When It's Time To Say Goodbye -ETCG1
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- čas přidán 26. 10. 2014
- As stated in the video this one is by suggestion from College man over at the ETCG forum. When he initially brought the idea to me I was thinking it was very much like some other videos I've done. His point was that this might be helpful to those people that might be facing this dilemma. I was convinced and made the video.
I look forward to your comments on this one.
Thanks for watching.
EricTheCarGuy Channel: / ericthecarguy
Intro music by Eric Cook "ETCG1 Intro".
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ETCG1 - Auta a dopravní prostředky
1969 Dodge Charger. 175,000 miles, been through a few engines and transmissions. Won't ever let it go because it was my grandfather's first car, he bought it at 21. He passed away and I want to keep his baby alive.
Keep it. My dumb brother sold my Dad's Chevrolet pick up, his last car. For my was so sad.
What I bought a Lancer 04 and I put well over 200K miles on it and it continued driving like new , I just don't have it today , the bank repo it in 2008.
Carlos Aponte (not everyone will understand this.)
You, sir, best take that out the Chrysler dealer in Bonham on 7/14.
Los The Ghost Same with my Great, Great Grandmother’s ‘71 Chevelle. My only car, daily driver. Never getting rid of her.
If you do a majority of you're own work it's never time to say good bye!
Uh oh. I've learned a lot about repair now, I might be in trouble! lol
Oh it can go too far alright. I've definitely taken one of mine too far. Lol
Sounds like me and my trusty first truck.....the parts keep getting better and cheaper, and the service intervals longer.
When replacement parts are no longer available it can get tough.
I can still remember two vehicles I really had a hard time letting go of. The first was a 1978 Mercedes 240D Non-turbo 4 cyl. diesel. Had 500,000 miles when I bought it and I drove that thing everywhere! It had been to Mexico, Canada, Alaska, and about everywhere in between. When I finally scrapped it it had been through 4 engine rebuilds, 3 odometer clusters, and more than TWO MILLION miles! If it hadn't been so rusted out I'd have thought about rebuilding it again. The other vehicle was a Toyota pickup I bought for $500 which had around the same mileage on it. I thought it was going to be a cheap one year beater just to hold me over till I bought another Benz diesel. It turned out to be the rusty but trusty truck that refused to die. About 3 years later I hit a deer and mangled the front end. I then committed it to an off road rig and beat on it mercilessly. I upgraded a few things like a 3 inch lift kit, 33" tires, and a snorkel kit made from PVC pipe and a few fittings. I continued driving it like a rental car for a good many miles. Submerged it in mud up to the roof, flipped it on it's roof 3 times, and finally took it to Moab, Utah and snapped the passenger frame rail on Hell's pass. I limped it back to the hotel, pulled the bed right in the parking lot, found a piece of log the right size, stuffed it inside the frame rail to hold it then wrapped it with 4 rolls of duct tape, threw the bed back on, and drove it home to Indiana. Used it to haul firewood around the farm for another year before finally turning it in for scrap.
God bless that toyota. May all trucks live out their life to such a beautiful end 🙏
When someone else decides it's time to say "goodbye," I say "hello."
dchawk81 because you're weird
I purchased a 1993 civic last summer for $400 with a ton of problems. It needed to have the engine rebuilt, new axles installed, transmission fluid etc. Although it cost $2000 in parts, it enabled me to learn about vehicular maintenance and repair, which I had no previous experience in. I learned a lot from the experience of rebuilding the engine, and though I sold the car for $1500, taking a loss, I learned much from the process. It always costs money to learn, and this experience empowered me to learn about vehicle repair. Thank you for your well produced and well written videos.
I had a beautiful, 1986 Tornado Red VW Synchro wagon with 5-cyl engine. The thing was a fun vehicle to drive, when it ran. At least once a year a major repair expense popped up. Then, in 2001, I had to fork out $1,000 for a rebuilt injector unit shipped in from Germany. That was my final wake-up call to get something much more practical.
I studied as many car reviews as possible then decided to buy a used Toyota Camry. In September of 2001 I traded the VW for a 1999 Camry CE (base model 4 cyl 5 spd tranny) I still drive that Toyota daily. I've only had to replace the starter motor and the coolant pump in all those years. After 150,000 miles the car still feels and looks brand new. I will need to replace an exhaust pipe after hitting a hidden speed bump at 15 mph. I anticipate enjoying the Toyota for at least a few more years.
My first car was a 1995 Chevy Lumina. I literally was getting something fixed every pay check. Eventually dumped it while it was still running because I was just tired of dumping money into it. Ended up buying a low mileage 01' Nissan Altima, drove that baby up to 150k before it's first major repair (catalytic converter), I loved that little Nissan! Just brakes, oil change and gas. Life was great.
You know,
This same argument can be made for disposing of a dysfunctional wife. You know, she's getting old, costs more money to keep her operational, she keeps breaking down and VERY unreliable, she's cranky, creaky and very hard to start. She's getting a lot of dents and wrinkles and leaves you stranded at the most inconvienient times. She's got cracks in her seat and a horrible noise coming out of her rear end, When you try to turn her to your side of the road you get a horrible squeal, She takes up too much room and has way too many miles on the odometer.
Trade her in for a newer model, sleeker, sportier, stylish! With four on the floor and dual airbags.
Problem is your insurance rates go up.
😂😂😂😂🖒🖒🖒🖒🖒
That sir, was brilliant. You have won one free internet.
Yay! I'll have it.
In truth my wife is a classic. Just treat her gentle, no squealing the tires and just enjoy the ride. There's nothing i'd trade her for.
Best of all there's less chance of driving off a cliff. Just stick to the road. They'll get you where you need to go.
My wife just said, "Always remember why you fell in love with that year, make and and model"
Sentimental value is something built up with a vehicle over a long period of time. Real enthusiasts do not care about the value of their vehicles or repair costs. In a lot of cases that I see, they actually welcome problems so they can start rooting at the vehicle and talking about it. Places where they have broken down are landmarks. Its all about the love of motoring.
Some say the more miles your car has, the more you love it.
So true this, Ive lost money on every car Ive ever owned. I usually dont care about repaircosts, I see breakdowns as room for improvement. If the engine blows it can be rebuilt better than it was from the factory.
MsCelicagt4 I have an MG and I am never 100% sure I will arrive safely at my destination. I'm only ever 90% sure we will make it without problems but 100% sure I can fix whatever problems arise. All part of the adventure
Kristoffer Lilja
I'm waiting for the day my autotragic gearbox fails on my Volvo so I can justify fitting a manual transmission.
Matt Bartholomew
What year and model is your Volvo? I don't know if you can even find a manual transmission for any recent Volvos.
