NEW YEAR: NEW CAR.
Cars aren’t cheap. No wonder so many drivers choose to drive the same car “as long as the wheels fall off”. . It’s nice to see drivers get so attached to their automobile, but sometimes it’s best to embrace change. For safety’s sake, at the very least. Here are four signs you should buy a new car this year.
Your Problem Isn’t Solved Yet
Your engine makes a strange sound before breaking down. You go to an auto shop and explain the situation. The mechanic gets you back on the road. A few days later, the sound returns, and you get stranded again. You call a tow truck. It takes you back to the auto shop. This time, a more experienced mechanic gives it a try. Your car comes back to life but dies (yet again) in less than a week. Bad news: your vehicle might be beyond help. If multiple mechanics can’t fix your car, it’s time to move on.
Repair Coasts More Than Your Car is Worth
Some repairs cost more than others. Fixing an oxygen sensor (the most common cause of the ‘check engine’ light) isn’t a high-priced repair. You’ll have to pay about $200. Engine replacements are a completely different story. Those could cost anywhere from $2,000 to $4,000 depending on what vehicle you drive. Proactively use Google (and other search engines) will give you a range for each repair.
Type in, “value of (make and model) and the repair required.” If your car’s value is equal to or lower than the repair price quote, you should probably count your losses.
BEING A PASSENGER MAKES PEOPLE FEEL AFRAID AND ANXIOUS.
Here’s a fact about life: we all get so used to our everyday situation that it seems perfectly normal (even when an unbiased second party would quickly identify a problem). If you’re not sure what I mean, imagine somebody you know who hoards (compulsively collects ‘antiques’) and acts like it’s no big deal. They see absolutely nothing is impacting them. Everyone else sees chaos and clutter. Big difference, right?
What does that have to do with driving? I’ll show you. Let’s say your car occasionally swerves to the left or right. Obviously, this is a big problem. But you’ve busy, money is tight, (insert your excuse here), you put off a trip to the repair shop. Your passengers are frightened, and you claim to not know why. It’s because you have accepted an unacceptable situation. Passengers should feel 100% safe and secure inside your vehicle. If that’s not the case, a) get your car fixed or b) buy a new one.
YOU RELOCATED OR HAD A SIGNIFICANT LIFE CHANGE.
Let’s say your car is a clunker and that’s not a big deal, because you can walk to work every morning. But then you get a promotion that requires a thirty-minute commute each way. It’s time for an upgrade! Your car should fit the context of your life. The next time your situation changes in a big way, consider this question: “Will this car meet my needs?” If not, you should consider a new car.
