Should I fix my transmission or buy a new car?

[DizMe]

I replace the parts until the mileage gets pretty high and/or lots of things have begun to wear out. Doesn't matter if they're large or small, when things start going in bunches, then the car is no longer reliable. I'm there with my 2003 Honda Odyssey right now. Have replaced a few major things over the years but now it is making some odd noises (loud squeaking noise from the back when I go over bumps), only one of the sliding doors works and the other is questionable, and things have gotten old (cracked leather seats, dings and scratches, missing trim pieces etc). It has 200,000 miles but still runs well so it's going to become a car for my almost 16-year-old to learn on I have a feeling it's going to see some more dings and scratches soon.

No one in my family is the least bit handy with cars. It costs a lot even when the problem is relatively minor so when we start seeing a lot of those things we move on to another vehicle.

The value of having a car that is reliable has to be figured in.

 

[BridgetBordeaux]

We were in a similar situation about 4 years ago. We chose to have a remanufactured trans installed in our car. It costs a bit more but we got a 3 year unlimited mileage warranty from Ford. As long as the overall vehicle lasts you an additional 6-10 months after the fix, you will be coming out ahead.

The reliability track record of someone personally rebuilding a trans is much lower than buying one that was rebuilt in a remanufacturing faciilty.

Assuming your SUV has a GM 4L60E transmission, they are dime a dozen and many are available.

Jasper has a 2WD version of your trans for about 2000 dollars. They also have a network of installers. You get a 3 yr / 100K warranty.

My DH did this research for me. Hope it helps.

 

[Madteaparty001]

It really is ultimately up to you. We called our 95 mercury thomas because no matter what broke on it we would fix it and it kept chugging along (3/4 brake lines, frame after accident, starter, a/c unit, etc.). Now every time I had a repair it cost about $100 because my father is a master mechanic and one of the top ones in the country, so DH provided the labor, we bought the parts at a store, and my father told us how to fix it. But I was starting to feel nickle and dimed by my own car, and it was only worth $400 on blue book, definitely wouldn't bother fixing the trans if it went! When the battery on it died for the x time (another thing needing to be replaced) with my kid in the back seat while I was out shopping 1 year ago, I swore then and there to get a new car. 186k mile on it and it's sitting in the driveway with a new battery next to the 'new' (1 year lease turn in) car saving us $11 a month with a multi car discount.

So basically, what is your breaking point with this car? Is it one repair away? Or would you be willing to fix something every couple of months?

 

[tvguy]

We were in a similar situation about 4 years ago. We chose to have a remanufactured trans installed in our car. It costs a bit more but we got a 3 year unlimited mileage warranty from Ford. As long as the overall vehicle lasts you an additional 6-10 months after the fix, you will be coming out ahead.
.

I took my Mercury to an independent transmission shop and they gave me the option of them rebuilding my transmission, which they would warranty for 12 months or 12,000 miles with the repairs having to be done at their shop, or for the same price a Ford remanufactured transmission with the 3 year warranty good at any Ford, or Lincoln-Mercury dealer in the U.S. I took the remanufactuered. It gave up after just a year, so I took it to the Ford dealer for replacement. The service writer was out sick so the mechanic....who did not know this was a warranty repair.....called me and said he would build me a much better trannie than the remanufactured one for the same price. I told him this was a free repair, and that I did not care which he did. He put another remanufactured transmission in since that is all Ford would pay for. The second rebuilt was fine for another 30 thousand miles when my daughter totaled the car.

 

[tvguy]

It really is ultimately up to you. We called our 95 mercury thomas because no matter what broke on it we would fix it and it kept chugging along (3/4 brake lines, frame after accident, starter, a/c unit, etc.). Now every time I had a repair it cost about $100 because my father is a master mechanic and one of the top ones in the country, so DH provided the labor, we bought the parts at a store, and my father told us how to fix it. But I was starting to feel nickle and dimed by my own car, and it was only worth $400 on blue book, definitely wouldn't bother fixing the trans if it went! When the battery on it died for the x time (another thing needing to be replaced) with my kid in the back seat while I was out shopping 1 year ago, I swore then and there to get a new car. 186k mile on it and it's sitting in the driveway with a new battery next to the 'new' (1 year lease turn in) car saving us $11 a month with a multi car discount.

