To Buy a New/Used car or not?

[Amanda2008]

Yesterday, my hubby's 1994 Ford Ranger caught on fire... an electrical problem. It is fixable but the fire took out a lot. I need advice on whether to spend the money to fix the truck or to put that money down on a new/used vehicle and sell his truck for parts. Please help!

[Russ]

First I would get a quote on the repair. Then I would see what that money would get me towards a used car versus repairing the truck. Also take into acct the mileage and mpg of the truck versus maybe a more efficient vehicle. IF you decide to go the used car route, use the parts money to pay down the debt.

[The Muse]

It's hard to say without knowing how much the repairs will cost.

[Greebo]

If you decide to replace, please by used.

Throwing away thousands of dollars to drive a new car off the lot is a huge waste. (Take it from someone who did it twice in two years...boy was I stupid.)

[blitzen]

If you decide to replace, please by used.

Throwing away thousands of dollars to drive a new car off the lot is a huge waste. (Take it from someone who did it twice in two years...boy was I stupid.)

Ditto that! I'm trying to sell my only 6-months-old car right now. Which we got when we traded in our only 1 1/2 year old car that I hated (DH wanted it, I had to be the one who drove it).

[Natalie]

Used: someone else pays for the depreciation.

Car: 'cause trucks tend to use more gas than a car (get as small as you can, they use less gas than bigger ones).

Hybrid: they'll save you more gas in the long run, paying themselves off that way. (Costs a bit more right off than a non-hybrid,though, so get a used one!)

[LuvMyHubby]

I would buy used...the dang thing depreciates as soon as one pretty little tire moves off the the lot.

If you repair the ranger, you may want to check online for any recalls or service bulletins to see if this is a consistent problem with the rest of the wiring harness before you put money into it.

[Greebo]

Hybrid: they'll save you more gas in the long run, paying themselves off that way. (Costs a bit more right off than a non-hybrid,though, so get a used one!)

Only if you buy used, or buy new and keep it for 10 years, sayeth the owner of a Prius and a Highlander Hybrid.

[Russ]

If you repair the ranger, you may want to check online for any recalls or service bulletins to see if this is a consistent problem with the rest of the wiring harness before you put money into it.

GOOD POINT!!

http://www.autobuyguide.com/1994/12-...lls/index.html

[PrairieRose]

Personally I'd buy a used car as opposed to fixing that one if the repairs are going to run into a couple of thousand or more. Our rule of thumb is that once you have to pay for a couple of big repairs in a year's time (seem to run in cycles) on an older car that you could almost replace it and not have the headaches and trust issues with being comfortable taking off in it. Trust is worth a lot in a car for me.