Help me decide... What expense estimates can i expect... Options

[stryka]

Hi peeps... long time member and lurker on the boards...

Anyhow... here's my car info

1994 GTS
297,000 KMS

Physical definicies:
> cracked windshield
> rust starting to appear on frame around windshield
> rust starting to appear on trunk
> rust starting to appear where side skirts would be
> no interior issues


Here is my dilema... I used to only drive 20KMs/day to work but I started a new job and i drive 100kms/day now... I assume that the next set of things i need to do with car is the following

> engine
> clutch (its due soon)
> replace windshield
> sand down the entire car to remove rust and repaint
> anything else under the hood

I just spent $1800 and actually took it to Toyota to seal up any leaks, change all the belts and do an inspection and a couple other stuff under the hood...

> Do you think i am riding a ticking time bomb that is about to ask me for more money?
> How much can all the above cost?
> How long would an engine job take?

When did you guys stop pouring money into your 6th gen and just get another car?

I only have my eye on AUDI's... not sure if would drive anything else but it has been so nice not to have a CAR PAYMENT.... not sure how to do my math... do i pay $500/month (min) for a car payment for 6years or do i set aside X amount of dollars to fix up the 6th gen...

BTW>>> my wife has a Mazda 3 which we use on weekends... i just use my 6th gen to go to work and if we go to a night club...

So i don't know if i should set aside money to

[njccmd2002]

its not about what to invest in the celi, but in the mean time what do you drive if it breaks, 100 kms everyday is a lot to think, and have a car break down.

plus your car is old and high mileage, do you want to be late for work one day?

i say get a newer car and keep the celi for fun.

[crankyelbow]

Still in the end its cheaper to work with what you have. Even if every mechanical part needed replacing it could be done cheaper than buying a new car... the only "benefit" to buying new is being able to stretch costs over a long period of time, but in the end you end up paying a boatload of money that you would have not paid if you just worked with the car(s) you have.

If you were to assign $500 a month to a "fixit" account for a period of 5 years you will probably have enough saved to buy a new car outright - even after fixing the this's and thats as they pop up... and at some point your going to work the bugs out.

Debt is nothing to play around with... its voluntary slavery, avoid it if at all possible...

[azian_advanced]

well if fixing rust is your problem, then yes the celica is a money pit. try looking at another 6gc with no rust instead. nothing is worse than buying a new car where its value depreciates in the 4-figure range every year, when instead that money could have been invested in keeping your 6gc running + much more to spend on more important things.

[stryka]

good points from everyone...

njccmd2002... you are right about what happens if it breaks down... i guess now that's its summer i don't mind... and i can probably get a backup for a couple days...

crank and azian... I never thought of those perspectives... what really got me was the suggestion of putting aside a "fix-it" account... real good idea... i hate owing stuff so I think i need to see how i can keep this car going until i can put some hefty money aside...

azian.. why did you say its a money pit cuz of rust? Can't i just take it to a shop to sand down the entire car and repaint? Or am i being naive? what would that type of job cost?

Still in the end its cheaper to work with what you have. Even if every mechanical part needed replacing it could be done cheaper than buying a new car... the only "benefit" to buying new is being able to stretch costs over a long period of time, but in the end you end up paying a boatload of money that you would have not paid if you just worked with the car(s) you have.

If you were to assign $500 a month to a "fixit" account for a period of 5 years you will probably have enough saved to buy a new car outright - even after fixing the this's and thats as they pop up... and at some point your going to work the bugs out.

Debt is nothing to play around with... its voluntary slavery, avoid it if at all possible...