Should I Repair or Replace My Current Vehicle in Michigan?

Is It Time to Replace My Vehicle or Should I Repair It?

Sometimes it’s a hard decision whether it’s time to replace your current vehicle or continue to afford its repairs.  Time and road miles can wreak havoc on any car and it might be more cost-effective to trade it in for a newer model.  Here are a few things to think about when you are deciding whether to repair your current vehicle or trade it in.

When Is It Time to Replace My Vehicle?

• Age – How old is your current vehicle?  A high-mileage vehicle with aging parts generally deteriorates faster, which means bringing it to the mechanic more often.
• Safety Concerns – Do some larger repairs that your vehicle needs include faulty transmission, bad brakes, or steering problems?  A trustworthy mechanic can examine your vehicle to tell you if your vehicle is accumulating serious safety problems.
• Parts Becoming Harder to Find – Depending on your make and model, you may start running into a problem finding the parts needed to do repairs.  Then it would be worth looking into a newer model to drive.
• Features, Features, Features – Your older model may not have the excellent selection of the latest features that a newer vehicle would have.  Maybe your current vehicle runs well and is dependable, but you want something with the latest and greatest technology.  That makes a newer vehicle the perfect choice!

Should I Just Repair My Current Vehicle?

• Fix What You Can Yourself – If you are looking at saving money, figure out which repairs you can buy parts for and do yourself.  Online videos and tutorials have come a long way and you can probably learn to do easier repairs.  There may be repairs that are needed in the future, but not in the present.  If budget is an issue, this can help you decide what is important to repair now and what is not pertinent and can wait.
• Follow the Recommended Service Schedule – Your make and model should have a guideline on services that should be done at what time.  Finding a reliable service technician and sticking to this schedule can extend the life of your vehicle.  It is never too late to start a good vehicle maintenance plan.
• Just Not in the Budget- Before choosing to purchase a new vehicle, check your budget first.  Make sure you can afford to make the move to a newer vehicle.  You might find the newer vehicle will cost about the same as continuing to repair an older model.

Shop Used Vehicles at Thelen Auto Group

If you decide it’s time to replace your current vehicle, Thelen Auto Group in Bay City, Michigan, offers a great inventory of CPO and gently used vehicles.  Think Thelen and give us a call at 989-414-2711 for sales or 989-667-3321 for our service center today!

(Photo Credit: iStock)

Tags: Bay City, Michigan, Thelen Auto Group, Think Thelen
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