# At what point should you trade your car in, rather than repair it? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 1, 2013, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-point-should-you-trade-your-car-in-rather-than-repair-it/657164 "2013-05-01T01:04:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2013, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-point-should-you-trade-your-car-in-rather-than-repair-it/657164/21 "2013-05-01T19:26:30Z")
Thank you for the expertise, **Doctor Jackson**! I believe (upon closer inspection) that my rear tires look ok. The front ones don’t have any noticeable bulges, but they do sit a little flatter on the ground, even after being aired up to the manufacturer’s specifications. It’s also got front-wheel drive. The car has 77k miles and I know the tires should be replaced around 75k anyway. So, I will plan to replace the front 2 tires for the road trip and keep cash on hand in the event that I blow a rear one on the way. Once I get to my destination, my boyfriend knows a guy who knows a guy. Then I can get a more honest assessment of the suspension problem. I know there are people on the SDMB who say most mechanics are not dishonest in the least and would never dare to inflate a repair estimate, and maybe that’s true. But shady mechanics indubitably exist, and there’s no way for me (an automotive idiot) to tell the difference. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2013, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-point-should-you-trade-your-car-in-rather-than-repair-it/657164/22 "2013-05-01T19:37:42Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > If a dealer will give you more than the remainder on the loan, and you can get another car without increasing your monthly payment it sounds like a no-brainer to me. That’s because you’re about to move, you have to make the long trip, and you don’t want to spend your time looking for mechanics and car dealers in a new location, and have an unknown cost looming ahead of you. I agree with this, but dealers are famous for making terribly low-ball offers. OP, if you go this route prepare to be insulted. ---
**Author:** ![ReticulatingSplines](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e274bd/32.png) [@ReticulatingSplines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ReticulatingSplines)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2013, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-point-should-you-trade-your-car-in-rather-than-repair-it/657164/23 "2013-05-01T19:44:53Z")
I don’t think anyone asked the most important question, which is: Do you like the car? ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2013, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-point-should-you-trade-your-car-in-rather-than-repair-it/657164/24 "2013-05-01T21:39:35Z")
I was prepared to be mid- to low-balled by Carmax, compared to KBB or Edmund’s. But, since it’s financed in a title-holding state, I don’t really have the option of a private buyer. I hope I can get by without selling it, though, as long as I fix the tires. If not, well at least I have a clear (if ill-advised and financially-dimwitted) path to getting into something more reliable. If I went down that path and got \*seriously \*low-balled because it needs repairs, I know I likely have the option of rolling the underwater amount into the new loan. Which is even \*more \*dimwitted, but it’s good to know that’s an option. And hey, I gotta have a car, so… > [@ReticulatingSplines](#): > > I don’t think anyone asked the most important question, which is: Do you like the car? It does have a certain amount of sentimental value, since it’s the first car I picked out and paid for entirely on my own. But it’s given me a number of headaches, as well. I wouldn’t die without it, but I’d miss it. I have a feeling the novelty of a new-to-me car would make up for any residual sadness. ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2013, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-point-should-you-trade-your-car-in-rather-than-repair-it/657164/25 "2013-05-01T22:10:07Z")
First, I question your mechanic’s assessment of your suspension as “shot”. Whatever is wrong should be fixable-get another opinion. Second, this car can give you many good years of service-provided you maintain it. I’d spend the money fixing your car-and get a reliable mechanic [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-point-should-you-trade-your-car-in-rather-than-repair-it/657164.md?page=1)