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.

There's also the question of the resale of your current car - if you're approaching an age or mileage level where there's a real drop-off in resale value, that's also something to consider.

Or so I hear. My personal cars have always been waaay past the age or condition where that's even a factor, so I have no personal experience.

My car's a bit dented, so I don't bother factoring in resale. It's less than blue book.

Oh, and my pain doctor won't give me any more nerve blocks or trigger point injections. Despite having implied he would. But he did give me the name of another headache specialist.

Let me go call about an appointment.

( 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.)

my sister! Big clouds of billowing smoke!

From Ken Ham, founder of Answers in Genesis:

My favourite Ken Ham quote, which appeared in large type on a magazine cover, was "I got excited at Mount St Helens!" Maybe he has a thing for erupting boobies.

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

My mother bought every single vehicle my parents have ever owned. Every time Mom & Dad would walk into the dealership together, the salesman would talk to Dad. At which point he would turn to my mother tell her he was going across the street or to the nearest bar to have a beer and she could call him when she was ready to have him sign the papers. I love going car shopping with my mother.

The last time Joe and I went car shopping, they did the same thing. Guy tried to sell me a car for more that the sticker when it was brand new. I told him all of the mistakes they made, pointed out that the KBB someone left on the vehicle was $6000 less than what he quoted me, and then told him that he could go inside and drink his coffee and I'd let him know when I needed him. Poor guy. I've never actually seen a tail grow and promptly go between someone's legs.

Finally caught up on Natter--whew!

Happy anniversary to the Zmayhems, and happy birthday to everyone else!

Had a productive weekend, since I have almost all the apartment unpacked. Of course, I have boxes galore to discard, but that's what tonight's for.

Speaking of tonight, did you know that this evening’s address by President Bush is his very first one on domestic policy issues in his entire Presidency? I'm still guessing he'll manage to work in the phrase "9/11" at some point, though.