Help me if you can...

[sheshe2]

I'm feeling down. Please, please help me.

My car (Nissan Versa) is 15 years old, 68K miles. Outside she looks pretty good, inside she is feeling a little sick. For the past few weeks when I depress the brakes to slow the steering wheel shimmies. My nephew said the rotor cuffs were frozen. Now on top of that my muffler is sounding a tad loud...not huge but not normal. Then the last few days there is a huge rattling coming from the drivers rear side. My shift shakes in my hand when that happens. I have an appointment for Monday and told the guy I wanted an assessment if the car is worth fixing.

Point. Hmm, I am 70 years old and really don't want to purchase a new car. I have some saving yet live off SS. Gawd knows when the kids will yank my licence

My niece's neighbor is selling a car. A 2015 Chevorlet cruze 1LTD Sedan 4 door 90.7K miles. Selling for 10K.

Do you think the new car would be a good purchase.

Thoughts? Prayers? Anything?

TY~

[Eko]

1. How much do you drive?

Do you live in a rural place or in or near a city?

[sheshe2]

6. Rural.

I lived 5 miles round trip to my job. Lost my job in 2016. Then mom needed homecare 24/7 for 5 years and with COVID I only drove local after I moved here.

[multigraincracker]

2. Check out the repair cost.

Sounds like less than a grand. 68K is very low mileage. Might just be a brake job and tail pipe.
I have a 23 year old van I drive all of the time. Usually I have to put one $500 a year repair. Better than a $500/month payment.
Take to a couple repair shops first and see what they think.
Best of luck.

[LakeArenal]

3. Everyone in Costa Rica has 20 year old cars.

Why? Because mechanics can keep older cars running forever. The newer the car the more computer, electrical and expensive parts they are.

If you have your mechanic check it and it’s well maintained and the Blue Book supports its price, I would opt for used car.

We drive a 2001 Nissan Pathfinder, my best friend drives a 1999 Toyota, my neighbor drive a 1998 Mitsubishi. It’s very common

Edit to add: None of them are very pretty.

[Scrivener7]

4. I'd wait and see what the mechanic says needs doing. Do you trust your guy?

My mechanic is a godsend. Honest as the day is long, and he knows I'm a cheapskate, so he tells me when I can cut corners and when it will save money in the long run to do the more expensive alternative.

It seems to me like your car should still have lots of life in it with only 68K miles.

[sheshe2]

9. I have had work done at their shop.

I do trust them, I don't really know them. MY sister and bil went there for years and he was car "educated" he knew his stuff. They changed hands but are well known in town. Small town.

[Scrivener7]

11. I imagine they wouldn't last long in a small town if they weren't honest.

[sheshe2]

17. I just need my car.

She has been a good girl for me.

[Scrivener7]

18. I feel the same about my cars. I gave my last one to my niece when it

was 16 and she's still driving it around now that it's 20 and taking good care of it.

My "new" one I bought used and that same mechanic said it should last the rest of my life if I treat it right.

[sheshe2]

19. If I let it go I was thinking of giving it to my great niece!

She can't drive until next year but...

Thanks to you all. I was feeling a tad depressed and I hate make decisions...I always make the wrong ones.

[brush]

5. Your car has fewer miles than the one you're considering. Here's a google on...

the Cnevy Cruzes' problems.
https://www.lemonlawlawyerscalifornia.com › Blog
Jul 25, 2021 — Chevy Cruze engine problems make up more than half the customer complaints against this vehicle. Issues like rough idling, stalling and ...

Your car's muffler will keep getting louder and needs replacing. 2 or 3 hundred dollars at a muffler shop. The couplings and shimmies will have to be attended to but won't amount to near the S10,000 the seller of the Cruze wants.

Get estimates from more than one mechanic.

[sheshe2]

10. Thank you!

[Deuxcents]

7. Good advice, she. Get the blue book numbers on both cars

If you decide to sell yours, you’ll know what to expect. The Chevy sounds like a big car..lots of gas! Whatever you do, get them checked out. Now isn’t the best time to be buying a new car from what I’m reading..let us know how it’s going.

[sheshe2]

12. Hey you.

My Nissan's have been good to me. Dayum good cars.

I don't drive long distances a lot, yet I need a good car when I drive them.

Thanks. I will see what they say on Monday.

[Deuxcents]

15. Ok..I'm agreeing with patricia92243..they're asking too much for the Chevy..

And, imo, small town mechanics rely on their reputation and if they’re not honest, word gets around fast.

[sheshe2]

20. I will let you know what happens after the Monday assessment.

Thanks to you all for talking to me. It helps.

[patricia92243]

8. 10k for a car with that many miles is WAY too much. Find the bluebook price -

it used to be in the library and is on line, I think.

[NBachers]

13. Sometimes you have to bite the bullet and put the money into repairs. I don't begrudge the money I

put into my 2005 Ford Focus. It's what you've gotta do to keep an old car on the road.

But if it's time to let it go, don't waste good money on a basket case.

Edited to add: It sounds like you have a stick shift. If so, that's a plus.

[sheshe2]

14. It has been a good car for me.

I will see on Monday.

TY, NB.

