Should I fix my transmission or buy a new car?

[Gumbo4x4]

I guess you could sell it, but scrap value....at least around here...is about $75

Penny a pound here, and if the car runs & has usable parts, someone will cough up a little more. That $1,500 car we had with a bad trans? Sold it for $700.

 

[tvguy]

Penny a pound here, and if the car runs & has usable parts, someone will cough up a little more. That $1,500 car we had with a bad trans? Sold it for $700.

Last time I tried to donate a car, they wanted only cars with less than 100,000 miles, less than 10 years old needing no repairs, with a smog certificate ready to sell. They said the scrap value of a car anymore doesn't even cover their towing costs.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Last time I tried to donate a car, they wanted only cars with less than 100,000 miles, less than 10 years old needing no repairs, with a smog certificate ready to sell. They said the scrap value of a car anymore doesn't even cover their towing costs.

There's a lot of effort & labor that goes into that. It's different if you have a way to move the car yourself - which I do

 

[tvguy]

There's a lot of effort & labor that goes into that. It's different if you have a way to move the car yourself - which I do

I offered to drive the car to them. Because it was more than 10 years old, they wanted nothing to do with it.

 

[Judique]

LOL. OLDER CARS? My NEW car is a 2003, purchased new. Has 139,000 miles DW's car is a 2000, 118,000 miles. Our family car is a 1987 with 151,000 miles. Not sure exactly how many miles are on my 1965 Mustang. Original odometer said 56,000, the one put in during the restoration says 26,000, all I know is it has 400 miles on it since a complete frame off restoration (new engine and transmission)

My 2009 has 143K on it and the 2004 has about the same. In the same time frame I also had another vehicle which I sold off a few years ago. I'd bought it new in 2001 and put 180k on it. Sold it to the neighbor who ran it 3 more years.

As I said I'm kind of itching for a new car. Just have to narrow down what I feel like buying.

 

[Kenny1113]

I was thinking the same thing. It's really rare for an American car to last as long as mine has. I think you're right.

We have a 2001 Tahoe in our family with 290k miles and still running strong. Idk how much longer, but still running.

To the OP you have to decide if you are in the position to handle monthly payments at this point. Plus come up with a down payment including taxes etc.

If yes you can handle the monthly payments look to see what kind of car your budget can get you.

 

[aquabone1109]

LOL. OLDER CARS? My NEW car is a 2003, purchased new. Has 139,000 miles DW's car is a 2000, 118,000 miles. Our family car is a 1987 with 151,000 miles. Not sure exactly how many miles are on my 1965 Mustang. Original odometer said 56,000, the one put in during the restoration says 26,000, all I know is it has 400 miles on it since a complete frame off restoration (new engine and transmission)

I prefer to drive newer cars that are proven to be a lot safer than older cars. The only car we have that is more than 2 years old is my 69 camaro SS but that is rarely driven and kept in a garage.

 

[kymom99]

I offered to drive the car to them. Because it was more than 10 years old, they wanted nothing to do with it.

Who is "they"?
My husband had a 1999 chevy pickup truck that was so badly rusted the garage didn't recommend fixing it. A guy offered to buy it for $500 and we took him up on it.

 

[aquabone1109]

I offered to drive the car to them. Because it was more than 10 years old, they wanted nothing to do with it.

Oh please. They will take any car around here running or not. Friend of mine got rid of an old work van barely running. they came and towed it away. If they can't repair it then it's scrapped. Even carmax will take cars older than 10 years old.

 

[tvguy]

Who is "they"?
My husband had a 1999 chevy pickup truck that was so badly rusted the garage didn't recommend fixing it. A guy offered to buy it for $500 and we took him up on it.

All the charities here hire the same private company to handle their donor cars. My donation offer kept getting declined, finally the lady with the company was nice enough to call me and explain why they were so picky about donated cars.

 

[tvguy]

Oh please. They will take any car around here running or not. Friend of mine got rid of an old work van barely running. they came and towed it away. If they can't repair it then it's scrapped. Even carmax will take cars older than 10 years old.

The company that administers the car donor program for the charities. At least they have stopped saying in their ads that they will take your car "running or not", because they won't.

 

[tvguy]

I prefer to drive newer cars that are proven to be a lot safer than older cars. The only car we have that is more than 2 years old is my 69 camaro SS but that is rarely driven and kept in a garage.

Well the 1987 only has shoulder and seat belts and no airbags, but it was built before they were designing crumple zones in large SUVs so they did less damage to other cars, so other than a bump, I won't know if I have been in an accident. The 2000 and 2003 have the full compliment of air bags