Read a book many years ago written by a used car salesman. One idea he had stuck with me. 10 cents a mile. (Other than gas, tires and oil.) When purchasing a used car or repairing one already owned, use 10 cents a mile as a guide. For a repair, say new A/C system costs $750.00, You are obligated to yourself to drive that vehicle for another 7500 miles to recover the costs of the repair. If you don't think the vehicle will last that long then don't repair it. When purchasing a used car for say $8000.00. You need to get 80,000 trouble free miles out of it to get your monies worth or a combination of mileage and resale value that equals $8000.00. It's simplified my decision making for 40 years.
kenneth brown I'm way up then! Spent €1800 on a VW Golf 3 years and 30000 miles ago, plus about 600 in parts and I'd probably still get 800 - 1000 for it. In theory, if my maths is correct, I could spend another €1000 and still break even. I might just spend 400 to be safe.
Excellent tip , Kenneth !
Thanks 😀
My mom bought a Camry in 1994 (I was 12 years old), a year later the rear driver side door wouldn’t open, that lead me to figuring out how to get it open, then disassembled, and finding why the door broke. That was the first time I fixed a car, and it felt so good making something work again; that Camry is the reason I am a mechanic today.
26 years later: the Camrys’ drivetrain is in perfect shape, the body is starting to show rust bubbles under the paint, but mom is still driving it. Then one day she runs over a rock the size of a grapefruit that was in the middle of the highway, which bursts the tire and the tire shreds whip the hell out of the fender and front bumper and sends a bunch of trim pieces flying, the rim of the wheel gets ground away by the asphalt. But I can see that all of the damage is repairable, it’s only the bolt on parts that were messed up, no structural damage at all.
Insurance company totals the whole car. Yes it’s easily fixed, but the cost of a new matching alloy wheel, tire, fender, wheel well liner, front bumper, and the labor cost of the paintwork is twice the estimated resale value.
That car has been a part of my family over a quarter of a century. So many memories are in that car. I feel like a part of me is being torn off.
That acura is a prime candidate for a $50 rustoleum spray paint job, would love to see an ECG video on that.
lol
I agree! Go For It Eric!!!!
RandallFlaggNY YES!!!
paint it with bedliner, collision-proof!
mi lu Wow. Lol. That so wouldn't slip through the air.
In microeconomics they have a term for how much satisfaction you get out of something. They call it "utility." I love that concept. Also there's a value in owning an older car and that is cheaper registration cost and cheaper insurance. And the third one for me is what kind of modifications and upgraded you have to do to a car to make it work for you- for me that's tint, tires (to suit a purpose), tool storage, lighting, and whatever electronics are needed for towing etc.
I wish I had someone like Spanky to help me fix my '94 SL2 (237K)...
briansmobile1 A solid checklist for sure. I also like the term "Utility". Thanks for weighing in Brian.
This.
I had an 02 Explorer that I LOVED it was in the family since 04 and had tons of sentimental value when I killed her in 2012. I thought really long and hard about buying it back from the insurance company and rebuilding it. I knew everything was solid, just needed a whole drivers side body panels and suspension components all the way around. But alas, it had too many miles and it was too old to really justify doing that when I could walk away from it for the very reasonable insurance payout I got. So what did I do, bought a mint condition 04 Explorer with 54k miles. Been running good since. I still miss old red, but she and I will meet again one day and I'll get her all dirty in the mud like she liked. Good little truck she was never let me down..
I'm gonna go cry a little bit now.
I'd like to add another bullet-point to that list - inertia/comfort.
There comes a point to when you just become comfortable working on your car, that it in part keeps you from moving on to another. I own two cars of the same make right now, and I could scrap them both down to the floorpan and put them back together blindfolded. That and the fact that you can 'read its pulse' weighs heavily on how long you keep a car around.
I'd wager the only time I'd give them up is if the maintenance took so much time that it was unsustainable or some government regulation made them impossible to drive....
Wow great point as well I can relate. One of the reasons that I bought another Explorer of the same generation is because I am very familiar with them. I know about all of their common problems, how to fix them and how to identify them. Diagnostics is one of the hardest parts of working on cars so if you can easily diagnose a car because of experience it does definitely make it worth more. Glad you brought this up.
Point to a 'van' that an owner can work on, yeah, a van, I use a wheelchair, my van has a wheelchair lift, I have a 99 E350, real joy to work on, so I bought a 73 E100, been driving it more than the 99, doing work on it, even if I had to, putting an engine and transmission in that 73 would be cheaper than rigging a newer van with handicap equipment.
Biggest mistake made is to not value the time to do a repair.
I like vehicles with problems. it gives me a new skill to learn
My first car was a beat up powder blue '67 VW Beetle. I love that car, but what I loved most about it was working on it. Once I had fully restored it, I drove it, but I never enjoyed it as much as I did when it needed something done to it. It also had little heat, no A/C and I live in south Louisiana, so as I got older that became an issue. For me, part of fixing a car was the enjoyment of the hobby. I now own a '97 Honda CR-V and I have never owned a cooler vehicle. It has a frickin picnic table in it! I bought it in 2000 from the original owner. It was a great price and ran and still runs like a top. It also hauls everything I've ever wanted it to haul.
A few years ago it turned 20 and the suspension was shot all the way around, then the steering rack started leaking, tires started wearing, you name it. So we decided it was time to keep driving it and come up with a plan B. We bought a much newer Subaru Forester, which we hate (there is so much that needs work on it) and it just isn't a gen 1 Honda CR-V. As I contemplated what to do with the CR-V people started asking me at gas stations if I would sell it to them. It's not for sale, BTW. So I looked into fixing it. Having someone fix it was out of the question. Labor would have cost more than parts, and the parts were worth the value of the car. I retired and needed something to do with my hands. I've always done some work on my cars and now that I wasn't working in a lab anymore (and thus needed something to fill that) I decided to fix it myself. I knew it would take me a lot of time, I would run into other things that needed fixing as I performed repairs I already knew about, and it would be a big learning curve. Fantastic! I get to work with my hands again, and I don't have to do it when I'm not up to it. I did the rear suspension during the summer of 2020 and I enjoyed it. I had to take a long break to care for my mom after her hip surgery, so I didn't get back on things for about a year.
I just finished 2 months of solid daily work on my CR-V (Jan 6 - Mar 6, 2022). I changed the entire front suspension, brakes, steering rack, other power steering components, and changed the transmission fluid. I'm about to tackle more power steering issues like changing the oil tank, flushing the system, and replacing the return O-ring at the pump before I change the pump. It does okay until it warms up completely, then it whines a little. It seems starved for oil. I haven't finished checking all the return lines. I changed part of the bottom hose when I installed the rack. The hose was cracked and cutting it off didn't provide enough length to hook it up so I changed that section of hose. I changed the pressure line b/c I had to destroy the fitting to get it off. The rack took me 3 weeks working on it 2-4 hours a day most every day of that 2 months. I didn't work on it when it rained or was really cold (by our standards), but the weather was perpetually nice most of the time, so few days off. I'm female and over 60 so I'm not nearly as strong as I used to be so a lot of things were much harder than they would have been for a lot of other people.
