The feds are still determined to get my car

[Grant Lenahan]

I almost never can make an economic argument to buy a new car.
Want something nicer or less troublesome, sure. The problem is that 
anyone on this list, almost by definition, does nto have a 
maint-deferred clunker.
And based on gas mileage?  If you drive, say 10,000 miles, and trade up 
from 15 mpg to 22 mpg, at $3/gal, that's a $637 savings per year. Or 
between 1-2 monthly payments on a new car of any substance. Factor in 
that the new car will cost more to insure, but save for 3 years on 
warranty, and i never get it.

Plus, $4500 for what?  A nice A6?  Replacements are $50k folks.

Grant
Ben Swann wrote:
> Put things in to perspective and itemize costs and more imprtantly TCO - Total Cost of
> Ownership (over time),  you may find it is worth keeping.
>
> I find it interesting that folks think $4500 trade in to buy a new car they can't really
> afford is a great investment.  If you need a new car then this may be reasonable since
> the car as is has little resale value.  It is worth more to you as a useful vehicle than
> you will get for it.  Consider what you can actually buy new with this deal, since you
> really can't buy a newer used car ( that would make some sense).  What can you get for
> $10k, $20K?  Will you actually save money over time - I doubt it.
>
> Ben
>
> [Date: Tue, 11 Aug 2009 07:25:02 -0400
> From: <alancordeiro at att.net>
> Subject: The feds are still determined to get my car, they added in
> 	more money,	my wife is still determined to see it gone.
> To: <200q20v at audifans.com>
> Message-ID: <186472FE682443489580517D5312EF5C at alce3100>
> Content-Type: text/plain;	charset="iso-8859-1"
>
> I need some practical advice from all of you.
>
> When the cash for clunkers first opened up, I toyed with the idea ( spurred on by a
> relentless persuasion by my wife) of finally getting a new Jetta TDI. However it
> appeared all of them were long gone, swept up by the first group of early birds. And
> when the Cash for Clunkers ran out of money, I breathed a sign of relief, my decision
> was made for me, thanks to my earlier foot dragging.
>
> Now that someone found out my car had been saved, they decided to pump in more money to
> make sure that my wife would continue to have a reason to keep reminding me. Here is the
> deal:
>
> 1) Wife wants to see the old Audi out of the driveway...even though its a daily driver
> on cooler days (no Freon).
>
> *** Envirosafe is inexpensive substitute and works well.
>
> 2) Rust starting to appear on the tip of the hood, and over the wheel wells.
>
> *** That can be dealt with, but probably the thing that will make the car hard(er) to
> sell if you need to.
>
>
> 3) Rear suspension needs two upper control arms  (yes it actually clunks)
>
> *** 3 hours and about $150 in parts?
>
>
> 4) It needs four new tires before winter......tread down to less than an eighth.
>
> *** From $300 to $700 to replace them and this is something that is done even on newer
> cars.
>
>
> 5) Two more brake flex hoses need swapping, a few of the rear brake fluid hard lines
> should probably be changed as well.
>
> *** Do while replacing the Trap links!  $75 in parts and 3 hours - bleed system and
> brakes like new.
>
> 6) Timing belt has 80,000 (mostly freeway) on it, was going to do it before winter, may
> just swap the belt and WP, since I did seals and idler as well last time.....this time
> it may not need to go as long
>
> *** Even if you have deler or shop do it it is under $800.  $150 in parts and 8 hours
> DIY.
>
>
> Pending repair in the near future, since the car presently has 278,000 on her:
>
> 1) Original muffler, 
> 2) Original heater core...and some coolant hoses ( right at the turbo for example)
> 3) Rear brake rework, new pads and rotors before winter.
> 4) original fuel pump
> 5) Drive shaft is still all original
> 6) Brake master cylinder still original
> 7) A/C control head is moody
> 8) both rear windows do not work.
>
> **** As you let deferred maintenance pile up, it becomes more difficult to keep up.  Fix
> things as needed and the car will last indefinately.
>
> What is this car worth.....are there people still willing to buy these cars for the
> engine and transmission for a reasonable price? I would rather take a smaller amount and
> save her from being crushed, but the $4500 is a hard number for me to argue with my wife
> with against a much smaller number.
>
> *** It certainly qualifies as clunker under law.
>
> And of course, I can just keep her......but it will be a continual fight to spend $$ on
> the car if something more than a hundred or two needs to be replaced in the near future,
> or she uses up a few days or week of warm garage space during the peak winter days. We
> live in Michigan, a snow and ice free car means a lot in January and February.
>
> Thoughts from the collective???  I know what a few will say right away.....but hoping to
> get a reasonable spread of opinions,
>
> Thanks,
>
> Alan Cordeiro
> 200q 20v, 278,000 miles, ]
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