Should I Sell My 295,000km Car Now ?

akastyl13 on 22/06/2015 - 14:55
Last edited 22/06/2015 - 15:01

Hi,

I just renewed my rego and CTP for 6 months on my subaru impreza wagon 1997 2.0 AT that has 297k on the clock.
I bought it second hand for 2k a year and a half ago, and ahead of me there are:
1/ Time Belt to change in 5-10k
2/ Service to do (oil, filters etc)
3/ rear brake pads to change
4/ radiator to change (I patched it a year ago, still ok but if I have to do the timing belt will also do the radiator)
I have been quoted $700 for radiator + timing belt + seals.
I think I can figure out myself the rear brake pads, and I can do the service alone too as I have done it before.

It drives very well, as aircon, power steering, central lock, and never let me down for the 30k I have do with it.
Should I sell it now, until I have to get all these reparations done?

I am not experienced enough at this time.

I drive it to work each day, 1hr each way, ~400km per week, and sometimes on the weekend.
We are only two, my gf and I (26yo).

Thanks for your advices!

Automotive

Comments

  • cloudy on 22/06/2015 - 15:00
    +6

    Ur title made me think ur car was worth almost $300,000.

    • akastyl13 on 22/06/2015 - 15:02

      sorry…updated title!

  • Obey on 22/06/2015 - 15:01

    Title is very deceiving haha.

    • akastyl13 on 22/06/2015 - 15:02

      sorry…updated title!

  • akastyl13 on 22/06/2015 - 15:01
    +2

    Hahahaha xD I just updated the title ! ! !
    I wouldn't be on OZB if it was 295k$ car :D

    • RandomNinja on 22/06/2015 - 15:25
      +1

      I wouldn't be on OZB if it was 295k$ car :D

      ?!

      Once an Ozbargainer, always an Ozbargainer!

      • TheOneWhoKnocks on 30/06/2015 - 17:59

        But that's the thing, he would never have been on OzBargain.

  • tonyjzx on 22/06/2015 - 15:24
    +2

    its a question of how much you want to spend and opportunity cost

    the car sounds like its had a good run

    if you spend $700 would it give you another 100,000km?

    If you sell the car you'd be lucky to get $1,000? less?

    So with that $1,000 would you be willing to tip that $700 and get a better car? unlikely… it sounds like more gambling

    IMO unless you want to spend $4-$5,000 plus on a newer better 2nd hand car, you may as well spend $700 on something that you can trust

    • akastyl13 on 22/06/2015 - 15:40

      Makes sense, that is what I was thinking about…
      The thing is, I have never spent 4-5k in a second hand car, and so far with my 1.5k budget each time I got luck and only changed cars because I was going overseas.

      • tonyjzx on 22/06/2015 - 15:57

        comes down to this… you need a car, a reliable car that can do 400km a week

        do you want to spend thousands buying a replacement car? this is not a bad choice per se… you may buy a $15,000 new car and i bet it saves you petrol too over your subaru

        but if i was you i'd repair everything you can on your current car, stay with what has been good so far

        its also low commitment… why spend thousands on something you may get rid for whatever reason later down the line

        • akastyl13 on 22/06/2015 - 16:03

          thanks for the advises very useful for a car newbie like me :)

        • macrocephalic on 22/06/2015 - 16:31
          +1

          It's almost always cheaper to keep a working car on the road than it is to buy a new one.

          My opinion: keep doing the maintenance that you HAVE to, and keep driving it until you can't any longer. While you're doing this, keep some savings aside in case your car does die and you suddenly need a new one.

  • pjetson on 22/06/2015 - 15:36

    If you sell it registered, you'll need to spend whatever money is required to make it roadworthy.

    If you sell it unregistered, buyers will assume it requires too much money to make it roadworthy so you'll likely be offered peanuts.

  • Euphemistic on 22/06/2015 - 16:55
    +1

    If you've got the money to replace it in the bank I'd skip the time belt/radiator and drive it til it dies.

    How long do you plan on keeping it? It's not worth money in reality, but if it suits your lifestyle for the next 3-4 years just keep it and only spend $ if something breaks just because a time belt should be replaced at 100k doesn't mean it won't last a bit longer. If it does break though the car will be scrap value.

    • mskeggs on 22/06/2015 - 21:14
      +2

      I was going to suggest this as well. You could easily get another 100,000km without the timing belt failing, but when it does it will destroy the engine.
      That said, $700 sounds very cheap for a timing belt and a radiator.
      At that price I would get it done and aim to keep the car a lot longer.
      You are in an enviable position, a reliable car that you are reasonably satisfied with that is costing you nothing in depreciation.

      • wildbill on 23/06/2015 - 07:45

        Have to agree with the comment about the cost of timing belt and radiator replacement.
        This mechanic can work on my car anytime

  • JarrydF on 22/06/2015 - 19:18
    +1

    Spend the $700 and maintain it. As long as it looks decent the high kilometres won't matter. I usually find that cars start to aged a lot around the mid 200s once it's past that, (which yours is) a lot of the bits have been changed and you'll get a decent run out of the engine and box as long as it's not started to smoke or the box (assuming it's auto) hasn't started to slip.

    Get yourself a cheap radiator and fit it yourself, that's easy. If you can fit brake pads you can replace a radiator, just make sure you open the bleed nipples or leave the radiator cap off to get rid of any air when you refil the system.Then get the timing belt and water pump changed at the same time by a mechanic if you are not confident doing it yourself.

  • x2r9ypbj on 23/06/2015 - 08:45
    -4

    MY ADVISE GIVE IT TO OUR POLLIES
    THEY CAN DRIVE IT AROUND CAMBERRA
    SAVE GETTING TAXIS
    SAVE US TAXPAYERS MONEY
    GIVE IT FIRST TO JOE THE GOOSE

  • backpaqer on 23/06/2015 - 09:06

    If you bought it for ~$2k and nearly half of that is rego…it's nearly a free ride. You wont get much for it second hand and you know how good it is. I'd keep it until it sounds like it's about to die and then drop it off at the wreckers…or use it as a trade in.

  • Brucet on 30/06/2015 - 14:47
    -2

    yes you should sell it quick.
    Its too old for drive. may end up with repair cost.

  • fillit on 30/06/2015 - 15:23

    Just do rear brake pads + radiator yourself (second hand ones are pretty cheap) and as subaru has been using ej20 variants for donkey years you can probably even find a newish one at the wreckers, probably $50 or so.

  • altomic on 30/06/2015 - 22:02

    $700 for radiator + timing belt + seals sounds awesome.

    I'd stick with it.

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