I decided to do the rack now before I had the stolen catalytic converter replaced, one less thing to have to drop. I did have to drop the RWD transfer case which was really scary at first, but ok. I got it back together and it shifts better than it has in a long time since I changed the trans fluid. Had I only had to do the suspension I would have been done in a couple of weeks. My worst problems on that were taking it apart. Some things were so stuck I had to rent tools to separate them. The drivers side lower ball joint was stuck to the knuckle so badly that I had to use a large ball joint pickle fork and hammer on it for about an hour. That was after hammering on it for 3 days to get it apart, and some guys I know also hammered on it for up to an hour each. I was scared I'd have to buy another knuckle, or more likely borrow a Sawzall to cut it off. I also had a hell of time getting the drivers side CV axle out of the intermediate shaft. I ended up borrowing a slide hammer with an axle puller attached. Several hours of hammering didn't get it to budge, but the slide hammer had it apart in another hour. I also ended up taking the intermediate shaft and new CV axle to a transmission guy to get it to go together. I put the two attached pieces back in about 20 min. I worked on that for a couple of days and decided it was a lost cause to keep at it. He filed all the splines on the intermediate shaft to get them smooth enough to slide into the CV axle.
The learning curve part was a lot of figuring out when to try another route through a problem. I got much better at deciding I had been at something long enough and it was time for a change. I still have one oxygen sensor to install. The muffler shop guy wasn't the brightest bulb in the box and didn't get a sensor with an OEM plug on it so I told him to take off for the sensor and I'd get one and install it. If there is a problem with the old plug I know how to fix that. I am planning to get two new front tires and an alignment this week before I continue with the power steering. I also need to change the shift cable. Pieces of it were falling on my head the entire time I was working under the car. When I grabbed it, it was crunchy with rust and has a hole in the rubber covering.
After all this work, it is due for a new timing belt and water pump, the valves may need adjusting, and I may go to the junk yard and get a couple of new bumpers. The old ones have been beat up in parking lots. I also noticed the lower air box on the passenger side cracked and a piece fell out. It could use a major interior and exterior cleaning, too.
The important thing is it will give me something to do pretty regularly.
This is one of the most useful videos I've seen, thank you!
I am in this exact position and this video helped me make up my mind!
93 GMC C1500 SLE, 415,000 miles original motor, trams rebuilt 15 years ago. Trans is starting to go, maybe a year left on the motor. The problem is she is otherwise mechanically sound. I am a tradesman with tools and work space, other than pulling a motor or trans, I have done all my own work. I am pricing out the trans and motor swap vs a car payment and it looks like keeping her is the more cost effective option. Thanks again Eric!
I'm very happy to hear that. Thank you for that comment.
BTW, I'm doing a build of a 1990 C1500 on my EricTheCarGuy channel. I'll be pulling and rebuilding the engine in that. You might find some useful info in that series. Here's a link to Episode 1.
czcams.com/video/kCepnacqRuI/video.html
The only time I've ever walked away from a car, was my first car, a 2000 Plymouth Voyager fleet spec special (zero options base model.) I loved that stupid van, but the rust from 13 Adirondack winters got so bad that my mechanic legit told me to drive it straight to the scrap yard when the steering rack sprung a power steering fluid leak from a rust hole.
It's still sitting behind my parent's garage.
Rust never sleeps, remember.
a great topic, sir! I have a story to share. It involves a car you probably do not even know exists. I come from the Czech Republic, we have a Volkswagen Group car manufacturer called Škoda. They have a solid lineup of cars now, from urban micro cars, compact cars through family sedans and estates all the way to SUVs and executive fleet barges (in European scale at least). Back in late 90s they made a cool little car, the Fabia. Mine was made in 2001. It was my mother's originally. I bought it off of her and put a decent 100 000 miles on it. It had 5 seats, front wheel drive, 5speed stick shift, 1,4 liter 8 valve chain driven sohc gasoline 4 cylinder. In 2013 it was still running like a champ. I had relocated to Germany and had bought my BMW E46 coupé that year. I was thinking about keeping them both, but then the steering wheel started to vibrate in left hand turns. I thought I'd carefully drive it 300 miles back to the Czech Republic, fix it cheap and sell it there, cause Germany is way more expensive. Then it came to me: I love the car, but I don't need it. Nobody drives such cars for more than a decade and mine had had its best days counted. As a result of that epiphany, I took it to the wreckers to have it crushed. In Germany it means you get nothing and you pay nothing. Guess what happened AT THE PARKING LOT AT THE WRECKERS! Having signed all the paperwork, I went to the car, started the engine one last time, to drive through the gate and then give them my key. Engine started as always, put it in reverse, drive out of my spot, put it in first -BANG- there goes my CV joint. The car broke down literally at the gate of the wrecking yard and had to be pushed. One last revv, bashing the limiter, turn it off and good bye. Killing the car was a good decision.
It's sometimes just getting hard to drive in modern traffic in older cars.
Why?
@@1gerard47 Mostly has to do with older manuals being a nightmare to creep in traffic.
@@omarm6678 yes it can be a pain but it’s not really a big deal it’s just preference
Eric, I'm from Pittsburgh and now live in Phoenix. Why this is important will soon become evident. When I lived in Pittsburgh cars died because the floors in them rusted out. A car died because the body became Swiss cheese. Here in Phoenix I've had a 1998 Pontiac Grand Prix since September of 1997. It has never been in a garage. IT HAS ABSOLUTELY ZERO RUST ON IT. The underneath of the car looks like it just came off of the car hauler. In short the body is perfect.
My dad had an expression with respect to changing out engines and transmissions. He called these types of repairs nuts and bolts. To him if a car required nuts and bolts you did it. Where my dad drew the line was when the word WELDING came into play. If you need to weld on new quarter panels and floors. Kill it.
I intend to keep my Grand Prix forever. If it blows and engine (the truly worthy 3800) I'll put another one in it. If it needs a new 4T65E. it's going to get it. It has 230,000 miles on it and runs perfectly. I've changed out a ton of parts (myself) in it and I'll change out a ton more if needed. If something nuts and bolts goes wrong with it there is no doubt I'll replace whatever has gone wrong. My 1995 Chevelle that lived it's entire life in Pittsburgh had 60,000 miles on it. It had no floor, and no trunk. Had to scrap it. As pop said nuts and bolts no problem, WELDING = PROBLEM.
Thats where body over frame vs Unibody cars really show their differences. When a older Mustang comes in my shop for front end collision I do the pee-pee dance trying to think of ways to nicely tell the owner to leave my shop.
Plenty of people have bought a 115volt wire-feed welder and learned how to use it. If you did the same, there is probably nothing that you couldn't fix on your own car!
caduceus33 When you have no floor and no truck in your car it's beyond repair. I had both a Miller MIG (220V) and a Miller TIG welder when I lived in Pittsburgh (I've got even better inverter based machines now) and I'm a really good welder using either technology. There comes a point where the car isn't worth wasting time repairing. When the body's gone it's gone. Scrap it out and buy another. Frames rust too, it's a safety issue. Remember as Neil Young so presciently put it: "Rust Never Sleeps."
