 80 percent worn.

This is not a GMC vs. Toyota thing or mileage thing. Large SUVs have expensive parts. Some parts regardless as struts, shockss, alertnator, radiator, battery, once you get to 13-15 years old need replacing. If I could go back I would have traded it in last year. Now I am stuck with vehicle as threw a ton of money in and my wifes newer vehicle I take on long trips as now I dont trust it anmore to drive to NYC or or Outerbanks any more. It has become just a drive to work and around town vehicle.

Some parts age just gets to them and you can hit a bunch going at once like I did.

That’s not terrible for a GMC. The only things that really stand out are the 4K AC repair and that it sounds like all these repairs happened at same time.

Tires, Brakes, Coolant and Battery are all considered maintenance. After you get those done they shouldn’t need to be repeated for several years. The alternator isn’t maintenance but it’s not unexpected for the year of your car. I could see you maybe getting a new starter eventually too.

For the shocks and struts, maybe get a second opinion?

If your car has nothing else wrong with it, you just weathered a maintenance storm and you should be good for several years. Now you have a car with no payments, low insurance bill and low taxes.

The AC it was blend doors that were stuck and a few electric parts. It is like 10 hours labor as have to take apart whole dash so that is where it ran up to 4K plus parts and sales tax.

But it is a back up SUV now. If it was my only family SUV I would have traded it in. Please dont laugh at me. But last year I needed a fourth car. I had two kids at home driving. My wife had this 2012 Acadia. I had two smaller cars, one I drove and one my middle kid drove. But youngest kid also needed car. I went to buy her a used small car and they had one at dealer near me. As soon as we went to look at it my wife saw a 2023 Acadia Denali Ultimate every option with only 8K miles just traded in. She was in love. Next thing I know she decides to buy it and give me her 2012 Acadia (since it is a fantastic car always runs great and not worth much in trade in) and I give my daughter my smaller car Then 9 months later the 2012 acadia needed a ton of work all at once. Funny how my wife things Acadias are great as she bought one brand new in 2012 and drove it to 2024 no big problems, yet I inherited the time bomb.

The person with the 2012 Toyota SUV I feel bad for husband if the Toyota craps out like mine did and they start dumping money in and wife is mad. She will be like me.

Op is not in a heavy SUV on a truck platform (which is more expensive to fix). Op is driving a Sienna which is a minivan built on a car platform.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would not consider 132,000 low mileage for a car. I agree, our off the air repair and buy a new car in the spring.

I would never buy a car with 132,000 miles. But if I had bought a new car, looked after it and driven the 132,000 miles on it myself, I'd sooner keep it and fix the A/C.

Like someone said earlier, get another quote. The $4000 you mentioned sounds a dealership price.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have a 2012 Toyota Sienna. It has 132k miles on it. It needs an A/C repair, which is estimated to cost $4000.00. The car is fine otherwise.

My husband wants to fix it. This is 4000.00.

I want to buy a 'new' used car. This is roughly 40,000.

We have the cash.

My husband would rather keep the car given its low mileage, given that we have 3 kids that will need a car (starting in 3 years), and given that the mechanic says the car is in great shape other than this issue.

I'd rather buy a car since this one already has signficant mileage, given that we drive 5k miles every summer in it, and given that it's a primary car for us. Fixing this also doesn't up the trade-in value of the car all that much, so it isn't like we'd get the money back if we sold the car next year.

What would you do?

Both. Fix it, or drive it without A/C. Use as backup car or commuter car or whatever.
Buy new one. If you have the scratch tp buy a new one, then don't say "oh I can't afford to keep an extra vehicle."

[Anonymous]

1. Fix it (but get different estimates from reputable independent shops. 4k seems very high or dealer's estimate.

2. hot season is over, so you may want to wait until spring to fix it (even though you may not gain anything

3. your toyota still has a lot of life left. my odyssey (not that different than yours) has 230k and still going strong.

4. listen to your DH. he knows better

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:1. Fix it (but get different estimates from reputable independent shops. 4k seems very high or dealer's estimate.

2. hot season is over, so you may want to wait until spring to fix it (even though you may not gain anything

3. your toyota still has a lot of life left. my odyssey (not that different than yours) has 230k and still going strong.

4. listen to your DH. he knows better

Could it be that the OP is actually looking for reasons to justify buying a new vehicle?

A single repair data point isn't sufficient. My suggestion to OP is to pay a reliable/honest mechanic to give your vehicle a thorough once-over of all major systems and try to get an estimate of their remaining serviceable life. If you spend a few grand to day to fix the AC, but you'll need to spend a few grand every year going forward to fix something else, then a new vehicle may be a better decision.

OTOH, teenagers trash cars and one large scratch or dent on a new vehicle could cost you $$$$ to fix.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You keep the car and fix the a/c.

This. What's wrong with the A/C? For 4 grand it sounds like your compressor blew up and contaminated the whole system or the evaporator is leaking and they need to pull the dash out to get to it.

[Anonymous]

We have a 2013 but 50k+ more miles than yours and just did the AC repair for around $3500 but that wasn't local.

My understanding of our issue was if you don't repair it, it's somehow connected to the engine which will die if whatever the bad thing is happens and then your vehicle won't be drivable. I think it had something to do with a belt in the AC. All that to say, I'd do it, but if you're thinking of going without AC for a while when deciding, ask the mechanic if that's a risky option.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You keep the car and fix the a/c.

This. What's wrong with the A/C? For 4 grand it sounds like your compressor blew up and contaminated the whole system or the evaporator is leaking and they need to pull the dash out to get to it.

I just responded at 22:05. Ours was the compressor and it's a 20-hour job.