Comments on: Buy a New Car or Fix the One I’ve Got?

By: karla (threadbndr)

karla (threadbndr) — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 22:12:06 +0000

The tipping point for me is when the cost of the repair is more than the value of the car. It looks like you are there. AND the cost of the new to you car less your trade in looks like it will be less than the cost of the transmission repair.

Your financing % on a used car will probably be less than on your credit card or line of credit. Right now my credit union is between 5.25 and 7.5 % depending on the age of the car and the length of the loan.

But yeah, taking on debt when you just finally got out from under is frustrating. Best of luck

By: Frugal Babe » Archive » Sunday Roundup

Frugal Babe » Archive » Sunday Roundup — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 05:59:42 +0000

[...] Almost Frugal Kelly is also dealing with car repairs, but of a bigger variety. She’s in the “repair or replace” dilemma that we’ll all eventually end up in if we keep our cars long [...]

By: Miss Thrifty

Miss Thrifty — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 21:36:34 +0000

Oh no – transmissions are so expensive!

I’d say get a new car, but I’m sure you could get an ok one for less than 6,000 euros.

Mind you, as you may recall from this post – http://www.miss-thrifty.co.uk/2008/09/01/introducing-the-thriftymobile/ – I’m a notorious tightwad when it comes to cars!

Miss Thrifty´s last blog post..FRIDAY BARGAINS: Tesco hair clippers

By: Weekend Roundup - New Sewing Machine Edition | Not Made Of Money

Weekend Roundup - New Sewing Machine Edition | Not Made Of Money — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 19:35:46 +0000

[...] Almost Frugal ponders if she should buy a new car or fix the one she’s got. [...]

By: Zhu

Zhu — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 03:19:16 +0000

Ouch... I guess I'd be a new car but I can see it's a difficult decision. Same goes -- to a lesser extend -- with computer. Last time mine broke, I bought a new one cause it was cheaper. Zhu´s last blog post..How To Survive Your First Year In Canada (8/10)

By: Kelly

Kelly — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 14:26:01 +0000

@Lisa, yeah, except that my kids need to get to school and my husband needs to get to work. And he can’t arrange his hours to pick them up every afternoon, and we can’t do without his salary, so we need the second car.

Life would be much easier if we could only have one car, but we can’t. Hence the dilemma!

By: Lisa

Lisa — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 11:18:53 +0000

Hi Kelly, You know that the Tightwad Gazette would say you don't need two cars if you stay home. Or get a sitter near home or on the bus line and take internet courses. It's these tragic monetary things that make us reevaluate. I've had this same car dilemma way too many times. Even though we can afford it we never buy new cars anymore, always late model used (see The Millionaire Next Door). Don't sink another dime into this one. I put an expensive transmission into a Renault once and two days later the engine died. Someone just told me my career would restart when the big yellow bus pulls up, and I'm starting to think that's true. Two cars, au pair, clothes, all add up. Goo0d luck. Lisa´s last blog post..$295,000 Home For Sale in Eastham, MA 02642