SATAMAN Schmidt
To each his own. I've seen many photos of people who have done some tremendous work to re-new their Mk1 VW Rabbits and other cars with rusted out floors and so forth. It brings to mind the saying, (by Henry Ford?) "Whether a man thinks he can or thinks he can't, he's right"
It's economics not desire or ability. A rusted out 1975 Chevelle, which is what I had, isn't a classic 1969 Camaro worth restoring. Oddly, I lived 30 miles from the VW plant in New Stanton, PA that made the Rabbit. They were disposable garbage cars when they were new, why on earth would anybody restore one of these? caduceus33
i had one guy ask me why do i keep my old junk ,, he was later in the area and needed a oil switch for his old street bike , it was leaking all over the chain and his shoe , i know you might say great his chain was being pre lubed , oil was being thrown from the chain onto his jacket , so anyway we had a look and found an exact part with the exact same thread from an old dodge colt 4 cylinder ,, hoarding saved me many times from spending a whole day going to town for a 5 or 10 dollar part and he now sees the importance of organized hoarding
i own a 1993 nissan 240sx, the first car ive actually loved. Iv'e already been through a motor and 2 transmissions on it but when you know the right people and have good friends with the same car parts come cheap. Ive learned so many things working on this car since i do most of the work myself. I'm really attached to it.
Solid point Eric, I like it. This video reminds me of when I decided to let go of my first car which was a 2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser. Purchased by my grandmother in 2008 to replace her 1991 Dodge Shadow, which she decided to save for me. Well, due to a few health problems, I wasn't able to get my driver's license until 2010 and by that time, my grandmother was diagnosed with Dementia and later passed away. Ended up taking the PT Cruiser and sold the old Dodge for obvious reasons such as it being a much newer car with fewer miles and in better shape, even though the Dodge was very well kept with only 90k. Anyway I enjoyed the PT Cruiser for almost 3 years until I sold it in September of 2013. Overtime it had some issues that were common with those cars (which don't have the greatest rep) and one or two that were unexpected. It never left me stranded, just things that seemed to wear out sooner than they should have. Found out when I traded the car that it started it's life as a RENTAL vehicle before my grandmother bought it. Anyone who knows rental cars knows that they tend to have very hard lives due to people beating on them and the companies not having a care in the world. So when I got rid of it, it still needed a few things (tires and control arms) and by that time the car had grown really old to me so it wasn't hard to let go of even though it was my first car.
love your insight Eric!
I follow the same logic as you, investment and return. There's no point in pouring money into something that is on it's last leg. Spending more than the vehicle is worth on repairs is a great indicator that it's time to say goodbye. I really appreciate your advice on Googling potential problems by make and manufacturer. I never thought about that. Man you're really smart and extremely helpful.
I can't stop watching the Elvis clock on the wall doing his Jailhouse Rock hip jirations!!
If you can't work on your own car ,,, buy a low mileage used car that still has warrantee
This, this is the best bit of advice.
And then sell the car once it runs out of the warrantee for another low mileage used car that still has warrantee or run it till it dies then repeat the process ? What makes more financial sense?
generally a reason there are low mileage cars with warranty left, they were lemons to start with. Drive it off the lot and say goodbye to thousands already.
Or just do a lease
I had a 96 explorer for 11 years she was my baby did lots of repairs over the years, replaced a cracked head , fuel pump TONS of suspension work, AC but the final ending was the torque converter was going and she had to finally go to the scrape pile, was a very sad day for me. Lots of memory's and learned a lot about working on cars through trial and error with her. P.s as always love your channels
My saying is better the devil you know, and lets be honest older cars are much more reliable when they are maintained well, give me a 90s honda/toyota all day
I remember how upset I was when I had to let my first car go. It was a 1993 Honda Accord. It'd been driven by my great grandma all the way through me. It was my grandpa's favorite car and it always made me remember the good times we had together. But it was time for it to go. You couldn't drive it in the rain because it would fog up. It would get scorching hot in the summer and freezing cold in the winter. If you didn't drive it for a month you'd have to jump the battery. It got crashed and it wasn't worth repairing. I still miss it but it was time to go.
As a DIYer, I am able to buy what people deem as junk because it is in need of repair but I can do it at the cost of parts and not the labour cost. A $1000 shop repair may only cost me $100. I have only bought what I have cash for. I don't do payment plans. If I have to spend $500 a year to repair a older car, it is better than paying $350-$400 a month on a newer car. Plus, no one wants to steal an old clunker!
I will never say goodbye... I've owned my C-class for 7 years now. She has been with me through everything. Happy moments, sad moments, motivation, depression, good times, bad times. I have modified her. Got her more power, an AMG bumper, bi-xenon headlights, new head unit, new taillights. Doesn't matter what I buy, what I sell, I will keep my C220 forever. I could never leave her to be crushed and turned into a washing machine. She was once a billion Euro Mercedes project. Tested all over the world, made sure to withstand going to hell and back. Designed to race at autobahn speeds for hours without issue, designed to handle every type of road. So much love, passion and energy has been put into designing that car. Throwing her away would be the worst thing you could do to her.
Now I have a company car, a 2007 E420 project car and an E24 635CSI (also project car), so now my C-class gets an easy life as a garage princess/ weekend car. Just what she deserves after everything she's done for me.
Muggles! haha I love this channel! I hadn't watched your repair channel in a long time, I kind of outgrew the basic stuff but I really like hearing what you have to say on these topics.
Something else I consider is learning experience. I've had a $500 1989 Saab 900 for 2 years now, and parts and repairs have been relatively cheap. I've done everything myself, and I see it as a learning experience. If I screw up on it, it's a $500 car. But what I learn from it I can apply to future repairs. It also is a lot cheaper than going out drinking. At least I have something at the end of the day.
Thanks for this video! I remember you talked about this before but I can't find that video anymore. My 2001 volvo S40 is acting up again. Sometime in August this year, I spent around $2300 fixing various engine problems and body work. Now, the ABS light is on, brake failure light is on, check engine light is on. Went to the dealer for a quote and its $1200 to fix the ABS, and another $1200 to fix the pcv breather box. I think it's time to say goodbye.
When people are emotionally attached to an object or they miss something they once had, I tell them that it's the memories that are important. Sometimes we have to make tough decisions to get rid of an item if it is less useful than it once was and is holding us back from our other goals.
thanks eric, today is my birthday :)
my dad just sold his 2004 gmc sierra 2500hd, was the first vehicle i ever drove, took my drivers test in it, had lots of memories in that thing
I guess you really wouldn't consider that "old" but it was pretty much a beater work truck. it had almost 200,000 miles, was burning oil, transmission was slipping, interior was a complete mess with seats down to the foam, dents everywhere, tires were bald, overheated, and yesterday, without warning, my dad just showed up at home with a brand new 2016 toyota tundra, surprise. And even though it wasn't mine, i was really sad to see that old truck go.
