(no subject)

[mellificent]

I spent almost $900 to get my car out of the shop yesterday.

Every time I tell anybody this - either online or in real life - it seems to start a discussion on Fixing It vs. Buying New, with most people coming down on the side of buying a new car instead (or at least a newer used car). I still maintain that the several-thousand-dollars I have spent on this car in the last year will be worth it if I can drive it for two more years (or more), and I don't see why I can't. I need to, really - Rob's truck is in terrible shape, and it will be a miracle if it lasts the six months or so until summer, when my mother is planning on selling us her Accord. The Accord is 5 years old and has a whoppin' 36,000 miles on it, and has been perfectly maintained by Art, who has nothing better to do than wash the thing twice a week and take it in to get the oil changed every few months, so it's going to be practically like getting a brand-new car.

(Art needs to be canonized or something. I don't know what I'd do without the man.)

So anyway, we'll probably get a credit-union loan for the Accord, and it'd be nice if I could drive the Civic until that's paid off, see? So really I would like to keep it going for another three years and change, at least. A lot of people drive Hondas with 200,000 miles on them, and mine just hit 120,000 lately (and I'm not putting many miles on it at all these days, either), so I don't see why three more years is considered outlandish. I'm going to try it, anyway.

Comments

[karen-d.livejournal.com]

Last year we put something like $1500 into our 1994 model, so I'm with you on the fix it and keep driving it plan.

I'm having trouble getting my head around a 5 year old car with only 36,000 miles on it, though. :)

[amandapage.livejournal.com]

yes, I just put $1700 into my 1996 Ford Probe. As I said to Jeff, I couldn't buy a car with an engine in as good a shape as the one that $1700 just bought for my car, so why not just spend that $$. I thoroughly believe in driving a car until it's not economically viable to anymore. Recycling at its finest!

36,000 only after 5 years is pretty speccy!

[mellificent.livejournal.com]

What kind of blows my mind is that my mother wants to sell the Accord at all. I mean, why? On the other hand, I don't really want to talk her out of it, because I want it, so I'm just keeping my mouth shut.

[a-chara.livejournal.com]

120K is no biggie, especially on a Honda. As long as it's not nickel and diming you to death and you're just spending on maintenance stuff, you should hang on to it. If you're getting that Accord, it should last you the rest of your life!

[pure-doxyk.livejournal.com]

Heh, I have a 1988 Taurus, 168,000 miles, mostly held together by rust, 4-door but 2 of 'em don't work, neither does the radio, internal lamp, hood prop, or just about anything else...but it's a damn reliable car and I love it. I also need it to last all year, preferably, so let's hear it for determined old cars!

-K*