Topic: The eternal q: repair or replace?

[21Rouge]

Even the worst old car is almost always much cheaper to keep going than buying something new. 

There comes a time when the inconvenience of driving something unreliable outweighs the cost of getting something new(er).  That time is rapidly coming.

For sure.

I am just hoping that with the minor repair just done it can hold out till spring 2009. (The internal coolant leak has been stable and remained 'minor' for the past 5 months)

[tpl]

Even the worst old car is almost always much cheaper to keep going than buying something new.  However, in the case of that van, you're going to banging your head against the wall in trying to keep up with the repairs.  There comes a time when the inconvenience of driving something unreliable outweighs the cost of getting something new(er).  That time is rapidly coming.

The big exception being structural rust I guess. 

[ktm525]

Fiesta I do not work for GM and most folks on here know it. More misinformation being spread as usual, "I am retired from GM." Even with the problems they have had in the past they are still a better vehicle then 99% of the vehicles on the road to-day. There is no warranty on this owners van because look at the age which is over the 7 year mark. Even if it had happened while on warranty the anti-freeze was the cause of the probelm and not the head design at all. The owners who have had these problems brought them on themselves by lack of service knowledge altho this may have been done on this unit with the 1st repair a few years ago. I would change the anit-freeze and eeal this vehicle now while the rates are so good as we don't know how high they will be in Jan 09. 

GM pension?

[21Rouge]

GM is NOT broke at all but wether they will honour warranty on this matter will be between you and the dealer.

Oh wait no warranty on this well known problem too bad.

In today's Toronto Star and of course elsewhere:

http://www.thestar.com/article/497058 "...GM settles claims over engine gaskets"

[21Rouge]

GM is broke.  I doubt they will pay the dealer anything to fix the gasket.  Just don't bring the matter up, deal it and MOVE ON.

I guess my expense due to a head gasket leak and the hope that the dealership and GM might kick in now pales in comparison to the Canadian class-action law suit just settled against the General over this same ongoing problem.

[barrie1]

Strange just how there is some warranty after all while some of you as usual said the opposite. When will some of you ever learn or is that even possible. By the way owners who changed the anti-freeze on a proper basis have not all had this problem as I am one who still has a 1996 Corsica my one son drives with the 3.1 V6 in it and it has never been changed. I knew enought to change the fluid when required and did not go back to the Dexcool as well. This car still has No rust as well Steve as you accused it of having before. 

[toolatecrew]

Strange just how there is some warranty after all while some of you as usual said the opposite. When will some of you ever learn or is that even possible. By the way owners who changed the anti-freeze on a proper basis have not all had this problem as I am one who still has a 1996 Corsica my one son drives with the 3.1 V6 in it and it has never been changed. I knew enought to change the fluid when required and did not go back to the Dexcool as well. This car still has No rust as well Steve as you accused it of having before. 

What warrant is that?

Settling a class action lawsuit is not a WARRANTY.

You don't have to bring a legal action to get a warranty from any other manufactuer. I think maybe you've been drinking the dexacool

[21Rouge]

Just an update 5 months later:

Since early September (about 6 months since my original post) this same car has accumulated another 5k kms. There has been no noticeable loss of coolant in that time although the pressure test in Sept did indicate a 'minor' leak and I do see 'guck' under the oil cap after the car has been sitting for a time. I assume the AC still no longer works as was the case in late summer and this winter we notice the heat and airflow isnt the best either. However the car does get us from A to B and the engine does run smoothly; and the car is completely paid for. However we know we must it replace it in the foreseeable future. In fact I took it to a dealer yesterday...the same one from which I would buy said replacement car. He offered me $1100 on the trade in (which would include both sets of tires with rims)(This 9 year old Montana looks good outside and in). He did not take the car for a test drive and does not know the lack of AC or manifold leak.  So as always the question is when  to do the deed. Every month we can hold off on the purchase we save on

- money payments (we would need to finance about $30k of the new car at 4.5%)
- increased insurance costs

But if we wait till the car fails or more likely even wait till the good weather comes we will lose the $1000...or most of it.

We do have another car but using the Vibe would mean having 3 teenage boys in the back more often  

Just mulling it over.

[aquadorhj]

Just an update 5 months later:

Since early September (about 6 months since my original post) this same car has accumulated another 5k kms. There has been no noticeable loss of coolant in that time although the pressure test in Sept did indicate a 'minor' leak and I do see 'guck' under the oil cap after the car has been sitting for a time. I assume the AC still no longer works as was the case in late summer and this winter we notice the heat and airflow isnt the best either. However the car does get us from A to B and the engine does run smoothly; and the car is completely paid for. However we know we must it replace it in the foreseeable future. In fact I took it to a dealer yesterday...the same one from which I would buy said replacement car. He offered me $1100 on the trade in (which would include both sets of tires with rims)(This 9 year old Montana looks good outside and in). He did not take the car for a test drive and does not know the lack of AC or manifold leak.  So as always the question is when  to do the deed. Every month we can hold off on the purchase we save on

- money payments (we would need to finance about $30k of the new car at 4.5%)
- increased insurance costs

But if we wait till the car fails or more likely even wait till the good weather comes we will lose the $1000...or most of it.