My mechanic told me that there was rust on my '94 Toyota Celica, and perhaps I should say goodbye. Instead I took it to a body shop and they replaced part of the inner and outer sills. That was about 4 years ago, the car continues to pass the MOT test (UK annual safely inspection), it still looks fantastic and drives fantastic. I've now had that Celica for over 20 years. It was well worth the small investment in getting it repaired.
i plan on driving my 92 astro van as long as possible. videos that you put out can help people keep thier car that much longer by doing there own repairs.
This hits me super hard man. I bought my first car back in August of 2020, just go my first ever job, saved up, bought a 2005 Honda Civic EX. Drove it a bunch, and then started to notice a weird noise idling in neutral and sometimes on acceleration. Your videos showed me it was my input shaft bearing, so I bought a used tranny and rebuilt it, then swapped it into my car along with a new clutch. The day after I finished that up, the engine spun a bearing and is currently parked in the back part of employee parking with a engine I got from a junkyard from an Acura EL, just waiting for me to install it. Up until I found that engine for sale I was planning on parting out the car and getting rid of it, but I’m already so financially and emotionally invested in this car that I decided it deserves a second chance
I have a 2004 Honda Civic EX with 325,000 miles. I replace the timing belt and every belt every 100,000 miles. I blew a head gasket at around 200,000 miles, never having replaced a head gasket before, I just looked up ETCG on how to replace a head gasket and replaced it slowly but surely.
At around 300,000 an oil leak developed coming from the oil pump 'o' ring. The 'o' ring cost is less than a dollar, but it took 2 days to access the old 'o' ring. I researched CZcams on how it can be fixed and again with a lot of cursing' it was replaced.
I probably spend $1,000 once every 5 years to keep my civic in good running condition, its worth it, comes to about $200 a year. I swear every time something breaks and I have to work on her I keep telling myself I'm shopping for a new car, then I get it fixed and become a proud Papa again.
I hope to keep the Civic for 1,000,000 miles if she lets me and nothing really drastic breaks.
My 1985 Toyota pickup is rusted through the frame at the drivers side rear wheel and the thing still runs fine. Spent a lot of money over the years but frame work is the last straw. 4x4 still works great too. I guess my brother is needing a small farm truck and he will probably weld in a few plates as the frame rusts away and it will probably serve him well for years to come. Shucks, I just recently figured out a starting issue I've had with the truck for over five years too. That's fine, my brother won't have to worry if it will start for him I suppose.
Thank you Ericthecarguy for this video. It should help out a lot of people.
I love your Elvis clock
I own a 2006 Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor with 272k km on it and it runs perfectly. I've only had a few small problems that were easily fixed. I'm sure it'll last a long time.
I've always said, take a years cost of repairs, divide by 12 - that's what it costs a month to stay on the road. Most of the time it's cheaper than a new car payment. Just don't push the boundary of miles or age.
tim jones
Look Gene Kim
Great topic. It can be tough to say goodbye, but it is different for every car and every person. Well put, Eric.
I bought the last of the AMC CJ7 back in 1986. Nicely equipped Renegade. It was the vehicle of my youth. I was 20 years old when I acquired it. Had it for eight years. Never loved a vehicle so much. Towards the end it needed everything. As much as I tried to keep it functioning it was no can do. I put 157,000 miles on it and the body was rusting badly. The intake manifold had a crack, problems with the T5 transmission, electrical problems. Aside that in a year I was getting married. It broke my heart to sell it. I ended up buying a 94 Mitsubishi Mirage which wasn’t a bad car. For years I’d take out my CJ windows sticker and think of better times. Last year I took the window sticker to my local Jeep dealership and used it to match a new Wrangler Unlimited Sport S. I matched the paint and seats as best as I could but a manual transmission is difficult to get. Yeah my JL has more options than a CJ every had but my heart is healed. I’ll drive a Wrangler forever more.
Well said Eric. You hit it.I have had to go from no car payment to a car payment and still ended up paying for repairs on the car I just bought.
Cool video! Excellent information and well delivered. I said goodbye to a 1993 Chevy Cavalier that I drove from 1997 until 2011. It was a tank! Bullet proof in all its hideous glory. The frame was so rusty I was expecting to simultaneously climb in with my brother and break the thing. I drove it far longer than was likely safe but in the end I got $300 for it and it went to a community program where they stripped it, sold anything remotely useful off it and gave the money to a local shelter. Win win!
Eric, a few years ago I sold my 2003 Odyssey to this Guatemalan woman who planned on taking it to Guatemala. After I sold that odyssey, I told myself I would never get to see it again. About a year ago, I got a letter in the mail. That letter stated that my Honda Odyssey was sitting in an impound lot about a 30 minute drive from my house. Apparently, they never had it registered and were using dealership tags and the person I bought it from got arrested and the car impounded. The next day, I took a trip to the county impound yard and assessed my old Odyssey. I sat there thinking about paying the storage fee and taking it home. It had a key and was mechanically sound, but it needed a new rear bumper. In the end, I ended up allowing it to go to auction and that was a heart wrenching experience for me.
Right now I`m considering selling my POS to buy some newer, less fatigued car (previous owner didn`t pay much attention to my car since he didn`t want to and didn`t know how).
Header sealing is about to replace (after 60 KM/ 38 ML I have water in my engine oil), injection sealing and exhaust seals are also up to change.
You know what makes me consider changing? The difficulties in unscrewing 25 years old bolts. No penetrator came me in handy. After 2 days in my garage I threw up a towel and I`m about to drive it to my friend mechanic- I`m curious if he can do it lol
Thanks for the video Eric and good day to all people who has at least 20 year old car.
College man? I don't know if you're college man on CZcams as well, but thanks for such a good topic. The video alone was worth it and the memory's shared of beloved cars and the reading of it was priceless!
I know someone who learned to drive a mid-sized tractor age 5, about 50 years ago. He still owns this tractor and know every single bit of it like the back of his hand. Sometimes emotional value is worth more than monetary.
Our shop calls this an "Economic Total"
We advise the customer that this repair exceeds the value of the car and they need to decide how much longer they intend on keeping the car because they may need to invest this money in something else that will yield more return.
Totally agree with your method.
One option I wanted to touch on is a place we have here in indiana. "Pick a part" Once a year they have what is referred to as a "pullathon" you bring your own tools, pull your own parts, and whatever you can carry across a 20 foot long line you get for $50. Limit 2 people per load ($100). And of corse core charges apply for alloy wheels, cat converters, radiators, and such. When your car needs multiple parts but is fairly common like my '92 Ford Ranger, this is by far the best way. Take a backpack, and a few ratchet straps and you can get everything you need to keep your car on the road for cheap. As well as pick up some cool upgrade pieces from other similar or newer models.
