My 2000 chevy calalier has 164,000 miles, runs good and is paid for. Should I keep it?

Answer 1

I had a '85 and a'89 Cavalier,and put 248,000 on the '85 and 243,000 on the '89. It's strange that the A/C went out on both cars around 220,000 that is when I started looking to get rid of them.

Answer 2

It depends...

1) Is your car rusting? - If the car is rusting, then get rid of it as fast as possible. Touch up the rust, and sell it. Rust is like cancer, you'll be chasing it forever.

2) Does it really run good? - If you aren't familiar with cars, you never know what might be going wrong. You should take it to an mechanic for an inspection. Make sure your watching though, they may just try to lie to get your service.

3) Is it an eastern car? - Cars from the east rust, and they rust bad. If you have an eastern car, sell it!

4) Has it been in an accident (written-off? salvaged?) - When a car is in an accident, and if the damage is more than just body, you may have some serious problems in the near future. For example, if the car was written-off (that what we call it in Canada), then the cost of fixing it exceeded its total value. In that case, major work had to be performed (like rebuilding the engine), and the car should be sold. You don't want a car that's been that severly damaged. It will rust, not hold up in an accident, and you will experience all sorts of problems.

4) How well do you take care of it? - As soon as the "service engine" sign goes on, do you take it to a mechanic? Do you check the oil regularly, before the sign goes on? Do you change your oil periodically? Has the tranny fluid ever ran too low? These are questions of maintenance, and should be considered. Not taking care of your car can cause some serious problems in the future, and may influence your decision to sell.

5) How many winters has it experienced? - The more winters a car goes through, the more likely it will rust and break down. If in the winter you do not let the car warm up before you begin driving, alot of stress is placed on the engine, thus reducing its lasting power. Also, just the action of warming and cooling metal, and cold metal on cold metal, will damage the mechanical parts inside the car.

6) Has it broken down before? - Have you ever had to take it to a mechanic for a serious problem? If you have, then you can expect more in the future.

Technically, you can keep a car forever. However, that would require constant repairs, and maintenance, which would exceed the value of the car. In my personal experience with cavaliers, I would recommend selling it. You've placed alot of miles on the car, and its had a good run, but I think its time to let go. The average mileage a person puts on their car in one year, is around 12500miles (depending on your commute). You have placed about 20500 in just 8 years. That's equivalent to 13 years of average driving. So, in my personal opinion, sell the car before you experience some real problems. Hope this helps!

Answer 3

Definitely keep it. If it runs fine.

Think of it this way. The average person in the USA spends around $400/month on car payments.

If you keep cars such as these, save up some cash buy your next cars and every car cash from now on.

Take your $400/month payment, put it into some sort of IRA, supported by a growth stock mutual fund. If you are 27 now, by the time you are 65 that $400/month turns into $6,000,000.00

Hope you like that car payment!

Answer 4

properly, right this is the difficulty.... How plenty does the insurance fee you? And the plates? how many miles a twelve months do you place on it? How plenty will a sparkling one fee plus plates and insurance? I even have an '85 with approximately one hundred twenty five,000 miles on it and it would be a chilly day in Hades formerly I say goodbye to it. The low fee costs on the fee of the plates and insurance on my own makes it a keeper. It gets the same miles according to gallon as a sparkling one, too, so why throw it away? Your previous one is particularly worth a minimum of $500 to a junk backyard. good success!

Answer 5

yes u should keep it at least thats what i do even if u get a second car u can save just in case let say u have an accident or whatever u still have ur cavalier and besides if u sale ur car u will only get like $2000 like i say if i was u i will keep it ,,
besides if u say is paid for it im pretty sure that u got it brand new so keep it

Answer 6

I rented a few Cavaliers over the years and found them gutless, but if it's paid off and still in good shape, drive on!

My '94 Honda Accord has 195,000+ miles on it, runs great, and I will keep it until it wears out!

Answer 7

yes keep it!! I have a Pontiac Grand-Am with 250,000 miles on it, and it still runs like new. Don't tie yourself down to a car payment until you have too.

Answer 8

Yep. You're not gonna get anything for it if your try to sell it of trade it, anyway. Top of the line trade in value for that car is about $2,000 for a fully equipped car in immaculate shape.

Answer 9

I am a firm believer of if it ain't broke don't fix it. So if the car is reliable why get rid of it. Unless you don't like the car anymore,or want a different car all together.

Answer 10

it really depends on you and other stuff like wat r u making wil u be able to pay it on time etc. then its up to u but hey i think ppl desreve something nice every now and then and if u have 164,000 miles i think that time has come.so i say no dont keep it.(unless ur like my gf cant give her old stuff up lol). good luck.