what should i do...?

Question

i have quite the dilema on my hands

as you read this keep in mind that im a teenager and i have about $600 on hand and could prolly manage to get a little from my parents.

my car (a 95 pontiac sunfire) just recently went to go for inspection.

i got some bad news in return. i need 2 front brakes, two rear tires, need to fix the driver side cv joint and the rear end is all rusted.

these are what i need to pass the inspection. however.... i was leaking antifreze and it seemed it was coming from the head gasket. he said he may be able to fix it with a sealant but then i would have to risk all that money put in to the rest of the cars repairs if the head gasket blows

i paid $1500 for this car a couple months ago.

should i go for all the repairs or just go ahead and start looking for a new car? :/

Answer 1

Considering the age of the vehicle and the amount of repairs required, you will have as much or more invested in the car as what you paid for it. This is assuming that the repair on the head works. Its a 50/50 shot that the sealer will work. In many situations, depending on the condition of the cooling system, the repair can actually cause other problems.

Answer 2

First, you will come out cheaper in the short-term if you do as much as you can yourself and only fix what you have to. But don't count on keeping the car long-term.

It is easy to fix brakes if you or your family has any mechanical aptitude. But since brakes are a critical safety system, don't do them yourself unless someone who knows cars is able to coach you and check your work.

Tires can also be very cheap, especially if you don't mind retreads or used tires. Buy new in sets of four if you can, but if you don't have the finances, you can get by with much less.

CV joints are much trickier; I would leave this to an experienced mechanic, which unfortunately will cost you more than the other repairs.

Rust is tricky. It can be very expensive to repair, depending on how extensive it is. You can sand and paint minor spots yourself in a pinch, but it won't look very good. Even so, just fix what's required for now. I also suggest a second opinion on the inspection. Not all inspections are equal, and some stations may be more lenient than others.

Honestly, the head gasket could be cost prohibitive; it could be a cracked head. Since it's not required for inspection, I would keep the radiator filled with water, and try a coolant additive if the leak gets much worse. Otherwise, I'd drive it with the leak until the engine goes. Get what you can out of the car, and buy a new one when the motor finally goes.

That's my 2 cents. Good luck, I hope you're able to drive it for at least a couple of years.

Answer 3

First, you need to learn a little bit about cars and repair. I learned really quick how to fix them, sitting at the side of the road, broken down.
Second, how well do you know and trust your mechanic?
The two things I would worry about the most are the head gasket and the rusty rear end. The head gasket can be a real pain to fix, and depending on what part of the rear end is rusted, it may not be worth it.
Brakes are usually the pads, fairly easy to change, or rotors Can usually be turned. Tires can be found for about $20. each if you know where to look.
CV joint can also be a pain to fix.
If it was me I would cut my losses and star looking for a beater to get me through til I had more money.
Hope this helps you out a little.

Answer 4

My question is this: a 95 Sunfire is a front wheel drive vehicle, so why is the technician saying that the "rear end" is rusted. As for the sealer repair on the head, chances are very good that it won't work at all, or fail a couple of months down the road. Get a second opinion.

Answer 5

I'd start looking for a new car. I got my 1st car for only $800 and managed to get 3 good years out of it. Once you find something drivable, you can try to sell of your old car for parts (that is if there's anything good left :) Not sure how much time you can spend at work, but if it were me, I'd start working a lot and saving up as much as I possibly could, because these old cars tend to have very expensive problems. If you luck out, and you don't need the money to fix your car, you could spend it on an auto repair class. They're worth so much more than you pay for them.

Answer 6

reparing it is a better option. buying a new car will just mess you and your finances up badly. so be wise about it and budget your money as well.

Answer 7

njn