My first car was a Fiat 128 sedan that was sitting on my
grandpa's farm for 6 years without running. I was sixteen
and bought it from him for $100... (I know, he should have
just given it to me, but I guess it was a lesson that I
needed to learn.) Anyway, I payed a neighbor to tow it
home for me. Another neighbor came over and showed me
how the engine works and what is needed for it to run.
Thankfully all it needed was a tune up and some tires.
Unfortunely, the subframe was cracked from it being in
a frontend accident, needless to say I went through a
lot of tires because of that. I was so interested in how
the engine works that I rebuilt the engine and afterwards
boy did it run great. I ended up selling it because that
engine frame crack couldn't be fixed. I tried welding plates
in on the frame, but the back and forth motion of the
engine would break the welds and I would be stuck with
same problem. There's a lot more to this story I just wanted
to share my experience of letting a car go.
Thanks for reading. :)
The HVAC blower door motors will probably be the death nail for my 2001 Sierra with 320k miles.From what I've seen the entire dash has to come out. It's a shame because its 5.3 runs like a champ and gets decent mpg. I can do a lot of things but Idk if I'm willing to tackle that one. If the heater core fails it will DEFINITELY be history. Great video, kinda relevant in the hopefully NOT so near future! Love your work Bud!!!
You are correct sir! I tend to "get rid" of vehicles while they are still running. It's a lot easier to sell a running vehicle than a dead one.
I miss my 02 chevy cavalier. It's what made me decide to do all of my own work. Like each car I've had, each one taught me something new.
I wish you were closer to me to be my mechanic! I just bought a 95 civic ex that I wanted since I was a kid. It needs some love for sure but to me it'll be worth it
My first car I actually drove for more than a month, is my 1991 Toyota Celica GT. I have spent so much time fixing the issues that came with it to get it to the point where it is at now; running well.
It has 211k on it, but still going strong. I still need to change the timing belt, but if the engine were to need replacing/rebuilding, I will swap the engine. I really want to keep this car for a long time.
So many nights staying up, losing sleep, the frustration, the dirt and grime I was covered in after completing a job. I think it would be hard to let go if the repair is the value of the car.
I actually have plans to get the dents out, get new side skirts and have it painted.
I have a 1991 and a 1992 Jeep Wrangler both with 4.0 liters and both I own. I daily drive the 92 and the 91 sits outback as a project trail rig. My 92 has a rusty body but solid frame and tub mounts. The 4.0 which is fuel injected has around 197,300 miles and it always starts and goes down the road with no issues. It's great in snow and mud. It's hot in the summer, cold in the winter, noisy as hell without carpets and a magnaflow cat back exhaust system. It rides like a Mack truck but I would never part with it nor stop driving them. Jeep life. A Jeep never dies and you never get rid of them you just rebuild them and that's why it's hard to find a Wrangler in the junkyard.
first car i ever had, 2002 Hyundai elantra GT manual. with all the upgrade options interior and feature wise. bought it used off an old man down the street when i got my license at 16 for $800. that car lived another 14 years with a few minor repairs here and there. and then it threw a rod on my way to the cottage. i had the car from 40,000 miles to 685,000 miles. i said goodbye to it earlier this year. i loved that car to death. was always reliable.
I had this same dilemma a few years back, I had just moved to a new city packed up almost everything I owned in my 91 4Runner. This car was my Mom's daily driver for so many years, long story short she rear ended a corvette and totaled the runner. It ended up sitting for 5 years so I started to wrench on it here and there to get it back up and running for her (It had AC and her Samurai Didn't) and not more than 1 month I got everything squared away I totaled my VTEC Prelude. Mom ended up giving me the Runner as she didn't need 2 cars.
This was the Car:
I learned to Drive stick with
Took my DMV Driving test with @ 16
Learned how to 4 Wheel with
Pulled buddies stuck Jeeps out with.
This truck never let me down but things started getting expensive, in 1 year I had replaced Timing Chain/Water Pump/Belts ($1200) Tires ($900) Then it started using Oil and blowing Blue smoke, Failed smog test and my mechanic at the time told me an engine rebuild was in order $3,200 not surprised since it had 310,000 Miles on it. Being my sole vehicle I needed something reliable as I drive a lot for work, plus I didn't have a garage to wrench on it so I was at the mercy of a mechanic ( a rare thing for me).
I really miss that truck but a new to me 06 Tacoma 4x4 filled the hole I had in my heart.
+ETCG1 you rock dude
I was the lucky one to drive an inherited 1991 Ford Ranger. It was a great truck for the time that I was driving it. The only gripe I had about it, was the transmission. When it was brought home from my grandpa, it already had a rebuilt tranny in it. Then in 2003 or 2004, overdrive exploded. Shortly after it was rebuilt for the second time, it when out again. It was at that time, it was discovered that the flywheel was bent. Never knew how or when it was bent, but it explained why we had to pull the torque converter forward and shim the starter bolts. But like in this vid, we reached the point of letting it go. Happened a couple years ago on a road trip. Transmission gave out again and barely made it to the hotel I was staying at. I didn't really want to let it go, but sinking another $1500 or more into a truck that wasn't worth it, just wasn't gonna happen.
I have a 2003 325xi and every time a repair comes along I go thru the logic you just outlined.
I still have my first car 12yrs later. 1987 Lincoln Town car love it love it love it. I firmly Believe cars can be rebuilt over and over if need need be..its how Ive learned and been able to help others/ Make side money
I have a 2000 Chrysler Concorde with 216,000 miles and it's never let me down and surprisingly the only thing that's ever been replaced on it in over 17 years is the alternantor and regular maintenance things like tires and batteries. It belonged to my grandmother who passed away in 2012. She bought it new and it's been in my family since new, I don't care what I have to spend on it in the future, it's all I have left of my grandma and I remember riding in it when I was a baby
I've never owned a car newer than 1990. If you can fix things yourself they can last quite awhile. Good tips Eric.
Just watched this, as I'm trying to catch up on ALL the EricTheCarGuy videos, ETCG1 videos, etc. that you've ever produced (maybe get your "views" up and encourage you to keep going, I dunno). I found it amusing when you said that maybe the thing to do is to just get another vehicle, and put the broken one aside. I did just that a few months ago, when my trusty 2002 S-10 suddenly developed a really sickeningly odd and loud noise in the front (4WD) axle after being driven for a few minutes.
So, I went out and got me a brand spankin' new 2017 Toyota Tacoma 4x4, with a 6 speed manual (I REALLY wanted a manual transmission - just personal preference, and you can't get a stick in many new trucks except in the really cheapest base model - sometimes not even in a 4x4 at all!). Anyway, I digress, (as I often do). A few hours online, a few more hours in the dealership, and 40 grand later, I drove home my new Tacoma 4x4 TRD Sport and parked it in the driveway next to the S-10, which was by now up on jackstands, as I contemplated what I was going to do about it. Somebody offered me a hundred bucks for it, but I declined, as it was worth more than that as scrap. I don't know if he knew what was wrong with it, but it had to be worth more than a hundred bucks.
