2012 Jeep Patriot Sport 4WD. Fix, Sell, or Trade in??

Krista

I’ve had this Jeep for about 3 years with no issues. 65k miles on it now. Just had to replace the rear engine mount and the struts will need work all around likely by next summer. Also need new tires and my back rotors are on their way out. On top of all that I plan to get a transmission fluid flush soon.

I love this car and want to invest in it, but the CVT transmission is known for early failure. I’d hate to spend on something that’s inevitably going to fail.

Do you think it’s worth investing in this car?

-bought at 14k, owe under 2.5k

PF_Flyer

7 years, 65K miles is on the light side (compared to the miles I put on a car) Tires and brakes are wear items and you'll have those with any vehicle, just the timing is important... do you spend on those or put towards a new ride? Do those factor into what someone will give you in a trade.sale? On the CVT, they'll tell you that it's not really a CVT flush. I had one done on our one vehicle around 60K and evidently it's not good to have the transmission fluid level go low in a CVT so it's more like a drain/replace at the same time to maintain the fluid level as I understood it. But you're looking to maintain the vehicle, so that's a good thing. Plus you've only had the car 3 years.

You can use the Edmunds appraisal tool to get an idea of what your car is worth as a trade or private sale.

Your financial situation is going to weigh into this as well. How much will a new car cost you? What will your new payment be? Depending on condition, it feels like you might have a bit of equity in the Jeep that can go towards a new ride, but that's a guess made without seeing the vehicle in person.

Weigh the factors, Get as much info as you can and then make your decision. Don't rush into it.