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