To make a long story short, I DID get to fixing it - I thought I was going to have to put an front axle or maybe a transfer case in it, odd thing was that it NEVER made the noise in 4WD, ONLY in 2WD, and only after being driven for a bit. I should note that I'm a car guy, but not for a living, I'm an Engineer of a different sort altogether. But - I understand how things work, and by watching videos from you, and from South Main Auto, and from a few other channels, I came to understand how the 4WD system, specifically the front hub engagement system, works on my S-10.
Turns out that there was a vacuum leak INSIDE the switch that mounts on top of the transfer case, letting PARTIAL vacuum PARTIALLY engage the front hubs - of course, not being in 4WD at the time, and not fully engaging the hubs, it made a loud noise. Putting it into 4WD let the hubs engage fully, thus no noise! The cure was a $15 vacuum switch, but I never would have guessed it without the help of the videos that you guys post.
So, now I've got the old S-10, which i drive just about daily, and the $40,000 Tacoma, which gets driven occasionally. The Tacoma is real pretty, though.
I'm glad I didn't "say goodbye", just yet...
I bought a 1997 Mitsubishi Mirage that had little over 132,000 miles on it. In eight year I’ve put right at 100,00 miles on it. Original engine and transmission. Replaced fuel pump gas tank, shocks, radiator, tie-rods, ball joints, AC system..and still runs to this day.
My first one I had to let go was a 1981 Dodge Omni my high school auto tech class built. It was cobbled together from a Dodge Colt, an Omni as the base and a Plymouth Horizon. We called it The Stunt Dodge. The passenger seat was held in by... a bolt. The passenger door didn't really latch unless it felt the need to, so we called the passenger seat "The Ejector Seat". The rear shocks did a convincing job of being made up of matter and appearing to serve some kind of function. The charging system could ALMOST keep up with the sound system I installed. I drove that thing until it had a 50/50 chance of getting me two miles to work before I gave up on it and donated it back to the auto tech class.
Despite that it was a rolling death trap... I have some of the best memories of life (and near deaths) in that car. If I found another Omni or Horizon in good shape and had any money I'd own another because... I just like off beat cars.
I put a full size pickup brush guard on it and when I wass cart pusher at the local grocery store I used to to push carts in deep snow. Have someone out front steering the carts while I peered through the 2 inch by four inch clear spot the defroster gave me. Whatever it's been recycled into... maybe someone is having as much fun in it now as I did back then.
I got a free '84 s10 Blazer last year when i was 16. The big issue with it was the vacuum hoses to the 4x4 crumbled to bits so it had a huge vacuum leak and the t5 in it was blown up. it would stick in 4th gear.. so i rebuilt it. i got a cheap harbor freight press, and a $90 rebuild kit. I rebuilt the 5 speed in my grandpas woodshop and so far when everything is said and done i have about $600 wrapped up into my free car. it was a fun experience and I'm hoping to keep driving this for a while
I've always been slow to walk away but i've gotten a lot better over the years. Since i do most of my own work when i get tired of fixing it over and over and over... its time to look around. Eventually things break, i get that. But when you're like me the tendency is to hold on til you squeeze that last drop out. That kind of mindset can backfire... i've had it happen x 1 out of 3 cars
This was a GREAT topic. I kissed my /05 lancer good bye last year. Loved it, but it was the right decision.
I will never give up my 81 c20 it has been a great truck all these and will be for many years to come!
+kevin szarell i'm sure you'd give it up if a drunk hit ya head on doing 50
I have heard that before- then they drive something and they change their mind
Sometimes fixing the car is really just a good excuse to buy the tools needed for the project
95 civic hatch cx model, engine blew when I didn't have money for a good swap, swapped in the same motor. New motor is beating the transmission up. Gonna rebuild the trans next asap. Love that thing. I wanna get as much out of it as if I bought it new in 95 lol
I think we may have been too hard on Eric when we were complaining on the promotional video. I don't want Eric to resent his own subscribers or feel hurt by things that were said. I don't know how we can make it up to Eric. But i do enjoy your videos Eric and the relationship that is built through your videos. It helps me to have a place to go when I run into my own DIY projects and need someone to relate to. It's also just nice having someone around who shares a common, interest, hobby, enjoyment or struggle. Anyway thanks for the video Eric.
Been there lol I brought an '86 Holden VK Commodore that had been sitting on someone's lawn for six years. Body was made of rust and primer. Engine had some 'go faster' bits and pieces (valve & head work) that first attracted me. But I needed a daily driver, and that thing was a rolling $400 fine from the local plod, plus sometimes the ignition switch would slip out (and stay out) of run. One hand shifting gears, one on the wheel, and one holding the ignition in the run position didn't do it for me... had to let it go as I didn't have the space for two cars. Hopefully it made someone a sweet project car :)
About 2 years ago, I bought my dad's 2008 Buick Lucerne with a 3.8L v6 from my father, and I have to say I have fallen in love with it. Its not the fanciest, flashiest, or even sporty thing on the road but the car means alot to me because it's my first car. It currently has 160,000 miles and is almost 10 years old, and I don't plan on ever selling it. so many people say they regret selling their first car, and I don't want to make that mistake.
The feeling sux when you have to walk away.. Lol my headache was a 1998 Cadillac Seville sls.. Blown heads... Went through 3 motors.... Just had to junk it at the end of the day it was a learning experience
I had to let go of my 98 Peugeot 306 LX. It was bottom of the range and 8 years old when I bought it and I had it for 9 trouble free years. It never once leaked or creaked or smoked or had any cabin malfunctions (windows, doors, sunroof, seat, dashboard etc) but after 17 years, It epically failed its MOT on two wheel arches, the exhaust and the chassis was universally rusted. As I couldn't afford to have it repaired, I drove it until the MOT expired and I sent it off to the scrap yard with a last meal of £10 of super unleaded. Its the nearest I've come to loosing the family pet. I currently drive a Peugeot 207 and although it excels at being newer with fewer miles on it, the cabin is filled up with airbags and not even enough room in the glove box to put the manual whereas the 306 had two glove boxes and pockets on the back of the front seats. It appears that modern cars are built to a budget not a standard so I'm of a mind to track down one of the last of the top of the range 306 and get my smile back. Lets see if all 306s are built the same.
