2001 Ford Taurus w/ 130,000 miles needs repair. What would you do?

Question

I currently own a 2001 Ford Taurus w/ 130,000 miles. I owe $3,000 on the car and my monthly payment is only $160/mo. Since I bought the car, I've kept up w/ the maintenance - always doing oil changes, fluid changes, break jobs, new tires. Those things aside, in the past 2 years, I have also had done...

Breaks & Rotors,Battery, Rear Wheel Cylinders, Cut Front Rotors, Serpentine Belt, Break System Flush, Transmission Flush, Coolant Bottle, Driver's Side Seatbelt, Transmission Axle Seals, Power Steering Flush, Relay/Control (Air Conditioner), Fix Wire Harness Plug (Air Conditioner), Compressor, Evaporator, Replaced Ignition Coil, Spark Plug Wires, R&R Intake Replaced, Replaced Lower Hose & Thermostat Housing

Now, my engine runs really hot all the time and I'm being told it's another $1,200 for a new radiator & water pump.

In all, I have spent $8,500 on repairs in the past 24 months. I drive 150 miles a day.

Do you think I am beating a dead horse? Or, is it worth keeping alive?

Because I drive 150 miles a day, 5 days a week - I'd use up a new car's warranty in just about a year.

Some people tell me its cheaper to keep a car until it falls to pieces.

Other people tell me to ditch the maintenance hog in favor of a Japanese car.

Other people tell me the Japanese cars are no better.

Just looking for your opinion. What do you think? If you were me - what would you do?

Would you go ahead w/ the $1,200 repair and prey that's the last thing for a while - or say to heck with it and go shopping for something else eventhough you have sunk all that money into this car over the past 24 months.

Beat Happening said, "Im sure one of them was the transmission, and im sure it was around 100,000 miles."

Believe it or not, still the same transmission. That's probably the next thing to go...

Answer 1

i have an 89 ford ranger with 245,000 on it. with almost zero repair cost. Im a ford guy, and a firm believer into holding onto a car until it falls apart or when the law of diminishing returns says you shouldnt have it anymore. I think the latter pertains to you

$8500 is a boatload of money in repairs. Im sure one of them was the transmission, and im sure it was around 100,000 miles. i had a taurus, mine went at 96,000. ford is known for those trannys. anyways, id do what the previous commenter said, id put 1200 towards the payoff of the loan and then see if you can sell it for the remaining 1800 or get someone to assume the payments on it.

Rice and Domestics are pretty much the same, they both have crap and they both have their reliable vehicles. Dont believe that one is better than the other. Go with the best reviews for reliability and the best price.

Answer 2

well, 3000.00 left to pay, at 160.00/month = 18 more months on you loan. At the rate you are racking up the miles, it seems unlikely you'll make it past those 18 months without significant repairs. I'd be tempted to take the 1200.00, pay it against the loan, buy a new (for you) vehicle- you can use the Taurus as a trade in and roll the remaining bal into the new car's price. The car's blue book value is probably well under 1000.00, and combined with the 8K you've already spent, in my opinion it's a sinking ship. And with a commute like that, it's important to have reliable wheels.

Answer 3

That's a lot of miles for a 2002. Ford Taurus isn't that great of a car anyways, so you better watch it. A car like that isn't worth more than about $3000. If it would be your only means of transportation then it might be worth it. Other than that, there's probably a lot of good inexpensive foreign cars out there.

Answer 4

I would dynamite that sucker. Ford never intended the Taurus (or anything else they make) to last longer than five years.