2015 Chevy Malibu - heating core gave out - repair or replace?
![[Post New]](/jforum/templates/default/images/icon_minipost_new.gif){kind=icon}
Anonymous
|
109k miles on it I commute from Frederick to Columbia, so about 80% highway miles. Believe it or not it still has the original tires. Not much in the way of high-end IT admin roles in Frederick, so I'm commuting either down 270 or down 70.
Heating core gave out and dealer is quoting $950 for replacing it (that includes the diagnostic fee). Of course this happens less than a week after the twice-yearly maintenance in which work was done on the fuel system and the transmission (recommended for 105k miles). Quick Google indicates that's on the high side of normal but not into highway robbery territory. It'll need new tires (tow truck guy pointed out dry rot on the tires and the service guy said I'd need them replaced. So that's another $700. My wife hates the idea of putting $$$ into a depreciating asset but I hate the idea of $350+ payments every year for the next five years and thinks I'm crazy for thinking a car these days ought to last 150-200k miles. She's also pissed at the timing of all this and thinks we just need to trade in a car like clockwork every 4-5 years. Thoughts? |
Anonymous
| I'm guessing it's worth $5-$8k on a tradein. So the idea of dropping $1,800 MORE into it in a month is giving me some pause between the regular work, the tires (which probably need replacing now and not in the spring), and the surprise heating core replacement. |
Anonymous
| Should’ve bought a Tesla |
Anonymous
| Don’t ever buy an American car again. Fix it and sell. |
Anonymous
Lame. |
Anonymous
| I'd definitely fix and keep driving. Tire's maintenance item. 950$ dealer repair is probably around 500$ at a reputable shop. it seems no brainer to me. |
Anonymous
OP back, every independent shop I've ever dealt with has been either incompetent, takes forever to get anything done, or runs off to the dealer to fix anything these days. I can't WFH and paying $55/day for a rental doesn't save me as much money as you might think. As for the foreign car booster: I'm also the only known Honda owner that hasn't had their car run past 200k miles with nary a repair (I had three breakdowns the last two years I owned it, albeit it was an '04 Honda hybrid, so might've had the "cutting edge" issues.) Let's just say there were many many many issues with the HVAC system, three breakdowns, multiple instances of incompetence from the dealer and the independents who would bother to touch it, and that on top of the $500 twice yearly feedings and the $3,000 battery replacement. |
Anonymous
|
With a high mileage commute like that, I would either get a Toyota Camry Hybrid or a Lexus ES300h, depending on your budget. New or lightly used--right now there is a low supply of used cars so maybe go new.
Both are THE standard for bulletproof cars that will endure high mileage and will save you a lot on fuel costs. The Camry gets 51/53 MPG, and starts at $28k new. Re: you and your wife weighing the pros/cons of taking on 5 years of payments vs. spending to keep an aging Malibu running... --There is no perfect answer, but either way you are "throwing $ at a depreciating asset." Car payments? That's throwing a lot of money at a depreciating asset. Same with repairs. --In most cases it is cheaper to make the repairs vs. acquiring a new car payment. See https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/loans/auto-loans/fix-sell-car --A new Camry or ES will be much safer than your 2015 Malibu. Safety in cars has grown significantly over the past five years. Maybe something to think about given that you log a lot of miles. --Could you set a goal of paying the car off in 3 years rather than 5? |
Anonymous
Thanks. My wife is just convinced all cars turn to utter crap after 5 years, and I'm trying to square this with all the Honda cultists who talk of having logged 200k miles on their vehicles without any problems whatsoever. As for 3 years vs 5, I'd have to get an econobox like a Cruze or a moderately used version of your cars. |
Anonymous
|
Heater core part only like $75 bucks. Buy to job it is between firewall and dashboard have to take while think apart can take 8 hours. New tires try Costco or tire rack.
