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?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What should I do?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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 … Continue reading