Edmunds Members - Cars and Conversations

benjaminh · 12:36PM

andres3 said:
Just to clarify, maintenance repair can't total a car, correct everyone? Only crash damage repairs "total" a car, because Insurance companies obviously don't want to pay more to fix your car than it would cost to replace it. That's not good for the bottom-line.

Yes.

But if the cost of the repairs and maintenance are getting close to the value of the car then it would total it in my mind, and then I'd get rid of it. Maybe totaled in terms of "self-insurance" or something like that.

Back in 1970 my parents bought a nearly-new 1969 VW Bus. Underpowered, of course, and that put a strain on the engine, esp. since we took a lot of family trips with the thing loaded up. So at something around 80k miles and around 1977 or so the engine died. It was on a trip and somewhat memorable. Just an ominous loss of power going up hills, but we somehow made it to the next town. You'd think that would total it, but we put up in a hotel and even in that small city we got a rebuilt motor put in the next day for something like $800. The body and interior were still in good shape. That bus had simple but almost industrial grade materials, including vinyl seats that were nearly indestructible. That came close to totaling it out financially, but with the rebuilt engine it lasted until 1985, when an accident (with fortunately no injuries) took it out.

These days most engines are probably at least $10k and up, and so in many cases that would be the end.

jmonroe1 · 12:39PM

@kyfdx said:
6" nearby.. Just 2" by our house

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Got a good 4 inches on the deck and it’s cold enough right now (3:30 PM) that it’s still all there.

This might be the start of a winter we haven’t had for at least 5 years. My fake palm tree on the deck wants in.

jmonroe

driver100 · 12:47PM

@oldfarmer50 What things are you worried about? Brakes can wear out. Shocks, bushings, steering components and belts too but those are easily replaceable.

Good comments. The thing that concerns me the most would be something like a hose breaking down on a busy highway when I have to be somewhere. Things that can deteriorate over time.
With only 48000 miles on the car, what can break down because of time....what should I maybe have checked?

xwesx · 2:10PM

Yep, via cameras, the conditions in Ohio are looking awfully familiar to me....

stickguy · 3:24PM

snow finally tapering off. after dinner I need to go out and finish shoveling. Thankfully we have our driveway plowed now (for $30 a storm, even a tightwad like me is saying heck yeah) so I just need to clear out the snow mountain in front of the garage door (our version of the town plows filling in the bottom of your driveway), tidy up the edges, and do the front walk. Even my decrepit old body should be able to handle that without kicking it.

not sure but looks like we got 6-8"

oldfarmer50 · 3:54PM

driver100 said:
@oldfarmer50 What things are you worried about? Brakes can wear out. Shocks, bushings, steering components and belts too but those are easily replaceable.

Good comments. The thing that concerns me the most would be something like a hose breaking down on a busy highway when I have to be somewhere. Things that can deteriorate over time.
With only 48000 miles on the car, what can break down because of time....what should I maybe have checked?

Hoses and belts for sure. Have your mechanic check them at each oil change if it makes you feel secure. I have to tell you though I’ve never had a hose or a belt leave me stranded and I’ve driven some miled up hoopties in my time. As someone mentioned it will probably be something electronic that leaves you walking. Maybe buy a membership in AAA.

stickguy · 4:26PM

andres3 said:
Just to clarify, maintenance repair can't total a car, correct everyone? Only crash damage repairs "total" a car, because Insurance companies obviously don't want to pay more to fix your car than it would cost to replace it. That's not good for the bottom-line.

It's referred to as "mechanically totaled" meaning it costs more to fix than it is worth. But the owner eats the cost, not an insurance company!

stickguy · 4:29PM

tjc78 said:

@stickguy said:

I jinxed us. We are getting buried with snow right now. Hard to tell how many inches so far but you can’t tell the road from the lawns (plow guy has not been through yet). Good thing we have nowhere to go.

I despise snow.

You went the wrong way!

No snow in your old ‘hood… just tons of rain.

I am seriously rethinking the value proposition right about now, after going out to shovel. Pretty sure these snow mounds will be here until March, and will only be getting bigger.

jmonroe1 · 5:24PM

@xwesx said:
Yep, via cameras, the conditions in Ohio are looking awfully familiar to me....

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It’s nice to know you feel right at home even when you’re not at home.

jmonroe

roadburner · 6:02PM

oldfarmer50 said:

driver100 said:
@oldfarmer50 What things are you worried about? Brakes can wear out. Shocks, bushings, steering components and belts too but those are easily replaceable.

Good comments. The thing that concerns me the most would be something like a hose breaking down on a busy highway when I have to be somewhere. Things that can deteriorate over time.
With only 48000 miles on the car, what can break down because of time....what should I maybe have checked?

Hoses and belts for sure. Have your mechanic check them at each oil change if it makes you feel secure. I have to tell you though I’ve never had a hose or a belt leave me stranded and I’ve driven some miled up hoopties in my time. As someone mentioned it will probably be something electronic that leaves you walking. Maybe buy a membership in AAA.

I did not replace the hoses on the Club Sport until this past October at almost 30 years and 151k miles. Up until then the only cooling system components I had replaced were the thermostat and a plate fitting at the firewall. That said, this time I replaced everything- water pump, radiator, hoses and clamps.
As for belts, I've replaced them twice.

corvette · 7:43PM

@xwesx - follow up to the hybrid range discussion from a few weeks back. I think you said the oven temp is more variable on gas ovens compared to electric. Dumb questions: Don't the burners on gas ovens operate on an on/off basis like electric ones? If so, why not vary the gas input like one would on a grill to maintain a more even temperature? Tankless water heaters operate on a similar principle. It's the CVT of thermodymanics.

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