ihe

The Mrs has an 11 year old Honda that needs a new automatic transmission - she says it costs $3k.

The car has done 196k miles. The reason she is contemplating the repair is because the car is paid for and she doesn't want a car payment.

What would make the most economic sense.

Lakersdarge

Is the cost of the work significantly more than the car is worth? (you can find out the value of your car at kelly blue book- www.kbb.com)

If the cost of the work is a lot more than what you could get for the car if you sold it, if I was in the same ponsition then I would consider selling it or trading it in, adding the $3000 to what I get from the sale, and then buying a different used car instead- look around and do some homework and you might find you could get something which already has plenty of miles on the clock, but at least you could check it out (or have your trusted mehcanic check it out) and possibly get something in good working order/with working trasnmission.

I think right now you could probably get some good deals on cars that are in good working order but that have some miles on the clock. Just a few months ago we got a pretty good deal on ebay motors on a car that we're very happy with, but we also looked in local car trader magazines before that for good deals.

ihe

I would presume that a Honda (coupe) of that age and mileage with transmission problems only has a scrap value. That said at least we know that is the only thing wrong with it.

Mummy in the foothills

But what is the value with a working transmission, if that is more than the repair maybe it's worth it. Scrap value plus the $3000 repair? Would that buy a car as good as the one you have (when it is in full working order)

RoadWarriorFromLP

Without a doubt, get rid of it. Transmission are complicated to rebuild and install properly. The odds are high that the replacement will not be satisfactory and/or won't last.

That, and a car with 200k miles is likely to develop other problems soon enough. Before you know it, you'll have spent five grand on a car that is worth next to nothing.

AdobePinon

I had to change the transmission in my Civic at 197k miles. I figured that the $2,750 (Honda factory rebuild) was cheaper than paying for a new car, equivalent to a bit more than half a year of car payments, and wouldn't leave me with a different used car of dubious pedigree. I've now got 222k on the car and consider the repair paid off in both time and money.

If the rest of the car is mechanically sound, get it repaired.

Edit: Although I will add that my car was 7.5 years old at the time, rather than 11.

ottotheboar

If your wife does not want payments then a recon transmission is the only way to go. Taking that the rest of the car is in decent shape for an 11 year old car and it does not burn oil you should be good for another 100K. I am in the same position with a truck 210k miles / 16 years old and do not want payments, my wife says buys a new truck.

Lakersdarge

I would take a minute to check the value of your car before making a decision. I have never owned one, but supposedly Honda (and Toyota and a few ohters) cars retain their value better than other brands...

fatbrit

If spending $3k will keep it running for another 3 years, that's going to cost you far less than even the most basic new car in depreciation. Also got to figure in extra for the insurance and, in some states, the extra for registration.

If the rest of the car is sound, it maybe worthwhile.

Poppy girl

I would junk it, and buy a nice little run around for her, I would not even consider the new transmission, are you talking about the whole deal 3k with labor, dealer or private local chap!!

AdobePinon

Don't get hung up on the value of the car. It's not an investment. Instead, you should be thinking about the cost to drive x number of miles over some number of years.

Tarkak9

just curious.... what is it doing - do you know for sure the g'box is rogered? I only ask whether or not a shop is trying to sell a whole transmission when its only a sensor, low fluid or torque converter etc. You might be able to pull a stored code from Autozone... or from anyone with a OBDII reader.

Giantaxe

This is the key to this kind of decision, imo. If the vehicle has had a pattern of unreliability prior to this problem, then I would say it's time to move on. If it's been reliable, then it often pays to have a repair like this done even if it costs as much or more than the car's value, especially if it's a make/model where high mileage is relatively common. In fact, looking at the current car's value is the incorrect comparison anyway: you need to look at replacement cost, likely depreciation on the replacement, additional insurance you might feel obliged to take out etc and compare that to the repair cost.

S Folinsky

Younger offspring owns a 2003 MINI with 72K on the clock. It has the CVT. Google the item and you will see the problem. It took some aggressive shopping and we found a mechanic who is one of the few to rebuild CVT's -- we got a bargain of $4200. Sigh.

If the car seems fine, I would get an evaluation of what else might be needed and budget another $1000 for additional items.

Of particular note -- Air Conditioners prior to 1993 often used R-12 refrigerant -- caveat emptor.

hobbes79

Trouble is as well, they'll say $3K then start digging in and suddenly you'll need a new seal, a new, etc, etc.

Get a used replacement. If you shop privately and vaguely know what you're doing, for not much more than $3K you could get another car. It was 10 years ago admittedly, but my first car in the US was a 3 year old (at the time) Ford Escort with 45,000 miles on it for $3300. Drove that great little car to 115,000 miles and sold it for $1500!

OT, but had a nice ordeal with a local mechanic recently. Took the wife's VW Passat to AAMCO for 2 CV joints to be replaced (sounded awful). Agreed $600. They called my wife to tell her the ABS sensor was "crushed" and the brake warning light was now on. Car wouldn't drive without it and that'll be another $400! She texted me to ask if that's alright. Hell to the no

Called back and pointed out the blindingly obvious... they broke my ABS sensor! I also pointed out, they test drove the car before doing the repair, and the light clearly wasn't on then otherwise they as well as me would have noticed. A lot of blah blah... ended up getting the manager the next morning.

Next morning rolls around... suddenly, the sensor was no longer crushed and only needed adjustment Car was fine

My theory is, they did crush it and changed it, and tried their luck with sticking me with the bill

Anyway, never going there again