How much is too much to pay yearly in repairs for a paid off car?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:$8,100 this year on my 2015 GMC. Acadia Denali. Car only worth $8,000. Had not had a repair since 2021 and then four years later a ton of crap went at once.

First AC went and coset $3,000
Drove away and starter went with battery $1,800
Then four new tires, $1,300
Now I need struts, shocks and brakes. Quoted $2,000.

I would have traded it in, but AC went and then at same time starter so I was $4,800 into it at that point .

Has 70,000 miles and a new one is like $55,000. I wish I could time travel to early 2025 and traded it in or bought a warranty.

You are paying some crazy money for repairs you listed, probably double what is reasonable. And you don’t need shocks and struts at 70k miles. Find an honest mechanic

can you recommend one. I work in VA and live in MD so anywhere between is fine.

[Anonymous]

I try to keep cars 8-10 years, never taking them to the dealer beyond warranty. My general assumption is dealers win either way - by the up-charge or by the new sale. I understand the sales and service divisions of dealership are usually separate entities, but both serve the same master in the end.

I don't see any benefit toward paying the hefty mark-up a dealership charges for service on an 8+ year old car.

If you're otherwise happy driving the Acura - it's a nice car! - 2k / year is still far cheaper than purchasing new or used.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You are no where close to needing to replace it.

When a single repaint is 50% range of car value you have a choice to make.

My car is 17 years old and fuel pump is dying- 2400 to replace but car is only Worth 4k; so i am at that crossroad.

I wouldn't look at it like this. How much are you going to spend on a working car in order to avoid spending the $2400? Are you going to buy another $4k car in better condition? Probably not because thats a huge gamble.

If you spend $2400 on a car that has a solid engine, transmission, and the frame isnt all rusted out, its worth more than $4k to your bank account.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You are no where close to needing to replace it.

When a single repaint is 50% range of car value you have a choice to make.

My car is 17 years old and fuel pump is dying- 2400 to replace but car is only Worth 4k; so i am at that crossroad.

I wouldn't look at it like this. How much are you going to spend on a working car in order to avoid spending the $2400? Are you going to buy another $4k car in better condition? Probably not because thats a huge gamble.

If you spend $2400 on a car that has a solid engine, transmission, and the frame isnt all rusted out, its worth more than $4k to your bank account.

Valid point….but my previous car before this had a tape deck, and CD changer. Current car does not have a tape deck, just CD changer. You do the math on safety features and other things this car (and my previous) do not have compared to modern models.
So age of vehicle, cost of repairs and value of car are factors.
Especially if car has not been garaged after 10-15 years expensive structural/frame repair factors in.

[Anonymous]

We take our cars to a regular repair shop once the warranty ran out.

Our cars are Toyatos and Hondas which are easier to find off-market parts for and keep costs down.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:$2k per year is nowhere near where I would consider getting rid of a paid off car. A new car costs way more per year to drive than that.

+1

$2000 annually on repairs is $166 a month.


Show me a new car you can buy (OR lease!) for $166 a month.

I guess it’s possible if you put like $35,000 on a $40,000 car and financed the other $5,000 for 60 months at 9-something %.


Unless you’re spending $500 or more each and every month, nonstop, you are NEVER going to be ahead with a new car.

The whole point of of keeping a paid off car is that it lets you sock away extra savings each month that would otherwise be going to a car note, if you financed a car.

If you pay cash for a car, you’re even further ahead. Even more so if it was a used car that’s already seen some depreciation.