[questionseverything]

16. Assuming you have changed your oil regularly

Keep the car you’re driving

You let your brake pads get too thin so your calipers got grooved… that’s the shimmy…. New calipers &pads will fix that

Sounds like you need some exhaust work too but both of those issues are regular wear and tear issues. You could buy that other car and it could need the same next week

[sheshe2]

21. I hear you.

My thoughts too.

TY, qe.

[questionseverything]

25. I hope you have a trust worthy mechanic, that's the key

We just bought a brand new work van last year, the old gmc van it replaced is rusted and uses a little oil but at 335,000 miles it’s earned a little extra oil…lol

I joke that we kept the old one to pull the new one out of the mud

I wouldn’t hesitate to go coast to coast in the old van, it just didn’t look professional anymore and the mpg were awful…. My overall point is the same as long as you keep the oil clean you can drive your car another decade

Good luck sheshe!

[sheshe2]

28. They have changed hands over the years.

We are a relatively small town outside Boston. Small, good community.

They have serviced my car. As a woman...yes I question everything since people will take advantage. I will see what they have to say and consult my nephew that rebuilt a Corvette from the ground up. He is busy with his job and daughters and advises me when he can.

[questionseverything]

29. I am really glad you have the nephew to double check with

[sheshe2]

30. He is a good kid.

Strong silent type.

[2naSalit]

22. +1

I have a '92 Toyota that I bought in '04 and it has 240K+ miles. I spent about $3200 to do some serious refreshing of most everything under the hood except the engine and transmission because they are fine. But a new clutch, flywheel, main seal, brakes and shocks all around... drives like it did when I bought it.

I also have a money pit that I like because it's a cruiser and sometimes I need that for long drives. In Montana, half my driving is a long drive.

Bought both used and never regretted either.

[questionseverything]

26. I like to buy them new and drive them until the wheels fall off

I literally just put new tie rods on the car 🚗 I drive to keep the wheels attached…lol

It has under 100,000 miles but it’s eleven years old

In Illinois they rust out before they die, in the past hubby has replaced rusted out floorboards with 3/4
ply …. Cause we are woodworkers not metal workers

I’m just rambling now 🙋‍♀️😉

[yonder]

23. Unless it's a terminal repair cost, I'd say keep it.

You know what you have now, it has low mileage and it sounds like normal maintenance/repair costs will put it back into service. Keep what you know.

My bias is showing but when that Cruze is the same age it will be no more than half the car your Nissan is - hell right now it is half the car, IMO.

Plus, can you see yourself driving something named about the same as a certain Senator from Texas? Will it abandon its post and leave you in the cold when needed most? Make a bunch of racket for no reason?

We have a '94 Toyota PU, '05 CRV (just made its 20th trip to Denver and back with a well-maintained 200k) and a '16 Fit.

Fix the Nissan and keep it, you'll be ahead.

[sheshe2]

24. I love this post.

You made me A car named Cruz. This and your 200k car just pushed me into the fix it and keep it sector.

Thanks for the info and the laugh.

[yonder]

31. ...

I dislike the whole process of dealer/private/buying/selling/new/used cars which is why we keep the good ones with regular service, maintenance and repair when necessary. Drive them till no longer safe or practical.

I'd be curious how your situation turns out. Good luck

[Groundhawg]

27. Buy a union made American car.

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

32. First off...

...my general car thinking:
Buying a new car means either-
- You plan to buy another about 60% through whatever bumper to bumper warranty you're getting. [not a fan, payments, time without the car for warranty repairs...]

- or -

- You're able supplement the cost with earnings or compensation from a job using the car. (deliveries, Uber, Lyft, outside sales...) Some jobs in sales, service and marketing provide a car allowance.


I drive a 2003 Pontiac. Paid $5500 for it 2008. My daughter was the only driver until 2 years ago. She was a manager at a Sear Auto for 6 years before that. She recommends checking https://www.carcomplaints.com/ when considering a used car.

You have some great advantages. First, you have a mechanic who treats you right. Second, you have a car you like and that fits your needs. I hear people often say that when a repair costs half or more than the book value of a car, it's time get another. In my mind that's wrong. Book value considers things like demand and the average costs of maintaining that car. Knowing your car's repair and maintenance history is an asset. It's a good idea to keep a log of what was done, what you noticed that prompted the repair and your post repair comments about improvements or lack thereof.

To determine what your car is worth to you, look at reasonable and effective replacements options and figure those costs.

Best of luck. Let us know how it goes.

[sheshe2]

33. Thank you.

I will know more on Monday. Keeping my fingers crossed that the repairs will be reasonable. I really don't want another car at this point in my life.

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

34. I'm hoping it's all minor.

[Rhiannon12866]

35. Depends on the size of the car you're used to. A Cruz is a small car.

My previous car was a midsize, 2001 Pontiac Grand Am. The closest I could find now was a Chevy, they're pretty close to the Pontiac I was used to, both GM. I have driven a Cruz but decided against it since they didn't have the pickup I was used to. I got the midsize Chevy, the Malibu, which has the pickup I'm used to and is the comparable size. A Chevy Impala, the larger car, is too big for me, especially without a backup camera. That's the only thing my car is missing.

[sheshe2]

36. I ended up having mine fixed, brakes and muffler.

It wasn’t as expensive as I thought it would be.

[Rhiannon12866]

37. Oh, well that's great news!

And I obviously tend to keep my cars, too. I drove my 2001 Pontiac until 2017, I think. Anything it needed, I got done.