Replace transmission, or replace car?

[buckle97]

Here's the deal:
I drive 160 miles round trip per day to work and back. I average 45,000 miles per year on my commuter vehicle.
Current commuter car is a 2002 Taurus with 116k miles on it. I bought it when it was 2 years old with 37k miles on it for $7,500. The market was, and still is, flooded with Taurus's so they come pretty cheap. I have had no problems out of it in the first 116k but yesterday the transmission went out. Now I have a decision to make. To muddy the waters a little more, just two weeks ago I had new tires, brakes, tune up, etc. done to the tune of $993.
What is everyone's opinion? Fix the car with 116k, or scrap it and start over?
I must say that I feel I have already gotten my $7,500 worth out of this car.

First quote for a new transmission is $2,969.00 installed.

Lawrence

 

[dooleysm]

I don't think I'd sink that kind of money into a car with that many miles. You could likely go out and buy a similar car that is running for that kind of money.

 

[buckle97]

<font color="blue"> don't think I'd sink that kind of money into a car with that many miles. </font>

That’s my dilemma. Taurus’s are notorious for transmission trouble, so this isn’t news to me.

Lawrence

 

[texbaylea]

buckle97

Studies I have seen say that it is not economical to spend more than 50% of the value of a vehicle on repair. With the money you just spent you would be well over that 50% level.

Vernon

 

[fishman]

I think I would look at the cost of a rebuilt transmission, or better yet a low mileage one from a junkyard. At the rate you're putting miles on the car, you might get another two years out of it, so compare that to paying for another used one. Another way to look at it is that it's not worth but about $500 in it's current state, but with a working tranny it's probably worth at least $2500. So your actual transmission cost might be viewed as whatever $ you spend above $2k, which is the difference between your car with a working transmission and one without.

I would tend to want to repair it, particularly in light of the $1k you've recently spent to put new tires and brakes on it and tune it up. While I'm sure there are a lot of things that could go wrong, it's unlikely you'll experience engine failure in the near future, and you've just replaced a lot of consumables.

 

[timb]

What's it's value as is, what would be the value *with* a new tranny, and how many miles would you have to get out of it with new tranny to get back to "break even"?

Didn't know there were supposed to be general tranny weaknesses - when I traded my 88 Taurus in it had 140K+ and the tranny seemed perfect (as was the rest of the car, never did give me any trouble). I did have it flushed every 12K-15K.

 

[beenthere]

I wouldn't sink $3k into a transmission, but would consider $1k in a low-mileage used tran from a wrecked 2002 (if it could be found), trying to avoid a flood 'victim'.

Driving 160 mi a day must be for a high-payin job to do that day after day. About 4 hours of your life, 20 hours a week, or 1000 hours a year just driving in a high-risk situation. When I hear it, my 'pain' level goes up for you. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[MossRoad]

Can't the tranny be rebuilt? The most I've ever put into a tranny was about $1100.00 and that was on a 4X4 truck. There are several reputable trannyshops here in our town. I would think it should be the same elsewhere... /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[buckle97]

Quote #2 is in: $3,327.28

For the record, quote #1 is from a repair shop I use frequently (I have many vehicles). Quote #2 is from an independent transmission shop. Both places mentioned the labor being very high for this car.
Both transmissions are remanufactured transmissions, NOT new!

I have a call into the Ford dealership for a quote; I expect it shortly.

Lawrence

 

[ByronBob]

God no......

Thats crazy. Get rid of it.

 

[BillyP]

Like some of the others said, go to a salvage yard. You can get a low mileage tranny pretty darn cheap, if you shop around.

 

[BB_TX]

NADA says it is worth about $4000-5000 average trade in, $5500-6500 average retail (dealer lot price) (depending on the exact model). Would be hard to justify $3000 for a transmission unless the rest of the car was immaculate.

 

[BillyP]

Just done a quick search at car-part.com and found a bunch of 2002 Taurus transmissions. Anywhere from $400 on up. Lots of low mileage trannys.

 

[3RRL]

IMO I'd repair the car. Look at this way, you've already spent money on the tune up and tires and such so that stuff should be good for another 2 years. Unless you know of something else going out on it, where else could you get 90,000 miles worth of reliable transportation like that for 3 grand? Trade it in after that...it'll still be worth something then to offset this bill and you'll probably come out scott free.

 

[gsganzer]

I'd junk it. Pull the tires off and sell them locally or on ebay. I put 100 miles a day commuting and only plan on a car running to 150k anyway, before I find a new commuter.

I've had good luck with Mazda's as used cars. They're a good car, but depreciate fast. That makes them ideal for commuter cars because you can buy a used one cheap. I don't care how bad it depreciates while I own it, because when I get rid of it, it's a high mileage car and worth little anyway (regardless of make and/or model). I usually buy a 1 year old "ex-rental" car from Hertz or Avis sales. They typically have about 28,000 miles when they finish their rental service campaign. The bonus is you get all the service and history records.

 

[jwstewar]

Here is my take on this. I commute about 104 miles round trip 4 days a week. I'm currently driving a '97 Honda Accord with 213k miles on it. It has been hit several times (>10) so it has mostly new sheet metal /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif I've said that has long as the car still looks good and for the most part has been still pretty reliable, when either the engine or tranny went, both would be replaced - along with cv shafts and such. I'm now looking at having to replace the AC compressor. I don't like it hot and the defrost don't work worth a crap w/o it - but my MPG has improved to 34 MPG w/o air. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[buckle97]

The good news (okay, average news) is that I found a local shop that will put in a remanufactured transmission with a 3yr 36,000 mile warranty for $2,100 out the door. I'm going to do it, but I am also planning on selling this car. Even if I trade it in, I will at least be able to get the money I put into it in the last two weeks back. KBB is at $3,100 trade in, fair condition. My fear is that something else major will go and I will just keep pumping money into this thing. I'd rather just start the process all over. I will probably drive it for a month or two trying to sell it locally while also looking for a good commuter car.
Thanks for all the advice today guys, I really appreciate it!

Lawrence

 

[BillG_in_TX]

If you're going to trade it anyway, why not find out what they'll give you for it "as is"?

 

[Bird]

Your problem sounds just a little bit like one of my brothers. He recently put new tires, brakes, and shocks on his 1997 S-10 Chevy pickup, then the transmission went bad. But at least his was a manual transmission and only cost him $1,100 so he didn't think twice about having the transmission replaced with a rebuilt one. After all, he's only got 185k miles on that little truck /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[buckle97]

<font color="blue"> f you're going to trade it anyway, why not find out what they'll give you for it "as is"? </font>

I called two car dealerships that had cars in the paper I would be interested in. I asked each one of them what they would give me for the Taurus "as is". The first one said "around $500" and the second one said "we wouldn't be interested in taking that as a trade." /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
I think I'm better off fixing it and then trying to sell it and recoup some of my money.

Lawrence