I have a dodge strauss and it has alot of miles on it.. I do take care of it. I Do oil changes and all that stuff.. I have had it for 3 yrs and use it for work everyday....it has over 76999 miles on it.. Is that alot? Should I be looking for another car? I cant afford a new one and my car is really only worth about 1000.00 I really dont know what to do...I just put a 1000.000 dollers into it..I am a single parent and really dont have alot of money.. any ideas? Everythime I go to a mechanic I feel I might me getting ripped off. How do I protect myself.? Is there a place where I could sell my car and use it to buy another car....
2007-01-31 01:39:49 · 6 answers · asked by ceemagiclydia 2 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
77k is not alot of miles! there are lots of variables, but i think most would agree that your car should last well over 100,000 miles. i just sold my truck and it had 176,000 miles. i was original owner and kept up the maintenance. if i was you, have a friend, someone who you trust, and get their opinion on how your car runs.its true there are many mechanics who may mislead you but there are many trustworthy ones as well! as far as trading, you could use your car as a trade-in and get a newer one, make sure it still has warranty. also seek the opinion of a close friend. source.... i owned several dealerships in the past. you may email me if you need more specific advice!
2007-01-31 01:58:55 · answer #1 · answered by Marco 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If it has a timing belt rather than a timing chain, you'll need to replace the timing belt as early as every 60,000 miles for some cars. That's a $500 maintenance item. Also, you don't know how well the previous owner maintained the engine oil, coolant and transmission oil. If all the fluids and filters haven't been changed on schedule, you could need a new transmission ($3500 new remanufactured installed) at maybe 125,000 miles typically. I would start saving for another used car. I recommend looking for a good one owner Toyota, maybe somebody you know who's buying a new car. You'll have to sell your car privately to get any money out of it. You didn't mention how old the car is and whether the mileage is short trip or highway miles. If you have mostly highway miles, then I'd keep the car for another year or two while I was looking for the used Toyota.
PS If you have a 2.0 Liter engine, it is an "interference engine" that suffers engine damage if the timing belt breaks, so you better make sure the belt's been replaced! If you have the 2.4 Liter engine, you don't need to worry because it's not an interference engine I don't think.
2007-01-31 02:01:42 · answer #2 · answered by bobweb 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That isn't much mileage at all and ,if like you say you take care of it, it should last a long time. You didn't mention what you had done for $1,000 nor who did the repairs. One word of advice: Stay away from dealerships for repair work. They tend to charge more and recommend work that is not necessary. For instance they will say you need your oil changed every 3,000 miles, when in fact the owners manual will recommend higher mileage, depending on driving conditions. If you can find an honest knowledgeable independent auto mechanic (one recommended by friends or relatives) you will save a lot of money. If you save just 1/4th the money you would spend on car payments you should have money left after maintaining the car you have. That is of course barring a catastrophe...Good Luck...
2007-01-31 02:21:25 · answer #3 · answered by Ret68 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
77 k miles isn't that bad,.. as for resale value its terrible, if the car still runs good I would keep running it. once it starts to need more and more repair that's when its time to decide to replace.
until then it would be a good idea to start putting a little money aside out of each paycheck so that you will be ready to replace the car. when you go, be sure to take a mechanic or at least a competent male (I know, it sounds terrible, but you'll less be likely to be ripped off.... same goes for looking for a mechanic/shop) with you to look at any car you wish to buy.
Do not go alone.
As for a mechanic shop, be sure to use an established shop they are most likely to have the proper insurance / licenses and be sure to check the BBB (Better Business Bureau) any problems or pending cases against them will be found with the BBB (good idea for any trust-sensitive business).
Ask around. Some of the most important things about shops are "word of mouth"............ Besides, nothing sucks more than getting burned, then hearing friends or family say "yea, I heard about them, they're terrible!"
2007-01-31 02:29:38 · answer #4 · answered by colo_madmechanic 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
76,xxx miles is NOT a lot of miles I had a car that had 189,000 and it was still running when i got rid of it. Its much cheaper to pay for parts then it is a new car.. I really dont recommend buying a new one.. but i would start saving money every month to put towards a good used vehicle in case yours bites the dust eventually.
2007-01-31 01:53:41 · answer #5 · answered by carrie h 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
my 1997 T-Bird has 114k miles on it. I drive everyday to work with no problems. Even at the coldest morning my car starts right up.
2007-02-04 00:27:30 · answer #6 · answered by FORDever 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