Topic: 2001 Montana - Keep or dump?

[jimmcdd]

I have a 2001 Pontiac Montana van with 153000 Km (95000 Mi). There is $4000 still owing on the vehicle.
I have replaced the tranny, seat belt pretensioner, repaired the radio, replaced the wiper crank arm, replaced a power window switch, and the a/c condenser. A leak is showing in the rear wheel cylinder, and the front passenger wheel bearing is getting slight play. No sign of the dreaded gasket problem.
It is suggested that I get a Toyota or Honda which I find to be rather bland.

Any opinions as to whether I should dump it while it still has some slight value, or should I just keep repairing it and drive it into the grouond?

Thanks in advance
Jim

[Snowman]

It has passed its prime, time for the glue factory. I would try and get as much as you can on a trade for a Japanese people mover and end the vicious cycle of being a prisoner to poor domestic quality and reliability.

I find bland to easier on the operation costs. 

[AVToller]

Ouch - that's quite a list. It really sounds like it is time to "bite the bullet" and move on to something reliable. It is a real shame, but it is experiences like yours which are driving the domestics down, down, down. 

[mdxtasy]

If you can afford to take a potential hit....move it.  With you owing $4000 on it still, and with potential problems looming, you may have to eat some of the cost by lowering your price to factor in these problems. 

But if that were me, I'd be ready to get the family into something else.

[Craig]

It's usually tough to factor the cost of keeping a vehicle and predicting future repair costs, against biting the bullet and replacing the vehicle.  In this case, you have over $1000 in known future repairs already, before having to predict anything.

And here's a question:  If you find the Honda and Toyota vans "bland", does that mean you find the Montana inspiring?

[mdxtasy]

It's usually tough to factor the cost of keeping a vehicle and predicting future repair costs, against biting the bullet and replacing the vehicle.  In this case, you have over $1000 in known future repairs already, before having to predict anything.

And here's a question:  If you find the Honda and Toyota vans "bland", does that mean you find the Montana inspiring?

I'd be inspired to sell it.   

The Montana would keep life exciting. 

"Hmmm...how much will it cost this time?"

[safristi]

..Keifer Dump!!?...... ....woz he related ta Forest !!!!!........

[Careener]

The wheel bearing repair might cost a fortune as I believe its a sealed unit that has to be replaced, not just the bearing.
 These vans can last a long time. I think you should figure out what it's still worth as a trade-in and compare that to the # of years you could squeeze out out it assuming various repairs.

[articsteve]

The wheel bearing does come as a hub assembly and if you shopped around you should get it for $200.  The wheel cylinders are typically 50 bucks but a repair kit is available but that depends on your labour situation whether you go that route.

On a wholesale level your vehicle is not worth 4K.  Since you have a tranny replacement I'd run it.  Even in 2 years with under 200K you'll get 2k certified.  What I would do is change the coolant.  I would change it to the regular green stuff only if you could make sure that the DEXCOOL got fully flushed out.  Spring would be a better time for this so that you could run the vehicle on water a few times before going back to straight green.

[Trainman]

The wheel bearing does come as a hub assembly and if you shopped around you should get it for $200. The wheel cylinders are typically 50 bucks but a repair kit is available but that depends on your labour situation whether you go that route.

On a wholesale level your vehicle is not worth 4K. Since you have a tranny replacement I'd run it. Even in 2 years with under 200K you'll get 2k certified. What I would do is change the coolant. I would change it to the regular green stuff only if you could make sure that the DEXCOOL got fully flushed out. Spring would be a better time for this so that you could run the vehicle on water a few times before going back to straight green.

After all the money and effort you have put into it already, why not keep it till its paid off, then think about a new van?  Sounds like upcoming repairs are not real horrendous for cost (and are regular items anyway that will happen on all vehicles eventually).

We have friends who have SWB Montana and just love it (think its an 01 or 02, bought used), so far no major problems for them.  Although the Sienna is really nice (we own one) and the Honda’s are supposed to be good as well, considering you owe more than the Montana’s worth, I would suggest keeping it.

[jpd]

At your place I suggest that you use it as long as it remains safe to drive! You still can go from A to B with it (as long as B is not too far)....Otherwise you gone lose too much!

[Zoo]

Way too many problems for that kind of milleage!

[Trainman]

Way too many problems for that kind of milleage!

But most of the biggies are probably already done and paid for 

[Seafoam]

Way too many problems for that kind of milleage!

But most of the biggies are probably already done and paid for 

It hasn't lost its intake gasket yet though.

Andrew

[random006]

Yikes!  Sounds like quite a list of woes.  However, here are some points to consider:
---------------
1)  As someone has pointed out, the big repairs have already been done and you have spent a lot of money getting them done.

2)  $4000.00 represents, what, about 1 year's worth of payments?

3)  As someone else has pointed out, the big depreciation has already happened and you are practically guaranteed between $2,000 and $4,000 on a sale.
---------------

In conclusion, I would run it for another year to get your money's worth out of the repairs and to pay off the remaining 4K.  Then sell it or trade it with no debt owing.

Also, the maintenance that articsteve recommended sounds like just the ticket to keep you moving.  As for what to buy, ask yourself if you still need a van or can downsize.  If you do need the space, consider Toyota, Honda and yes even the new Kia van or its soon to be released Hyundai brother (2007)

[barrie1]

I would research the price of this vehicle in your area as it is certainly worth more then what some of these posters have stated. i am surprised to hear the tranny was replaced as usually these are quite good in this brand of vehicle. Some of the other problems you have mentioned are not all that bad and the Imports would not have faired any better. I am also sure the cost of repairs has been cheaper then it would have been with a import as well. i suggest fix the bugs on this one and drive it until it drops. If you have never changed the anti-freeze yet then it needs to be done ASAP to save the engine problem. Whoever qouted you $1000. for these repairs dosen't add things up correctly either. Its a lot less for all 3 things to be done. 

[tenpenny]

I would research the price of this vehicle in your area as it is certainly worth more then what some of these posters have stated. i am surprised to hear the tranny was replaced as usually these are quite good in this brand of vehicle. Some of the other problems you have mentioned are not all that bad and the Imports would not have faired any better. I am also sure the cost of repairs has been cheaper then it would have been with a import as well. i suggest fix the bugs on this one and drive it until it drops. If you have never changed the anti-freeze yet then it needs to be done ASAP to save the engine problem. Whoever qouted you $1000. for these repairs dosen't add things up correctly either. Its a lot less for all 3 things to be done. 

Keep the Faith, barrie.

If I had a 4 yr old vehicle with this many problems, I'd be pretty seriously annoyed.  Luckily, in my household we have a Toyota and a Subaru, so we never have this kind of mess.  I'm always amazed at what people put up with, when they don't have to, but as long as you're happy, go for it.

[AVToller]

40 years ago it was normal to put up with that kind of quality. Today it is inexcusable. 

[Trainman]

I would research the price of this vehicle in your area as it is certainly worth more then what some of these posters have stated.

  Buy and Sell in BC range of asking prices is $10,000 - $14,000 but none listed the high km of this one.  But barrie is right, it is worth more than the $4,000 you owe.

[jimmcdd]

Thank you for all the responses.
With mixed emotions, the Montana is gone, and we are the proud owners of a 2003 Honda Accord. I must say, the Accords are much less bland than they were in the mid 90's!
I couldn't bring myself to sell the Montana privately to some unsuspecting person so I took the lowball offer from the dealer. The Montana may run well for a few years, but if half of what I read is true, one never knows when one will be standed.
Anyway, the Honda is a little more taut on the road than the Camry, but runs well and looks great.
Again, thanks for your input.
Jim