General Car Conversation 2024 - part 1
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 68,624
Likes: 4,044
From: Maryland
If you have a car that you love, it's worth it. So I get that. I have a very busy life, as do you. If I remember correctly, your twins were born just after my son (my second born), so you get it. Everything is a chore, especially if it disrupts the schedule. I think my wife may take a sabbatical next year to help us take a breather. Maybe I can put the car maintenance off on her. 
I don’t know how you do it with both of you working!
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 35,426
Likes: 370
From: ON/NY
When you lease the whole car is an expense, I don't even think about interest...but the rate is extremely low, far less than 1%. But, at the end you have nothing so its really just renting a car. For me it is tax deductible, my payment is $1,494, X48, it cost $71,712 to drive the car for 4 years, and I save about 1/2 of that in taxes, so net cost to me to drive it for 48 months is approximately $35,856...or $747 a month. Obviously thats just the lease, not fuel or tires or maintenance etc...all of which is also tax deductible.
Buying something and keeping it for 9 years would be way cheaper, but I don't want to drive a car that long...to me its just a fixed expense for something I enjoy.
The dealer hasn't done one on this engine yet, and its been out since 2017 so there are plenty of higher mileage ones than mine. My guess is it was a flaw in the original construction of the engine. Who knows how long its been leaking, the only way to know is to remove the spark plugs which I didn't do until 50k miles. It could have always leaked!
With the "$3,000 in parts" and I know they needed additional parts once they started the job, they could have had to replace a valve cover or something who knows.
Buying something and keeping it for 9 years would be way cheaper, but I don't want to drive a car that long...to me its just a fixed expense for something I enjoy.
The dealer hasn't done one on this engine yet, and its been out since 2017 so there are plenty of higher mileage ones than mine. My guess is it was a flaw in the original construction of the engine. Who knows how long its been leaking, the only way to know is to remove the spark plugs which I didn't do until 50k miles. It could have always leaked!
With the "$3,000 in parts" and I know they needed additional parts once they started the job, they could have had to replace a valve cover or something who knows.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 68,624
Likes: 4,044
From: Maryland
I know. I am simply saying some people it can work out for them outside of warranty. I just figure like if somebody spends $100,000 or $150,000 on a car, and $9000 repair, is all relative, or it’s a roll of the dice and there is no repair. But yes, not wanting to drive an older car is perfectly cool.
It would be unquestionably cheaper to pay to fix it than to replace it. Bear in mind though, it’s worth $45k or so, maybe $50k. So this repair is roughly 20% of its value. On a 3.5 year old car that’s insane. You can see how an older car like this could be mechanically totaled.
If I were paying I also wouldn’t have the dealer do it, my guess is my shop would be $5k or so. 24 hours at $95 an hour is $2,280 and then I bet they would save some money on parts
This is why I cringe when people say that reliability issues are not a concern as long as you're under warranty. No. I don't want to deal with any of this. My truck - 3 years - not a single warranty issue. My Highlander - 5 years - not a single warranty issue. My GS - 4 years - not a single warranty issue. I don't even like taking them in for oil changes. I don't want to deal with warranty issues too.
besides early issues with tesla's manufacturing i'm becoming convinced EV's in general are ultimately going to be WAY more reliable because they're so simple overall.
Lead Lap
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 4,585
Likes: 91
From: CA, Mid OC
The monster truck with the tiny wheels and tires is how they transport them. I saw them being delivered to Anaheim stadium (the big A) a few years ago when they were having monster truck weekend. I worked in a building that was basically in the parking lot. They cannot transport them with the event wheels and tires.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 68,624
Likes: 4,044
From: Maryland
The monster truck with the tiny wheels and tires is how they transport them. I saw them being delivered to Anaheim stadium (the big A) a few years ago when they were having monster truck weekend. I worked in a building that was basically in the parking lot. They cannot transport them with the event wheels and tires.
Lead Lap
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 4,585
Likes: 91
From: CA, Mid OC
Thank you, though, for pointing this out.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 11,227
Likes: 1,589
From: FL
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 68,624
Likes: 4,044
From: Maryland
Our 2020 Pacifica the new buyer totalled was sold at auction:
https://en.bidfax.info/chrysler/paci...8lr141335.html
30,774 miles, we traded it with 30,142 miles, so they drove it a whole 632 miles before totalling it lol
https://en.bidfax.info/chrysler/paci...8lr141335.html
30,774 miles, we traded it with 30,142 miles, so they drove it a whole 632 miles before totalling it lol
Pole Position
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 3,269
Likes: 202
From: New York