So basically, what is your breaking point with this car? Is it one repair away? Or would you be willing to fix something every couple of months?

I'm cheap so I look for the lowest cost per mile, and barring rust damage or body damage, pretty much running a car forever and fixing things is going to get you to that goal.
The last 3 companies I have worked for run a fleet of cars, and it is not unusual for any of them to run cars 300-400,000 miles and not even flinch at replacing a transmission or an engine. The goal is the lowest cost per mile driven and fixing a vehicle rather than replacing it always gets you to that goal.

 

[Madteaparty001]

I'm cheap so I look for the lowest cost per mile, and barring rust damage or body damage, pretty much running a car forever and fixing things is going to get you to that goal.
The last 3 companies I have worked for run a fleet of cars, and it is not unusual for any of them to run cars 300-400,000 miles and not even flinch at replacing a transmission or an engine. The goal is the lowest cost per mile driven and fixing a vehicle rather than replacing it always gets you to that goal.

The old car had terrible millage and my DH drives 2 hours round trip to work. Our new car is a hybrid so the gas savings alone made up the difference in insurance cost (already put 10k miles on it in 6 months). The loan was 2% interest. Honestly when driving with a young child reliability and safety beat out savings any day of the week. DH actually refuses to let me drive the old car now unless absolutely necessary, he never realized how unsafe it was until driving the new one for a while.

So for us, continuing to fix a beater didn't make sense.

 

[amylevan]

I recently replaced my 2004 Escape with 220K miles on it...I was so sad to see her go. We weighed costs of fixing things for a while, but what ultimately swayed us was upgraded safety features. But here's an article from Consumer Reports, with a decision flow chart, that I felt helpful: http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/magazine/2016/03/do-you-really-need-a-new-car/index.htm

 

[NY Pirate Princess]

Try test driving something you would want to buy. We continue to service our 2004 GMC envoy because something that would meet our towing needs and hauling of amps for my husband's band would be far more vehicle than we need. It might help your decision to see what is out there in your price range. I drive rental cars for work sometimes, and it always reaffirms my decision to keep maintaining my 2007 Impala.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Actually, 9 of the 10 longest lasting "cars" in the U.S. are American branded. All of the top ten are truck based - either pickups or body on frame SUVs. The lone "foreign" vehicle in the lot is the Toyota Tundra. And what you have is a body on frame SUV featuring the 4L60E transmission - one of the most common transmissions on the road today. Having said that, the Trailblazer is not among the top 10. But, generally speaking trucks outlast cars. If you can find another shop that can do it cheaper, it's probably the way to go. I had the non-electronic version (TH700) replaced in my truck for $700 - granted, that was 15 years ago. But, I would think $1,000-1,200 would be about max for that work these days. It's not a terribly complicated trans, nor a terribly labor intensive install.

 

[KingRichard]

Do you live in a cold weather State? IE salt on the roads?

If not then truck should last a long time with maybe minor repairs.

Brakes lines and such can start to add up if you can't do then yourself.

 

[tvguy]

The old car had terrible millage and my DH drives 2 hours round trip to work. Our new car is a hybrid so the gas savings alone made up the difference in insurance cost (already put 10k miles on it in 6 months). The loan was 2% interest. Honestly when driving with a young child reliability and safety beat out savings any day of the week. DH actually refuses to let me drive the old car now unless absolutely necessary, he never realized how unsafe it was until driving the new one for a while.

So for us, continuing to fix a beater didn't make sense.

I understand. My perspective, like I said earlier, is lowest cost per mile. I fully understand wanting to pay more for more peace of mind.

 

[S. C.]

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.

I disagree! Have had many American made cars with that much and more miles that ran great.

 

[Crazy4DisneyandTink]

Do you live in a cold weather State? IE salt on the roads?

If not then truck should last a long time with maybe minor repairs.

