( I should note that I drove my last car until the engine blew up ON THE ROAD, so I may not be the best example. Some people's breaking point is much sooner.)

How is the rest of your horrible terrible no good day going?

I ended up working from home (though I haven't said so explicitly to my boss--she'll notice at 3 when I'm not there for the staff meeting).

The insurance company will be paying for the Elavil. I need to pick those up.

I'm light-headed and really want a nap.

High-profile project resulted in a testy customer this morning, and I needed to send out one of those firm but gentle emails. Which is why I get paid the big bucks, I guess. I'm just bracing for fallout.

the hypothetical payments on a hypothetical new car.

So if I could pay cash for it, then I buy one the moment I have a repair? That seems weird.

You've about reached the point where I would consider looking at a new car. Once something's broken every time you go in. On the other hand, I suppose you could just hold out until you've repaired almost everything.

If I went in every 3000 miles, I'd have snapped earlier. But it's every 5K. Each time I bring it in, either there's a repair, or a scheduled maintenance. I'd gotten used to that rhythm. But this is many oil changes worth of repair.

And I can't go car-shopping until Colin comes back! I need him!

sarameg thinks the way I was thinkng. Can't count oil changes, brakes , etc.

and if you can buy a car without payments - then it might be time for a new car.

another consideration. how many days a month/year are you without a car do to repair issues?

eta: if you can buy a car with no payments , it doesn't mean time for a new car. however, if car repairs will change that option - it might be time. and I would also assume that you might pay for one or two larger repairs. ( Schedualed maintenec is not the same as a repair- because, even though you may not have palnned on it, the car co has)

So if I could pay cash for it, then I buy one the moment I have a repair? That seems weird.

Well, then you compare the cost of a new car to seven years of repairs on the old car.

Unless that's getting too silly....

Oh ita, that sucks!

For me, it has always been more about hitting that zone when enough has reached enough than a strictly financial decision. (Unfortunately for me, my husband tends to hit that zone about 6 to 12 months after I do.)

You could use me for car shopping. I scare the salesmen cause I am FIERCE.

I am at the same level in car shopping as you are with Krav. But with fewer bruises.

It's fuzzy. I sort of think "if I'm going to be shelling out the equivalent of $1K every year for nonstandard repairs from here on out, I might as well get a new car." Right now, I'm at about $1K every 3 or so. The $1K number comes from that being what my half first car cost, so NOT LOGICAL, considering I could easily manage a brand new car. Which I'll probably never do, I like them gently used.

It's easy if the next repair exceeds the price of the car. But I end up repairing one thing per oil change, at about $300/change. Over what period would I add up the repairs to see if they exceed.

There's also peace of mind to consider. When my last car got to the point that it needed a radiator flush every 10 days (costing slightly less than 2/3 of my new car payment), I decided the time had come for us to part ways.

I think you get a new car to avoid the hassle of repairs, or saftey starts to become an issue, or you just want a new car. With the average price of a new car being in the range of $20k or more, it's hard for repair cost to really justify it alone.

Yuck. It's weird. I hate monthly car payments, but am more okay with repair costs. It's like gambling, see? Maybe it'd only be routine stuff...and now that I think about it, it has been, mostly.

Fine.

I'll think about new cars, but not right now. Or I'll get a headache.