Pride Can Cost You: The Car Repairs You Don’t Need
May 13, 2011 by Cliff
If there’s no room in your budget for superfluous spending, you may want to think twice before repairing certain things on your vehicle. The emotional desire to have a great looking car should not overrule the practical reasoning of repairing only what needs to be fixed.
Old, Ugly Cars
If your car exterior is faded or peeling but in otherwise good condition, you may think that paying for a new paint job will give you a new-car look without the new-car cost. By repainting your car, you may end up with a bright new vehicle, but you risk ending up with a car that’s peeling paint in a matter of weeks. This is especially likely with budget paint shops.
Even if the new paint lasts, it’s almost never a good investment. A new coat of paint on a car, after material and labor, will cost $3,000 or more. If your car is old enough to warrant a new coat of paint, the paint job will likely cost more than the total value of the car. Save those thousands for a down payment on a future car purchase. You’ll regret not doing so when you end up with a shiny car that has a broken engine.
Cosmetic defects that may not be worth repairing include:
- Torn or stained seats (consider seat covers)
- Minor body dents, dings and scratches
- Larger body damage that poses no safety threat
If your car is almost new, it may make sense to repair cosmetic damages. If your car is years old and has over one hundred thousand miles, these repairs will do nothing for your car’s value and may end up costing more than what your vehicle is worth.
Loud, Leaky Cars
Fluid leaks and engine noise can cause panic among car owners, and sometimes repairs are necessary. Yet there are instances when repairing these issues can wait, especially if funds are tight.
Oil leaks can foreshadow larger problems, but if you’re strapped for cash, you can probably nurse the issue until you can afford to have it looked at. Your car should be fine as long as the oil levels in your engine aren’t affected, so be sure to monitor that frequently until you are able to get to a repair shop.
Is it more of a clank, clunk, or a rattle? Perhaps it’s a clink or a clamor. Engine noise is one of the most difficult things for a mechanic to diagnose, and most conclusions are nothing but educated guesses. The only surefire way to detect what is causing noise within an engine is to disassemble it and look inside. It’s a labor-intensive process which is why engine repairs are so expensive. You may end up spending hundreds of dollars just to be reassured that the noise was nothing serious.
If the clonking within your engine is loud but not worsening, you may have let your oil get too low at one point. Keeping your engine well oiled will prevent future damage if this is the case. Maintain oil and listen for any changes in engine noise.
Don’t let your pride get the best of you. Some car repairs can wait until you’re able to afford them, and some are just unnecessary altogether. Even if you don’t have the newest or fanciest of vehicles, you’re in a better situation than you’d be if you went into debt for things you cannot afford.
Category: Car Maintenance, General
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