Worth fixing as another 80-90k left before something major like engine it tranny. I dropped 2 thousand into wife’s 2012 Acadia last summer. But that in only like 4 car payments |
Anonymous
A Chevy Malibu isn't going to make it another 90k miles without another major repair. The trucks are supposed to be the "reliable" GM products and those are still riddled with issues. OP- I would repair it and get a Camry/ES like the previous poster suggested |
Anonymous
I got the repair done. I'll find a tire guy to replace the tires before winter gets too wintery. At least then I'd get a (slightly) better trade in and have the liberty to search for new cars on my schedule. Now the questions - Ride the Chevy as long as I can? While gas + new car payment would be competitive with a Tesla payment, I'm a little worried about insurance. Trade in the Chevy, or keep the Chevy as a spare and drop collusion? And for a new car, do I want to get a Tesla Model 3 or a Camry hybrid? I had a really bad experience with a Honda Civic hybrid in 2004-2014 (it ran OK until about 2010 when it started needing continual sacrifices. My wife will probably scream bloody murder about a hybrid, as I don't want to get a new car that just starts giving up the ghost at 100k miles. (I'm a little leery about buying used for fear I'd just be hastening the day of doom which for me has ALWAYS hit between 100-125k miles - with one used and two new vehicles.) Google tells me the Avalon can last forever but the mileage would be terrible on that (or an Escape, 4Runner, or smaller/mid-sized SUV known for its durability). Thanks for the feedback, everyone. |
Anonymous
| This is a 2015. I feel like you can go for at least another 5 years and 100k miles before any serious concerns emerge. I would recommend riding it for as long as you can. |
Anonymous
Model 3 Long Range (353 miles) is $46,990. Standard Range (263 miles) $37,990. Camry Hybrid is $28,430. Tesla prices are non-negotiable and you'll pay at least a bit for financing; with Camry you can at least get it a bit below MSRP and qualify for 0% financing. If you were to choose the Tesla, as a long commuter, you'd want the Long Range. You'll get less actual mileage than the quoted ranges, especially in the winter. And what if you end up having to go to work in the morning, somewhere else on the way home, then home...it would be nice to not be worried about getting down to the wire. Also, keep in mind that Teslas are selling like hotcakes right now and they are having trouble keeping up with supplying parts and service in a timely manner. Get in a fender bender? You might have to wait a while to get it fixed since only Tesla can fix it. Tesla is also not exactly known for their initial quality, as a lot of owners report having misaligned panels and other issues upon delivery, though Tesla has been getting better at that over time. That type of issue would never fly on a Toyota/Lexus; they wouldn't let it pass QC with panel gaps as you see on some new Teslas. On the other hand, the Model 3 is quite a fun car to drive and is certainly futuristic. Autopilot is compelling. Would save you on gas as well. Toyota Hybrids are the most reliable hybrids in the world. Before Uber/Lyft dominated, Taxi drivers and companies were in love with Camry (and Prius) Hybrids because of how long they lasted and how cheap they were to maintain: https://www.greencarreports.com/news/1081848_toyota-doesnt-seek-hybrid-taxi-sales--cabbies-just-love-them-anyway Based on everything you've said, a $28k Camry Hybrid financed for 4 or 5 years at 0% is an incredibly solid choice and that is what I would get if I was you. Not as sexy as the Model 3, but it's $9-18k cheaper to buy at a cheaper finance rate and ultra-reliable. Cheaper to insure as well. You seem very invested in doing thorough research and making the right choice. I recommend getting a Consumer Reports membership for a year to help you make an informed decision. Or, some public libraries maintain a master subscription that you may be able to use. Do that, but also be sure to test drive cars on your short list. A car can check all the boxes and last for 1,000,000 miles but if the seats aren't a good fit for you then it won't be good for a long commute like yours. |
Anonymous
|
https://www.chevymalibuforum.com/threads/any-other-high-mileage-gen5-6-malibus.8648/
Plenty go 300k miles |