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Home › Blogs › PERDUE's Blog › Voice Your Opinion... Keep? or Trade?

Voice Your Opinion... Keep? or Trade?

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I would really appreciate your opinion.......

Two months ago my daughter purchased her first car.

             COST:                                                            REPAIRS:
2001 Plymouth Neon   $4,000                         Fuel Pump                   $  200
                                                                       Timing Belt
                                                                       Water Pump
                                                                       Pistons                         $1,900
                                                                       Power Steering Leak    $   165
                                                                       New Battery                 $     50
                                                                       Alternator                     $   250
                                                                       Catalyst Converter       $   300

                                                                       Total Repairs Costs:     $2,565

Should she keep this car or trade it for something else?
I am looking at this from the trade point of view and I think that she should get rid of it since this car is costing so much in repairs.
I am looking at this from the keep point of view and I think that she should keep it since this car has so many new parts on it, meaning so far she has build a new car from the inside out.
What do you think?
Keep or Trade?

Entry #126

Comments

Avatar time*treat -
#1
Parts are usually cheaper than labor. Lots of "shade tree" mechanics around could use a bit of cash and work for way less than a shop. Any chance on finding one with a (much) lower repair estimate?
Avatar JAP69 -
#2
She has a lot of money in the car for having it only two months. If they found no other problems with the car during diagnosis I would do the math to see how long it would take to get most of the cost back in keeping the car.
To trade the car at a dealer now she is not going to get much return back on her investment.
Average Resale Value: $3,631 according to one I just pulled. I do not know what trade in value would be.
Looks like someone sold her a car at more than it was worth.
The final thing I would do if I bought it from a dealer and found and paid that much in repairs in that short length is be pretty upset with the dealer. If from a dealer did she get a used car warranty?
Avatar PERDUE -
#3
@time*treat
The first four items on the list had to go to the professional. We discovered that faulty pistons is one of the drawbacks on the Neon. The place where she purchased the car from did the fuel pump for her and they were the cheapest we could find. The timing belt--water pump--pistons had to be done by a professional.
The power steering leak was done by brother-in-law at his shop. The alternator was also done by brother-in-law. He only charged for labor. I provided the parts and got a refund on the alternator core. The battery was a Wal-Mart special. Come to find out that they are now cheaper than Auto Zone.
Like the oil companies everyone I contact seems to want to use a person to pay their next months bills..... lol So I do what I can and go the route of least $$$$.
Avatar PERDUE -
#4
@Jap69
When she purchased the car, we knew that she would have to replace the catalyst converter. The engine light was on and she took the car to Auto Zone and to my brother-in-laws shop and had the car put on the computer. The catalyst converter was the only thing to register. Everything else that happened to this car was like the parts drew straws to see who would do the fool next....lol
I have talked with the guy that sold her the car and to be honest, I don't blame him because there is no way you would know that these breakdowns are on the horizon.
I took the car to my brother-in-law and he didn't detect any of these problems, and he has been working on cars since the horse and buggy days. lol
The car rides great, and it is just out of the blue things happen. No warning what so ever. lol
Everyone that has worked on this car is shaking their heads at the rate of breakdown and the things that are breaking. lol
That's why I am leaning more towards purchasing the car from her and encouraging her to get herself a new car like a Kia or a Ford Tarus.
Avatar time*treat -
#5
Oh, wow, I misread these as repair costs not yet made.
With that much $$$ sunk into new parts/labor, I'd say keep it in the family -- at least as a spare car -- because you can't recover the new parts' cost. So far, it seems you've replaced everything but the transmission. At this point, might as well spring for a bottle of 'New Car Smell', too. :-)
Avatar PERDUE -
#6
@time*treat
lol lol lol
You are too funny and too right.
Took the car to my brother-in-law and he looked under the hood and told me that the alternator was not the problem.....
The problem was the alternator belt was missing. lol
Who would've thought that a $16 belt could cause so much trouble.
I hightailed it back to Auto Zone, returned the alternator, purchased the belt for the alternator, and in less than 10 minutes was doing the mad dash all over town like crazy.
Was able to take the car to the muffler shop and only had to pay $180 for the replacement of the new catalyst converter.
Gave the car back to my daughter and she is happier than a pig with fresh slop and a fresh mud hole. lol :=)

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