The mechanic has finished checking over our car. He says it needs $3,000 worth of work before it will pass inspection. I don’t think he’s trying to rip us off. I think the car is just suffering from a combination of age-related problems and regular maintenance issues. But now I am faced with a difficult decision: is the car worth salvaging at that price?
In its current condition the car is worth maybe $1,000 on a trade-in. If fixed, it might be worth $2,500-$3,500. I question the wisdom of putting $3,000 into a car that might not be worth that much, especially knowing that the transmission could go at any time.
Then again, it’s a bad time for car shopping and buying, and it’s always a bad time to be carless. Plus, new cars are still so ridiculously expensive that $3,000 looks trivial in comparison.
What should I do?
What exactly needs replacing? And is he quoting you for used parts or new? If it’s new, see if he can find older parts instead.
Used parts are not an option in this case 🙁