Is it time to break up with my 98 Stratus

When and or how do you determine when it's time to stop repairing your
car and get a new one?

I have a 98 Dodge Stratus, with about 80K miles on it. The car has been
paid off for about 2+ years now, some I'm reluctant to get a new car
payment. However, about once a year I get hit with a big repair bill.
This year it was around $900 for a new water pump, timing belt, timing
belt tensioner, cooling system flush, oil change etc. Last year it was
around $850 for a new head gasket, oil change, coolant, etc.

$1000 spread out over 12 months is about $83. However a what point do
you stop? You'll never get a repair bill that will equal a car payment
spread out over a year. But at some point it must stop making sense
repairing a car. I guess I need to know whether or not I'm close to
that point.

MP

 

You should have had them replace the water pump and timing belt last year
when the head gasket was done, you would have probably only had to pay for
the parts.
Only you know how well you have maintained this vehicle. If the oil has been
changed at the proper intervals and the vehicle isn't all beat up it should
last a few more years.
Did you try and get Chrysler to pay for the head gasket or part of the job
when you had it done?

My opinion

Glenn Beasley
Chrysler Tech

 

Had I known the water pump would be going I would have. However they
didn't suggest that I replace the water pump back then. The dealer did
not mention anything about the possibility of the head gasket. The car
had 70K+ miles on it, and had been outside the extended warranty for
about a year.

The car has had all the regular maintenance and oil changed regularly.
It isn't beat up and in good condition.

You 're a Chrysler Tech what is the official lifespan of a 98 Stratus?
Has Chrysler fixed the engine issues. I hate to say it, but I'm afraid
to purchase another Chrysler vehicle.

 

The headgasket was a known problem with these cars. The only other
problems that I have seen in this newsgroup have been with the power
windows, and an occasional BCM failure. I don't recall many
transmission problems on these cars.

I too, have a 1998. Since having the headgasket replaced more than two
years ago, it has been mostly regular maintenance.

-Kirk Matheson

 

I cant put a date on a vehicle. These vehicles will last years as long as
they are maintained, We get the with 150k plus. Yes they had head gasket
problems and the ones that had the 3/36 with up to 70K on them got
assistance thru Chrysler, normally paying all the job or splitting the bill
with the customer. But me personally, I think it has been a very reliable
vehicle.

My opinion

Glenn Beasley
Chrysler Tech

 

For this years service what you are describing is basic vehicle
maintenance. Timing belts have to be replaced at regular intervals on
any car that has one... And the tensioner and water pump are "might
as well" items as you have to take them off to do the job and when
they fail the job has to be done all over again. It is a shame that
the person who did your repair last year didn't go ahead and replace
these parts...

I assume from the listed prices that you are still using the dealer
for service? If so start shopping around for an independent mechanic.
You should see a drastic reduction in price by moving away from the
dealer.

I usually figure when the monthly repair bills are more than a new car
payment it is time to get a new one or if I am near the end of life
for the vehicle and a major component goes out (engine or trans) then
I will replace it. In this case you could easily get another 100k out
of this car if you have kept up with the maintenance on it. I would
find a good mechanic and keep enjoying the car payment free months.

Steve B.

 

As long as the repair costs are less than the debt cost for a
replacement vehicle, why would it not make sense? The other factor, of
course, is convenience. A lot of repairs means a lot of time in the
garage and lost use of the vehicle. Also, if many of the failures leave
you stranded on a deserted road, that gets old also. However, from a
purely economic perspective, it is often cheaper to keep repairing a car
for a long time.

Matt

 

I'm not a Chrysler Tech, but I can tell you that there is no such thing
as an official lifespan. The life of any car is highly variable. Drive
the car infrequently and don't maintain it, and you can kill the best
car in less than 50,000 miles. Drive a car often and far enough to get
it thoroughly up to temperature and maintain it rigorously and 200K
isn't a big deal.


Matt

 

you don't

Re-read what you just wrote above. repeat it over and over and over,
until the truth of what you wrote finally sinks in.

You are abso fraggin lutely right. It -always- makes more economic
sense to keep a car maintained and keep repairing it forever, because
you will never pay depreciation on it. That is why a new car is more
expensive. Depreciation never drove anyone a mile in a car but
money spent on repair parts certainly does.

However, there IS a point that it becomes impossible to keep an
old car running for everyone. It is different for different people,
though. Here are some of the points that are important to some
people, maybe even you:

1) You just get completely sick and tired of looking at the same car,
day after day and wants something different just to have something
different.

2) The car gets so old spare parts are not easily available anymore

3) The body gets rusted or smashed or otherwise trashed.

4) the car is so old that you can't find a mechanic anymore who
understands how it operates, and you don't do your own work.

Those are some of the common reasons it stops making sense.
Notice none of them are economic reasons.

Ted

 

My '97 Stratus just blew the tranny at 220,000 Miles (currently in the
shop being rebuilt because I don't do automatics). No complaints here,
this has been an extremely reliable car over the years; hell, it even
has the original factory battery in it still! I think I spend on
average about $30 per month on maintenance (until the tranny that is).
I had the head gasket problem, Chrysler took good care of me; it had
86,000 miles on it at the time and was a previous rental car (I am
persistent)

As long as you maintain your car well, it will last a very long time.
I had a '78 Datsun 510 that I got from my parents when I graduated from
high school; they bought it brand new with 7 miles on it. When the
fire department cut me out of it (thank you red light running twit), it
had over 870,000 on it.

 

On Thu, 17 Nov 2005 05:18:08 -0800, "Ted Mittelstaedt"

I just got a 05 Sebring convertable, as the eventual replacement for
my 89 Olds Ciera with 201K miles that I also bought NEW. I still drive
the 89 and will keep it till it's junk or won't pass inspection.
the windshield has cracked in the same spot for the second time in 2
years due to rust on the frame, the bottom of the doors are rusted
out. I just may pay the $200 for a windshield if needed for
inspection to keep it on the road. So far I use the 89 for the 60
mile R/T to work and the convertable is under a cover on work days.
$200 for struts 5 months ago.. Electrical system repairs and easy
mechanical repairs I always did myself. before I got the 05 , my 89
was my only car.

keep it till repair costs = payment costs
or one of the other reasons