What to do with an aging, dinged up car?

[budda]

Figure 8 racing

Smash-up derby hours eventually

 

[JDB123]

Ask if she thinks its worth 2k+ to repair.

I have, we’ve been talking about it since it happened. We’re on the same page, it definitely sucks but we have the means to take care of it if we want to

 

[JDB123]

Unless shops in Austin are charging less than those in Houston, that’s a pretty good price. Aftermarket parts, I assume?

Yeah I replaced the front bumper back in 2023 (someone else paid for that one…) it was less than $1,500 with OEM parts from the dealership

 

[rokket2005]

Have you asked your insurance company what they value the car at? For a 14 year car it's probably like $1-3k. The government will tell you it's worth 25k though.

 

[budda]

I have, we’ve been talking about it since it happened. We’re on the same page, it definitely sucks but we have the means to take care of it if we want to

But dont have to and thats kinda the point - put the money into a short trip or home or something else than a bumper on an old car but sounds like you guys have decided.

 

[JDB123]

Have you asked your insurance company what they value the car at? For a 14 year car it's probably like $1-3k. The government will tell you it's worth 25k though.

I haven’t, mostly because I don’t pay for comprehensive coverage on it. KBB trade in value on it is like $3-4k, private party value $5-6k

 

[Furtive Glance]

Friend has the same car with very similar mileage. I’d keep it. Even if the battery died there are aftermarket replacements that can keep it going. Can always check Copart for replacement pieces too.

 

[p0ke]

It's not worth much so the best bet is probably just to drive it until it's time to scrap it altogether. If you insist on getting a newer car though, your best bet will be to trade it in for something significantly newer. At least over here car dealerships usually bring down the new car price by raising the trade-in car's price. For example when I bought my current car, I got 2000€ for my old junk heap, which I bought a few years before for 700€. I probably spent more than I gained on repairs, yes, but still. I also drove it something like 100k during the time I had it.
Now I'm basically in the same situation as you - I'm planning on trading my 2011 Ford Focus for a used Tesla Model 3 or Volkswagen Id.3 or similarly priced EV, hoping to do the same "trick". My car is mostly cosmetically fine, I'm just gonna fix a few of the minor dings it has using some filler material and white hammer paint. I think white is a pretty forgiving color in this case.

 

[tedtan]

Yeah I replaced the front bumper back in 2023 (someone else paid for that one…) it was less than $1,500 with OEM parts from the dealership

That’s a good price. My son took his 2020 Corolla in to a few places for quotes on a rear bumper replacement last year and they were all around $3,500 to $4,000. I suppose they could have been doing more than just replacing the bumper in that price, but $1,500 seems like a steel in comparison.