Should I sell my lara or repair it and keep it?

[mazen222]

i bought my solara 99 v6 manual last summer and since the first day, im in love. The car is dark green and looks very clean, inside and outside. Tan leather, sunroof, 16" mags, HID headlights and fogs and all the other nice stuff...

Here is the problem:
The car needs the following:
- a set of four winter tires (800$)
- new clutch (500$)
- timing belt and water pump and the other things around there (600$)
- two front top plates (200$)
- extra stuff i want: tinted windows, car starter with alarm,... (400$)

for a total bill of $2-3k. Or i could sell the car for 4-5k and buy a new car... like an infinity or an acura TL and use the money i sold the car with as downpayement.

What do you guys think?

[MCOjerry]

If that's what it will really cost for all those services and you really need them all, I say sell it. Remember though, you probably won't make a profit, unless you got an amazing deal. You might even lose money, I don't know your situation.

If you don't mind payments, and can afford them; I would suggest new.

[chrom3titan]

99 getting a little too old there man, still a good car. Go for an 02+ acura CL man type S they are probably only 5-6k

[(K)]

I'd say go for a newer car. If you look at it from an enthusiast's point of view then it's going to cost MONEY to get to where you want. If you look at it a little bit more reasonably then it's going to cost money for a new car too but at least you'll be better off with maintenance and what not.

CL-S for sure...newer model though.

[JavaJoe_2]

There are a lot of things to consider.

1. You say you love the car...
2. Whats the mileage?
3. Can you really sell the car for that? Is it paid for?
4. Whats your current financial situation? Can you afford the extra monthly payment?
5. Whatever you buy you'll soon want to mod it. (like your current car)

If you have the cash ....go for it.
Otherwise hang on to it. Upgrade what you want and it will feel "new" again.
It's a Toyota, all you really have to do is maintain it and it will last a long time.
Invest or save what you would have put into a new monthly payment.
You'll Thank me later.

[mazen222]

1- yes... but im sure i will also love a 2006 acura TL
2- it has like 130 miles on it, which is alot. but if i invest a 2k on it, i know it will last for 3-5 years more.
3- yes, it is paid for and for sure i can sell it for at least 4k
4- im broke... so i dont even drive it anymore (becasue of the snow tires law now), but i will eventually find an engineering job, which will pay well. I would like to save some cash and invest on a house insted of a car...
5- oh ya

From my point of view, keeping it is the smart choice, since i wont have to pay high monthly charges. On the other hand, my friends say, an old car will always have problems, fix something and something new will comeup... i cant decide

[Ilovemylara]

I would keep my lara.. i cant imagine losing my baby

[Jakecallun20]

Number one reason to keep.....its paid off! Clutch, those wear out. Its regular maintenince. Replace it. You should get another 100k out of it anyways. Timing belt and water pump, will be around 1000 if you decide to change your crank and cam seals (its worth it, trust me) but your car's belt and pump will be good for another 100k and the seals should be good for another 150k. The tires? Put it on a credit card and let it ride for a couple of months. Tint and alarm are nice but not completely necessary. Do those last. You may be able to get 3-4k out of the car, but with 130k miles on the clock its a spring chicken. My car has 149k on it and it runs better than the day it was new, all I've put in to it was: T belt, Water pump, crank & cam seals, iridium plugs, NGK wires, fuel filter, TRD air filter, regular trans fluid changes, and amsoil 5W-30 year round. The cost of replacing the car is much more than the cost of replacing the parts in the Toyota. If you can afford 350 a month, for 4 or so years, than you can afford 350 dollars a month from the credit card company for less than a year.

[Sol-Toy]

your list is pretty hefty there. I say, get the clutch and the water pump/belt/caps/etc. You'll be spending around $1400 US.

Do you really need winter tires? Do you really need tint and alarm? Wouldn't you want all of this on your new car too?

Dunno what the front top plates are. If thats the front grill, paint it black.

It sounds like a lot of these things aren't needs but wants.

[CorCamrySE]

id keep it...if its paid off and you love the car, why part with it?
i considered trading my 2003 camry for a 2008 last year, but i just couldent give up my baby for a newer camry i liked less than the one i have

[mazen222]

Do you really need winter tires? Do you really need tint and alarm? Wouldn't you want all of this on your new car too?

Dunno what the front top plates are. If thats the front grill, paint it black.

It sounds like a lot of these things aren't needs but wants.

Winter tires are now mandatory in quebec... so i cant even drive it without them now.

top plates are the strut mounts... the car drives fine with the broken ones, but it disturbing with all that noise they make.

tints and the starter are optional, but something i defintly want on my car. but you're right, they can wait

[Jakecallun20]

Like I said earlier, put the tires on a credit card and let them ride for a few months. Then have your belt changed, pump...etc. Strut mounts shouldn't be too expensive from ebay, and are pretty easy to change provided you know how to weld. Have the clutch done at a reliable well known shop, buy the clutch from ebay or another parts site, they usually have them for much cheaper. I would suggest an Exedy OEM style clutch, then just have your flywheel machined and resurfaced.

[aleki2424]

The issue i could foresee is that at that mileage, the acura is bound to be due on maintenance as well. Depending on the condition, wouldn't it also need the standard timing belt, pumps etc etc....
imo, these unknown issues are gonna break the bank even more than those in the solara g. i have a 99 myself , and I have ended up changing quite a number of parts, probably even more than most will on here, but they were due to the previous owner being complacent and not due to issues with the vehicle itself. That being noted, i still have issues i've gotta deal with , but it still amazes that is runs amazingly well , even only with those basic maintenance repairs carried out.
My only advice is to make sure you aren't getting a lemon, and that the vehicle you are getting had been taken care of.
good luck either way.

[LEE337]

I would keep my lara.. i cant imagine losing my baby

I agree! I love my baby!!!

[Midias]

99 getting a little too old there man, still a good car. Go for an 02+ acura CL man type S they are probably only 5-6k

The only CL-S worth getting is the 03 because it came 6MT