We do have another car but using the Vibe would mean having 3 teenage boys in the back more often  

Just mulling it over.

Feel your pain.   Glad your montana got you thru last ~6 months without trouble.

Isn't GM offering 0% on pretty much all their vehicles right now?   I'm sure they are willing to deal away good chunk of their MSRP if you persist on large vehicle due to lack of demand these days for large cars ...  well, any cars in general.

..on a side note, I had the pleasure of working on Montanas(and chevy ventures) couple years back, and I remember it being a bi+ch to fix anything, what with no room anywhere and strange placement for things..

I scratched my head big time, thinking 'how could any decent engineer think this would work well in the long run...' 

I digress, if it were me, I would dump the van, but if you feel safe to risk few more monthes, it's good idea to keep it running till you are comfortable for buying new car.

...Also, of course if you are trading it in, that means the dealership will try and sell that time bom.. I mean, car to a hapless chap ...  man...  this is catch 22.

[21Rouge]

Feel your pain.   Glad your montana got you thru last ~6 months without trouble.

It is tricky decision. Looking back I did make the right decision not to buy new back in the fall...6 months w/o car payments and minimal maintenance on the van.

Isn't GM offering 0% on pretty much all their vehicles right now?   I'm sure they are willing to deal away good chunk of their MSRP if you persist on large vehicle due to lack of demand these days for large cars ...  well, any cars in general.

It will be an employee purchase so the price is pretty much 'cut and dry'. And we still need the 3rd row of seats so the only acceptable offering in the GM lineup is one of their Lambda platforms. I have ruled out Saturn after GM has left to fend for itself and I prefer the Traverse over the Acadia. And unlike the States there is no 0% financing on these cars. And not using GM financing will get as $3500 off the employee price + we have $2000 in GM TD Visa points to ditch.

I scratched my head big time, thinking 'how could any decent engineer think this would work well in the long run...' 

And the three dealers that wanted more details re my Montana each asked if it had the (infamous) manifold leak  . I told them that it had been fixed by the dealer while under warranty and I had the receipt to prove this  .

I digress, if it were me, I would dump the van, but if you feel safe to risk few more monthes, it's good idea to keep it running till you are comfortable for buying new car.

Thanks for your thoughts. We do have the financing all arranged (LOC) so we could purchase at any time but the economic times sure does make one think twice or three times re such an outlay of monies.

...Also, of course if you are trading it in, that means the dealership will try and sell that time bom.. I mean, car to a hapless chap ...  man...  this is catch 22.

The van looks good inside and out and it has only 136k kms. It is frustrating that if I keep it till the warm weather I will likely get almost nothing for it. I think there is a reasonable expectation that a car bought new and with reasonable maintenance done during its life should last 100k miles.

For sure I would never sell it privately w/o disclosing and for all I know the dealer will discover its shortcomings prior to signing on the dotted line  .

[aquadorhj]

For sure I would never sell it privately w/o disclosing and for all I know the dealer will discover its shortcomings prior to signing on the dotted line  .

Sir, my respect for your forthcoming-ness.   But you know how it is with used car dealerships..  they usually don't find 'honesty' and 'integrity' in their vocabulary.   Did i tell ya about a Dodge neon(2001) bought used from dealership that had crumpled front bumper support bar with broken radiator? ..  sure as hell didn't bother them one bit selling it to a single mom for ~$7000.

I know what you are thinking, "what kinda retard would buy old Neon for 7 grand? ".. I hear ya.  but not all of us are well informed in automotive particulars. such as "used old neons are POS".   Let us know what you get, eh?

have you test driven the lambda cars already?  what did you think?

[21Rouge]

have you test driven the lambda cars already?  what did you think?

I drove the Traverse a couple of weeks ago. Based only upon this test drive and from I have read I think and hope that GM has got it right with this platform. Its Direct Injection engine has got good reviews. See here:

http://wardsauto.com/reports/2009/tenbest/winners/general_motors_10_best_081219/

[articsteve]

We do have another car but using the Vibe would mean having 3 teenage boys in the back more often/

money payments (we would need to finance about $30k of the new car at 4.5%)

Problems solved.  Total rebuild.  Ask is 21k offer 16K. 

[21Rouge]

Short and sweet; always to the heart of the matter Steve  .