Have you ever thought, “Should I just replace this car?” you are not alone. Most people at some point get fed up with their car and threaten it with being replaced if it does not start acting right. They say things like “If you don’t start, I swear I am going to replace you” or “God, if you just let it start one more time I promise I will get a new one!”. One of the most frustrating situations to be in is having a car that will not start after a hard day of work and it’s raining and cold. The best way to decide if you should replace the car is to keep things rational and calm. Make these kinds of decisions when you have time to calculate all of the aspects of trading your car in for a new one. There are a few questions to ask yourself:
1) Has my car left me stranded?
2) How old is my car?
3) How many miles does my car have on it?
4) How much have I spent on repairs over the last year (exclude maintenance)?
5) Is your car paid for?
6) Can you afford a car payment of at least $350 (most cars will cost at least this much)?
7) Do my repair costs exceed $350 per month on average?
Do you feel that your car is reliable?
9) Is your car safe?
10) How much is your car worth?
If you answer these questions rationally you should be better suited to make an informed decision about repair or replace.