Today's Car Care Tip: Is My Car Worth Repairing?
So, you've been told your car needs expensive repairs. Should you repair it or trade it? Let's examine some issues that need to be considered...The fact is, some people keep their car too long, and some trade too often.
A JD Power study revealed that a person would save over $450,000 during their lifetime if they kept their cars an average of 10 years.
- Maintaining the car during the 10 year period would cost between $800 to $1200 per year.
- But this investment would save nearly a half a million dollars in new car buying costs, interest, insurance, registration, taxes, and depreciation over a lifetime.
Solution: If you are near a great auto technician, car dealer and financial analyst, you have a pretty good chance of making good decisions about repairing your car. We would like to give you a list of how to scientifically determine what to do about this issue, but we can't.This is a very serious issue, one of the biggest financial decisions you make.
It's all about relationships...Do you have a repair shop you trust? Do you personally know the service advisor or technician? Have you tested the relationship enough to know they will tell you when it's time to repair and when it's time to trade that old car?
It is not beneficial to a long-term customer relationship, or to building a good reputation to recommend repairs on a car that isn't worth it.
A good service advisor and technician should be there to solve your problems, not create them by being selfish and dishonest.
Handy Car Care Tips and Suggestions
- Used Car Buyers’ Checklist – Don’t buy a used car without running through this! These are the questions every used car buyer should ask.
- Going Green with your Car – How to go green with your car and reduce your carbon footprint!
- Fuel Saving Tips – Here are some easy ways to increase your gas mileage at home!
- Report A Pothole in the Denver area – If you’re sick of hitting the same pothole everyday, use one of these numbers to report a pothole in your area!
Fluid Colors
These are what your vehicle’s fluids look like when they’re brand new and just added to your vehicle. If they’re black, smell burnt, or just past your manufacturer’s recommended service interval, getting these fluids changed can prevent big expenses down the road. Click here to see the fluid chart.
Vehicle Systems
These are diagrams of how all of the integral systems in your car work. From your air conditioning, to your brakes, to your engine, use these diagrams to see how everything works, and why certain repairs and preventative maintenance services are necessary, and can save you money in the long run. Click on any picture below to see a larger diagram!
