Is it time to trade in my car for a new one?

[Anonymous]

I have a 2014 Subaru Forester with 70k miles on it, a few minor scrapes from parking garages but otherwise good shape. It drives well and I have no complaints. I notice the routine maintenance visits are getting more expensive as more things are due to be replaced. Is it smarter to trade it in now and get something new? I come from a family that drives cars into the ground so I don't know what's reasonable.

[Anonymous]

Can you afford the maintenance? Are the maintenance visits more frequent b/c of breakdowns or problems that crop up? Is the car otherwise reliable? Is there a new car model that has more different or more modern features that you really want? Can you afford to buy it w/o borrowing?

For me the tipping point is when I have to worry that the car will leave me stranded. Or if there's another car I really want. But in general I love having an older car that nobody wants to steal!

[Anonymous]

When the maintenance costs more per month than a car payment would then its time to trade it in.

FWIW I had a Honda Pilot for years, I did the regular oil changes and had the brakes done as needed etc but did not ever pay for the routine maintenance. Had that car for 10 years. if there is something wrong they will find it during an oil change.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the replies. I can afford the maintenance, and could not buy new without financing. I talked to my auto shop and he said this most recent visit should be the most expensive, though it will reoccur every 5 years. That is fine with me, but if there are going to be more serious issues I'd rather be rid of it before they crop up. It sounds like I should wait and see.

[Anonymous]

I always run my cars intro he ground.

[Anonymous]

a 7 yr old car with 70K miles? why would you trade that in already?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When the maintenance costs more per month than a car payment would then its time to trade it in.

FWIW I had a Honda Pilot for years, I did the regular oil changes and had the brakes done as needed etc but did not ever pay for the routine maintenance. Had that car for 10 years. if there is something wrong they will find it during an oil change.

Yes, this is the metric you want to use. Mileage and age aren’t as important.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for the replies. I can afford the maintenance, and could not buy new without financing. I talked to my auto shop and he said this most recent visit should be the most expensive, though it will reoccur every 5 years. That is fine with me, but if there are going to be more serious issues I'd rather be rid of it before they crop up. It sounds like I should wait and see.

Yup, there are "major services" about every 60K miles and then some intermediate ones. Seriously, if you're just doing maintenance and you can't buy with cash and there's no car out there that you really, really want, stick with your car--it's a gem and should go at least another 5 years. Put the car payment money in a new car account and buy your next car with cash!

[Anonymous]

I don't know if you are taking it to the dealer for routine services, but if you are, you are paying easily twice what you would at a good independent dealer. I work with dealerships in the region and know never to take a car to the stealer for routine services, they'll get you for needless repairs every time.

[Anonymous]

Your car is just a baby LOL! I just did some routine maintenance on my 2011 Chevy HHR, because I just rolled over to 200k miles! I'm aiming for 300k haha.

But yes, find a good independent garage. And save $-I'm saving for a nice hybrid, hopefully the HHR will last long enough to pay all cash or at least a good chunk of it. I spent $1200 on the work-which is like 3 car payments and the car will surely last longer than 3 months so it was worth it.

[Anonymous]

Since interest rates are low, it's a good time to get a car loan, but of course no loan is always better than having one. Subaru is currently offering 0% on a new Forester.

How important is safety to you? Safety technology has come along way in the last few years. Helicopter-view cameras, blind spot monitoring, smart (distance-based) cruise control, lane-keeping. I feel a lot better having those on my car.\

Look at the All-Around Awareness features on the new Forester:
https://www.subaru.com/vehicles/forester/features.html

[Anonymous]

OP, I have a 2014 Honda minivan with 62k miles on it. I’m itching to get into something new. But I know my car has plenty of life left.

[Anonymous]

I have the same year Forester but with far fewer miles and it is a great car. These cars should last at least ten years and 100,000 miles if you keep them well maintained. My key reason for getting a new one will be that after ten years the safety features are far from up to date.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Since interest rates are low, it's a good time to get a car loan, but of course no loan is always better than having one. Subaru is currently offering 0% on a new Forester.

How important is safety to you? Safety technology has come along way in the last few years. Helicopter-view cameras, blind spot monitoring, smart (distance-based) cruise control, lane-keeping. I feel a lot better having those on my car.\

Look at the All-Around Awareness features on the new Forester:
https://www.subaru.com/vehicles/forester/features.html

A zero percent loan is better than no loan.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Since interest rates are low, it's a good time to get a car loan, but of course no loan is always better than having one. Subaru is currently offering 0% on a new Forester.

How important is safety to you? Safety technology has come along way in the last few years. Helicopter-view cameras, blind spot monitoring, smart (distance-based) cruise control, lane-keeping. I feel a lot better having those on my car.\

Look at the All-Around Awareness features on the new Forester:
https://www.subaru.com/vehicles/forester/features.html

A zero percent loan is better than no loan.

Keeping a current vehicle owned outright is better than a 0 percent loan. Subaru is still collecting $30k from you for a new Forester even if you get their their 0% for 63 months offer. 0% is definitely better than paying cash. If you live in VA, you will also have a significantly higher property tax payment on a new $30k Forester vs. a 7 y/o fully depreciated one.