Brakes lines and such can start to add up if you can't do then yourself.

I live in Chicago, so the Winters can be and usually are brutal, but I don't have any rust after 14 years.

 

[Crazy4DisneyandTink]

So. I've decided to test drive a few used SUVs that have been previously used as rental cars. My bank has a special program to buy these cars at a decent rate. If I see that the payments are doable, I'll bite the bullet and buy, if not, I'll get the Trailblazer fixed.

 

[tvguy]

I live in Chicago, so the Winters can be and usually are brutal, but I don't have any rust after 14 years.

My Uncles in Canada swore by Ziebart and their warranty that repaired rust for free.
My FIL along the Texas gulf coast did too, Although he found it interesting that anytime he needed a free repair, in the weeks that followed local car dealers who start calling him at home asking when he was going to trade in that car, and they always knew what make, model and mileage his car had......hmmmm, ya think Ziebart was selling a list of potential customers, or hoping he would trade it in before it needed more reparis?

 

[mjh2901]

You need to talk to the mechanic about your engine before deciding on the transmission. My 1999 explorer just had the engine gaskets done which pulls the header replace the water pump check everything else inside and out. Its got 177,000 but the ford V6 in that thing is good for 300,000 or more so I would do the trans in a second if I had to. Plus in my case its one of the last years of frame on truck chassis explorer. With a trailer hitch and AT tires. Its the low use car but it has no payments and can pull a serious trailer if needed. If you engine is over computerized and on average dies in 50,000 miles or less (when you add your current milage to 50,000) walk away and get something else.

 

[Crazy4DisneyandTink]

You need to talk to the mechanic about your engine before deciding on the transmission. My 1999 explorer just had the engine gaskets done which pulls the header replace the water pump check everything else inside and out. Its got 177,000 but the ford V6 in that thing is good for 300,000 or more so I would do the trans in a second if I had to. Plus in my case its one of the last years of frame on truck chassis explorer. With a trailer hitch and AT tires. Its the low use car but it has no payments and can pull a serious trailer if needed. If you engine is over computerized and on average dies in 50,000 miles or less (when you add your current milage to 50,000) walk away and get something else.

I've never had any problems with the engine, but that is my biggest fear, THE ENGINE! I just need my car to hold on for one more year...

 

[mi*vida*loca]

My engine died on my 2006 Honda Accord at 116K miles last year. My uncle is a mechanic and replaced it with a used engine with 45K miles on it. It cost me $1700 total for parts and his labor. I decided to fix it because I actually LOVE my car. I bought it new with only 3 miles on it, fully loaded and it's exactly what I want. It's lasted me 13 months so far so much better than buying a new car. It needs a power steering pump which is another $200. I'm hoping it will just last me through DS graduating HS in 2018. My uncle does all of my maintenance and he believes the car is great and should last me 5 more years with no big issues. *crosses fingers* When it actually dies or when I'm done with it he wants to buy it from me.

 

[KKB]

We had EXACTLY the same thing a few months ago...(around $2K for a transmission seems to be the going rate...)
1999 Nissan Altima. Around 100K miles. DS's car at college, 10 hours away. We researched--could have leased a Kia or Hundai for $100/month--but we knew this also meant $100/month more in insurance. (plus higher taxes/liscense). BUT he would have a new very reliable car.
We bit the bullet & put in the transmission--only to find that it needed $1K MORE put into it a month later when he brought it home to our mechanic.
Seriously for $2600 (more than the car is worh), we could have had 1 year lease/insurance paid on a new very reliable car (and if it turns out not to be reliable, you are under lease to help that!).
Wishing we had done the lease.
But what is done is done & it is running fine now.

 

[KKB]

"Actually, 9 of the 10 longest lasting "cars" in the U.S. are American branded. All of the top ten are truck based - either pickups or body on frame SUVs. The lone "foreign" vehicle in the lot is the Toyota Tundra."
Where did you get this information from?
I just checked several online sources & most (but not all) the vehicles listed were foreign-made...(Forbes was the most reliable site I could find & 6/10 were foreign)