| You've decided to buy a new car (or a "new" | | | | - Alternator, 125,000 miles |
| used car) and you're wondering what to do with | | | | - Brake rotors, 80,000 miles |
| your old one. Should you trade it in? Sell it? Keep | | | | - Brake drums, 150,000 miles |
| it? | | | | - Brake calipers, 150,000 miles |
| Chances are your old vehicle is either paid off or | | | | - Clutch, 75,000 miles |
| close to being paid off, so the monthly budget | | | | - Headlamp, 100,000 miles |
| issue may be advantageous for keeping it. | | | | - Sealed front bearings, 125,000 miles |
| Insurance costs should also be less on an older | | | | - Shock absorbers, 75,000 miles |
| car. And you could raise the deductibles to get it | | | | - Starter, 100,000 miles |
| even lower. | | | | - Timing belt, 100,000 miles |
| Depreciation is also less of an issue with an older | | | | - Timing chain, 100,000 miles |
| vehicle. The big losses in car value take place | | | | Cars are now built to last longer than ever before. |
| during the first five or six years. | | | | And you can see from the above list that the |
| You can even use your old car for commuting | | | | more expensive repairs tend to occur at around |
| and around town errands. This will save wear, | | | | the 100,000 mile mark. |
| tear and resale value on your new car. | | | | Keep in mind that as you approach 150,000 miles |
| The big issue, however, is potential maintenance | | | | or so, a vehicle often has paint and rust issues. |
| costs. Will you get clobbered by expensive repairs | | | | Interior upholstery also tends to have more |
| down the road? Savings from the above factors | | | | severe problems at this time. And repairs made |
| may be more than offset by future repair costs. | | | | at 75,000 miles are coming around again. |
| Well, you don't really know for sure. It's typically a | | | | From a purely economic point of view, trading in |
| hard call to make because without a crystal ball, | | | | or selling a relatively young vehicle because it |
| there's no doubt it's a bit of a gamble. | | | | needs a few hundred dollars of repairs would not |
| However, here's some component examples with | | | | be wise. On the other hand, the prospect of |
| the mileages when they typically need to be | | | | spending thousands of dollars on a vehicle on its |
| replaced. This can help you weigh the odds a little | | | | last legs should be carefully considered. |
| more in or out of your favor. | | | | |