Don't really consider myself as a car hoarder. But I do have a problem with letting go of vehichles I get attached too. Still have my first truck, a 57 Dodge 100, the whole family pitched in, built in early 80's on a tight budget. 69 Fury front clip to get torsion bar suspension, 340 out of a totalled Dart. Still gathering parts for my 80 Clubcab Powerwagon. Really miss my old 67 Dart GT that the ex got in the divorce settlement. My 99 1500 was stolen just before xmas..Recovered same day. Insurance wanted to write it off. Couldn't let go of it, insurance agreed and paid me out. I get way to attached to my vehichles
My first car.. "time to let go" was when the rack and pinion was leaking like a siv, oil pressure light came on at 225k so im assuming the oil pump failed or there was no oil.. clutch was finished. Needed brake hoses, an altornator, and a battry... and the body was finished in ways only Quebec could rot out a shell... took what i could off it, and somberly sent it on its way..having already bought a second one in the same color.
your clock is awesome, also i learned a lot thank you for your videos, man
you the man
Interesting story about that clock. czcams.com/video/TC3_Si21OkA/video.html
I have to say I love my 240sx but my wife doesn't like to be seen in it.
The advent of DIY channels like ETCG has changed this dynamic tremendously. Now, regular folks can make repairs at low cost that allow them to keep cars that would have been let go years ago. My mechanic only sees me when I'm stumped by a diagnosis or don't have the tools to perform the job. This has saved me thousands of dollars and is the only reason I own my present car.
Channels like Eric's and online model-specific forums have made it possible for me to keep my car on the road well past its prime. My car would have been gone about 10 years ago. It's been nice to be car payment-free for 10+ years on all my cars.
I can't bring myself to let go of my 92 Volvo 945 even though I should. It's never failed me. Just changed the oil and filter every year and that's it. But the past year it seems like it just want to die. Gave it a new timing belt -> Transmission gave up. Replaced transmission -> Exhaust started leaking. Replaced exhaust -> parking brake cable broke. Replaced parking brake cable -> Found out I needed new pads and rotors front and rear. Replaced pads and rotors -> started leaking fuel. Replaced in tank fuel pump assembly. -> Started leaking coolant. Water pump needs replacing. Rear axle has started whining, alternator bearings are going bad, needs new tires, engine is knocking, clutch going bad. Most likely has a bad engine mount to. But if I only replace these few items I should be good!
Yes,you have to do alot for it to be in a good shape again :(
But if you like it and you have money to spend why not?Sentimental things aside,I think all comes down to money.
I have a 1992 Volvo 240 and right now I an at a point to sell. I do my own repairs. But lately he been having the ildle problem with black stuff coming out the tail pipe. He runs or Mr Volvo runs great. I cleaned his TB and for like a day the problem went away. But it came back. I want to sell because I am going to school but its hard to find a car as good as my Volvo. Today I am going to see if it the fuel injectors and get that serial box gasket change to a good gasket and hope for the best. If Mr Volvo does it improve time for a new Volvo.
My limit was always 6 monthly car payments to fix and 1 payment to maintain per year. After the initial spree to bring the beast back up, if done correctly, a car will last a tremendous amount of time especially when timely regular maintenance is conducted properly. Also, the type of repair is a big determiner of cost vs. benefit ie: Regular wear versus neglect and/or abuse. For me, those former figures are for the parts only because I pull my own wrenches. Thanks, ETCG1.
My parents bought a 82' Mercedes 240D beige 4spd, when I was 4 yrs old. I remember riding in it when my dad test drove it and fell in love with it. Fast-forward to the early 2000's when I got my drivers license, it was my first car. I sadly had to part ways with it around 2005 when the drivers side frame was almost completely rusted out. It was sent to graveyard heaven with 265,000 miles on it. I still today sometimes search car sites for it's twin.
+G.J. Z Should of removed that rust before it spread out too much.
I say it depends if you can fix it yourself or do you have to take it to a shop will from experience doing it yourself you can keep a car for a long time
i had a 1972 dodge half ton , had transmission problems many times , i stopped being so hard on it and no more problems , also had electronic module problems , put the exact part number module in and no more problems
Two cars come to mind: a 1963 Corvette convertible and a 1983 Buick Skyhawk.
I bought the Corvette in 1977. I also bought a new Cadillac Coupe de Ville that year, which I sold in 1978. Not my favorite car. Anyway, I was driving down the street in the Vette when the engine just quit, so I coasted to the curb, called a tow truck and had it towed to my mechanic. This car was powered by a 327 cu. in V8, but unlike most cars of that era it had factory fuel injection: mechanical fuel injection driven by a cable that resembled a short speedometer cable, a cable that GM no longer made. Since this option was not a big seller on 1963 Corvettes, and no third-party part were available, either, my only options were to find a used cable, or have a new one machined, which would have been VERY expensive. I got lucky and found a used one, but the writing was on the wall: get rid of this car! So I sold it as quickly as I could--with a handsome profit, fortunately. This experience taught me two things: 1. only buy cars that have a track record of reliability; 2. only buy cars that were big sellers at the time they were produced to insure that replacement parts will be available.
The other car I mentioned, the '83 Buick Skyhawk, was purchased new by my mother, but got very little use. I inherited the car, with a whole 42,000 miles on it, when Mom passed away in 2007. The body was rock solid, by the interior was mostly dry rotted. Still, I wanted to hang onto the car. Three years ago, the engine began to run very poorly. I pulled into my driveway, left the engine running, and popped the hood. First thing I did was a walk-around of the car, which enlightened me as to what was wrong. White smoke was pouring out of the exhaust, which meant that coolant was somehow getting into the cylinders. I removed the radiator cap, and white smoke was coming out of the radiator, too. Bad news--not something I would repair myself, and something I wasn't able to afford to have repaired, so I sold it for next to nothing. Fortunately I still see it running around town occasionally. I'm glad it wasn't crushed.
I didn't want to get rid of either of these cars, but as Eric says, there comes a time for most people when they're financially forced to do so.
I remember as a kid(yes I'm really young) seeing my grandpa getting rid of his yugo. for some strange reason he loved it. he then bought a used 1991 geo metro which in my opinion was basically the same thing. after ten or so years he got rid of it when it developed a rod knock . he for some reason has refused to get rid of his '94 Chevy lumina and has in the last 10 years put a new engine, new. a/c system new doors and who knows how many tires and batteries in/on it despite the fact he hasn't driven it more than a few hundred miles since 2011
Just had a customer last night...got a grand caravan for free. EVERYTHING was either rusted..broken..or leaking. I suggested finding something safer to drive....
because he had gotten the car for free...he did not want to hear my advice.
uhg.
free is the most expensive, you get what you pay for, its worth what you paid for it. there a reason it was free.
living on a farm is a way to never have to let go ,, i have my own personal vehicle grave yard ,, i was just joking about the not letting go part ,, some vehicles just are not worth looking at anymore and hold no real personal interest ,, or the frame is sooooo rusted you are scared to sneeze in the general area of the vehicle ,, its getting hard to find older vehicles that are not rusted beyond repair
Is it weird I prefer to watch ETCG1? I'm a technician so I don't exactly need basic repair tips (even though I do pick up some tricks from watching you), but there's something about listening to someone in the same business talk about their side of things that interests me.