need advice: fix my car or say goodbye?

thiswillbe

Hi nesties... I need help with this decision, and Sylvia is in the hospital and I don't want to worry her with this.

This morning my car quit running on the way in to work I had it towed to the repair shop she likes (the dealer) and just got the estimate. It needs $1700 of work to get it running again.

It is a 1994 Toyota Camry, with 205k miles on it. We've been putting quite a bit in to keeping her running (about $2k every 6 months or so), and I am wondering if we should continue that, and do this fix, or stop at this point.

FWIW it IS the car we usually drive, but we do have a van (20 mpg) that we *can* use when need be (I wouldn't commute in it, though). We can take public transit to work, so I suppose having a car isn't 100% critical (just makes our commuting time 1 hr instead of 3.5 hrs).

So:
a) fix the car
b) tow it home (AAA will cover it) and wait for S to get out of the hospital and then decide at that point
c) say goodbye
d) some other option I haven't thought of yet?

Thanks for your help. I have so much on my mind (S's health, job stuff, leaky roof, no AC...) that I'm finding it hard to think my way through this.  :-(

Mrs._F

It sounds like it's not work keeping. 2k every 6 months is a LOT to spend on a car that is that old.

$1700 is either a great down payment on a much much newer car, or just about enough to get you something comparable that's in better shape.

That being said, I might suggest B so that you get to discuss it with Sylvia.

Good luck with everything.

Meegs10.13.06

Ditto pp... $1700 is a good downpayment for an almost new car that you could have paid off in 2.5 years time with the amount that you are paying every six months for repairs on this one. I would say look at some of Toyota's certified preowned cars, which are all in great (practically new) shape for a quarter of the cost. They might even give you some trade in on your old car.

bluedaisyus

if you're putting in $2k every six months that's an average of $333/month just for repairs. that's a lot, even for an old car that has 205k miles on it, and it's probably just going to get worse. i'd tow it home so that sylvia can be part of the decision, but i'd really think about how all that is adding up.

Duchess1

What a pain, I hate cars. I would probably just say goodbye. When Sylivia is better you can discuss it with her. I hope she is okay!

Roxy-Bailey

I think option b sounds like a good one. Maybe get a cheap rental or a zip car to avoid the 3.5 hour commute in the meantime? Regardless, I hope life gets easier very soon. Sounds like you have a lot on your plate. Get well wishes to S!