Please Help Me Decide - What to Do with My 2004 Hyundai Accent?

I have a Hyundai Accent 2004 model which has 125,000 kms on it. I got it for free from my brother in 2017 when it had 75000 kms on it.

Has been in a minor crash resulting in a slightly off front engine cover and hole in bumper

At that time of buying costs:
1. I paid $500 for repairs for roadworthiness and
2. $2000 for initial rego ( number plates were taken away by the cops lol).

Up until now costs:
1. Servicing in last 3 years - approx $1000
2. A/C switch repair - $300
3. Major Belt service -$700 at 80k
4. Battery (twice)- $150 + $180 = 330
5. Other misc - $200 (wipers + blah blahs )

I recently went to the garage for servicing and the mechanic is saying to replace the 2 shocks and 1 Drive shaft due to damage and according to my estimates will set me back by approx $400. I am a bit tired of spending on the old car.

So in order to sell I need to fix the shocks etc and god knows what else.

What are the alternatives to selling this to someone? Wreckers ? Will I get paid? Do I need to pay ?

Also planning to buy a new car preferably Mazda cx5. does showroom pay good value ?

Feels weird to give away the car, sentimental value I guess.

Comments

  • +3
  • +7

    Yoh can't count rego, insurance and RACV as expenses. Taking those away, you've spent a couple of grand over 3 years. That's pretty cheap motoring.

  • +2

    Refund remaining rego and sell to wreckers.

  • +1

    Have a look at the symbol on the number 4 key on your keyboard.

  • +1

    google 'cash for cars'
    Pay minimum $500 cash for any junker, theyll bring a flatbed and pick it up from your place

    • I have seen the ads. But 500 is less I think :(

  • +8

    Repair it and keep driving it until you get a repair bill of $2k then scrap it. It doesn’t have many kms on it and will probably last a while at.

    A new car will cost significantly more than your current repair costs the minute you drive it out of the dealership.

    • +1

      if she doesn't mind driving her bro's car then buying a second hand also work.

      • second hand car is okay for me but she likes brand new ones :)

    • So 5 bills 1000 each would be fine but one 2000 would not?

  • +1

    2 batteries in 3 years, lol . $700 for timing belt, wow.

    • Sorry all belts (timing) etc were replaced :) I got quoted 1200 by Kmart auto

    • +1

      $700 for belts is cheap if all were done.

  • +2

    most of your service and repair cost seems reasonable, only thing is why you needed 2 battery in 3 years? Most decent battery now have at least 2 years warranty so you probably could've got them replaced for free.

    • First one was when I got the car from my brother. The car used to not used. This was leaking up for quite some time.
      Second one I put recently 1 week ago

  • +1

    what to do? sell it and buy a new one, its 16 years old, its time to buy a new car

    Although surprised your head unit is still working after 16 years

    • Head unit is busted lol . I use a Sony speaker to play music 🌝

  • Ride a bicycle :)

  • Keep driving until you a much bigger bill comes up. My opinion that Hyundai doesn't make decent cars until around 2010. or just start the resale option and see what you can get?

    • For selling it I need to fix the shocks. 2 are damaged not sure how long the other two will hold.

      • Can you get someone to inspect the car, agree on the price then bring it in for repair?

        Put it up on Facebook or Scamtree to see how much roughly people willing to pay and decide.

        • the mechanic saw it and quoted a price. That would be a starting point for sure.

          • @life is suffering:

            Can you get someone to inspect the car, agree on the price then bring it in for repair?

            What I mean is to get people to inspect your car, agreed on the selling price and get it to repair.

            So you can make your decision on whether to sell or keep.

            • @SnoozeAndLose: so the person who decides to buys repairs it themselves ? that would make sense.

              can also repair it post getting an esitimate for selling price. but wont people bargain if they know? I checked car sales. according to me I would say it might go for about 3-4k

              • +1

                @life is suffering: Either way, if they realise the issue, you can propose to fix it with agreed sell price of $x then you take it to get it repaired, but you will need to get the deposit first to secure that they are 100% buying the car.

                So this way maybe it can get it to sell to your expected price.

      • Are the shocks just worn out or have they been damaged in the crash? It’s unlikely which other two would get damage, they just lose their effectiveness over time.

        • the shocks are leaking fluid and its happened maybe in a few week prior not sure though. the crash happened in 2013.

          • +1

            @life is suffering: It originally sounded like it’d only just been in a crash. It’s probably ok to drive and someone might buy it for cheap in as is condition, maybe $500 less than comparable cars.

  • +1

    Demolish.

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