Car- What would you do?

[SDSorority]

What would you do in this situation?

I drive a 2004 Honda Accord with 84,000 miles on it. I'm in need of 4 new tires. The car is paid off.

Should I get the 4 new tires or should I get a new car? It runs ok- occasionally the airbag light comes on, but then it's off when I turn the car back on later in the day.

WWYD?

 

[minnie1928]

Seriously?! I'd buy the tires and move on. Tires are INFINITELY cheaper than a new/different car and there's nothing wrong with your car (although, I'd probably get that light checked out). I would never use the impending purchase of tires as a basis for getting a new car, it's a maintenance item...like oil changes, just a bit more expensive.

 

[owenbyd]

From an outsider's perspective, IMO I don't see what needing 4 new tires and a new car have in common Tires are upkeep, another car is a whole new host of possible expenses including car payment, insurance, etc.

If you are saving, stick with the Honda. 84k really isn't much at all.

 

[akcire]

What would you do in this situation?

I drive a 2004 Honda Accord with 84,000 miles on it. I'm in need of 4 new tires. The car is paid off.

Should I get the 4 new tires or should I get a new car? It runs ok- occasionally the airbag light comes on, but then it's off when I turn the car back on later in the day.

WWYD?

Tires are cheap. I'd buy new at Sam's or Costco. When/if you decide to sell new tires will be a selling feature.

Personally if the car functions and it is safe, I would drive it until it needs a crazy expensive repair or it is more than 10 years old.

 

[sam_gordon]

I'd get the four tires. 84K is almost low mileage. I try to get at least 150-200K+ out of our cars.

Do you have the money for a new car without getting a loan? If yes and you want a new car go for it. If no, get the new tires, then put the $200 or so per month into a savings account. Even if you average 20K miles per year, after five years, you'll be at 184K miles, but you'll have $12K. Pay cash for a car at that point.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Get the new tires unless you like throwing away money. Since when did such a relatively minor fix become a reason to get a new car?

 

[SDSorority]

Thanks guys! I thought 84K was a lot of miles . Honda's do tend to run forever though I guess...

 

[skw444]

84k miles on a Honda is nothing. I just paid for 4 new tires on my 2003 Honda Odyssey with 140K. Much cheaper than buying a new car and my car is still running with no problems. As long as you maintain your car well, you should get at least another 84K miles on your car!

 

[Golf4food]

Thanks guys! I thought 84K was a lot of miles . Honda's do tend to run forever though I guess...

I have a 99 Nissan Altima with 108,000 miles and that's nothing. I have a friend with an older Toyota with over 150,000. If you take care of them many will run forever as long as you can still get parts for those pieces that are designed to wear down.

Tires = $400 once every few years depending on mileage.

New car = $400 per month every month for the next X years. (You get the idea.)


If you don't take care of the car and have it maintained it may fall apart, but most parts are not expensive in the grand scheme of things until you get to trasmission and full engine replacements. Everything else is less than one single month car payment most of the time.

 

[BridgetBordeaux]

Sounds like it would be best to keep the car. Get the tires replaced, have someone inspect the brakes on all 4 corners while they are off. If you have not had any brake service lately, you are due for one soon.

Now is the time to catch up on anything you have put off or did not know about.

How often does Honda say to change your transmission fluid? (I am assuming it is an automatic)
Are you due for a coolant change?

If the airbag light comes on, that means the car has detected a problem. If the light is on, you will not be protected during a crash. The next time it is on, have the dealer pull the code. Even if you have to pay 50 bucks just for the code, it is an important safety issue. Don't turn the car off in the service drive...........leave it on and running until they can pull the code. We don't want it to disappear when you cycle the key.

Your car is keeper and should have a lot of life left in it. A modest investment now will pay you large dividends down the road.

 

[Praying Colonel]

That Honda probably has another good 100,000 miles on it. We have an 02 Odyssey with 150K and it's purring right along. I say get new tires and drive on.

 

[DarleneW]

I also have a 2004 Honda Accord and have almost 78,000 miles that is paid off and I definitely wouldn't think about getting a new car instead of putting new tires on. A few months ago I had to get a new battery because mine died and we realized the battery was in the car was the original battery As for the air bag light...does it say that the passenger air bag is off? Mine does that and at first I thought it was a problem until my SIL pointed out that it is because what I have on the passenger is light and I guess the sensor detects it isn't a person sitting there and it turns it off. This happens whenever I have just a few things on the passenger seat. It never happens when somebody is sitting in the seat.

 

[okeydokey]

A Honda will last you a long, long time. Get the tires.

 

[Local_Girl]

LOL...I WISH our Accord ('95 wagon) only had 84,000 miles on it! Ours has over 300,000 miles on it now and is still going strong. Just took it from MI to WDW this past Nov. too...(our Odyssey was in the shop at the time ). Get the tires and drive on!

 

[UGAFan0829]

Get the tires!!!

I have an '06 Accord with nearly 100,000 miles that I'm about to have to drop $1,000+ on for a new timing belt, transmission service and brakes. It stinks to have to give up that much money, but it's better than having a monthly car payment. Not to mention, I know (or at least hope) that once it's done, I shouldn't have to spend any more money for service, other than the routine oil change. I love my car, and even though DH says he'd love for me to have a new one, I hope that I can get another 75,000-100,000 out of this one!!

It's definitely easy to get that new car fever. But it's nicer not having a monthly payment!

 

[MaggieBailey]

What would you do in this situation?

I drive a 2004 Honda Accord with 84,000 miles on it. I'm in need of 4 new tires. The car is paid off.

Should I get the 4 new tires or should I get a new car? It runs ok- occasionally the airbag light comes on, but then it's off when I turn the car back on later in the day.

WWYD?

New tires for sure! Once you have those paid for, you are done. If you get another car - that means a payment in most cases. My dad always said to me "The cheapest car you can drive, is the one you are driving right now". My car is an 02 dodge that has 134,000 miles on it... And has been paid off for 2 years. Yes, there are times I want to cry when I realize I need to put another $400 into it, but all I think is it happens so rarely - and car payment is once a month . Good luck to you in your choice!

 

[Zhoen]

Yep, what everyone else said! If you take care of your car, there's no reason it can't last 10+ years/ 150-200k+ I traded in my jeep last fall with 173k miles on it, on it's ORIGINAL transmission, and only gave it up because it was so far gone that the necessary repairs were no longer practical. Here we are 8 months later and the new (used) vehicle I bought looks like the kids have been playing paintball in it for 20 years! Bottom line, new doesn't last, so make "old" last as long as you can and do something else with the money!

And, actually, I've only ever had one car that DIDN't go past 150k, and that one was a total lemon from day 1. So while Honda does have a great reputation, you can make most cars last.

Good luck!

 

[crazelion]

My 1993 Nissian Sentra has over 200, 000 K miles and still going strong. 84,000 miles to replace a car LOL.

 

[tomthebarncat]

You are considering get rid of a car because it needs 4 new tires??? I am sorry but here in Germany we are required by law to have two sets of tires, summer and winters. Tires are not expensive and once again, I am shaking my head

 

[Nayan]

Oh man I really hope this is a joke! I've driven every car I've had until it couldn't go anymore. Seriously, about $600 for new tires vs. about $15k for a new car? Tires win every time! Oh thanks for the laugh!