Car advice again, please humor me here, and help

[Janeway]

OK..I am struggling here. And I need help. 

 

I had a dream last night that it was Christmas and I was struggling to pay for Christmas presents. Ugh. 

 

So..I want to list what is going on with my current car and you can all tell me if you would trade it in. It is not about new vs used on the next car. It is about whether you would feel the need to replace.

 

-timing belt gasket resealing ($2300)

-tune up (maintenance)

-transmission flush (maintenance)

-spare tire erosion (has been recalled but they did not change the design so it keeps happening despite having done the repairs)

-nick in the windshield

-gash in the passenger side door

-dashboard issues including the vent breaking (looks like it is under a recall, but Totora says this doesn't count)

-spedometer and odometer are wrong

 

It is a 2010 Toyota Sienna so you can Google it to see all the recalls.

 

The new car would be the Honda Odyssey EX 2016. 

 

Problem with that already is cannot figure out how to install the car seats. The middle row, middle seat is too narrow and I need to have the outboard seat not taken so kids can get in the back. I have 2 small children who are still in the 5 point belt system so I still need to strap them in. And the one in the HBB still needs some help.

[AmandaVT]

I would replace if it were me. Your current car sounds like a lemon with all of those recalls. I don't think I did that much work on my 1998 subaru (and I had it until 2012). 

 

Is your heart set on the Odyssey? I've heard the Radian car seats are narrower and are easier to install in smaller cars. Testing out different car seats might be an option. If you go to carseat.org, they have forums and talk in depth about which seats are good in what cars. You might be able to find out what seats work best in the new Odyssey.

[Janeway]

I don't see any other car that would work. SUVs cost more. We don't want to deal with Toyota again.

[JustEm]

Can the speedometer be fixed? If not, I'd get a new car. If that can be fixed I'd get the necessary fixes, not the cosmetic ones and keep it for longer.

 

As for seating issues. Can you take the middle seat in the middle row out? We have 3 kids in cars seats, 1 is rear facing, and one in booster. The rear facing and one 5 point are in the middle row. The middle seat was removed so the kids in the back can still get to their seats easily.

[JustEm]

Also, while it may be annoying you can always access back row through the trunk and help snap kids in that way. My brother does that because he's got 2 rear facing and 2 forward facing but still in 5 point harness

[Junie]

How many miles are on it?

[BrittanyM]

I wouldn't. Our car has many, many more issues than that and we just plan to drive it till it dies. You have a Toyota, even with the minor issues you've listed (I don't consider maintenance to be an issue, that's going to be necessary with any car) it should run fine for a long, long time. Before we had our Sienna we had an Odyssey. We bought it new but it was horrible, horrible lemon and we had to replace the transmission three times, plus we had other very serious issues that Honda would not fix even though it was clearly their fault (like when the car was brand new). I much prefer dealing with Toyota's recalls (because they do do a lot of them, even my Grandma had a lot on her Lexus) than Honda who never recalls even when they obviously should.

 

Plus, from what I've read in your other post, you don't really have the money to buy another car right now and want to get out of debt. I would stick to that plan and just keep driving your car. But then, I hate debt and we avoid it.

 

 

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[HomeAgain]

I wouldn't feel the need to replace.  The only major thing you listed is the timing belt, and that $2300 is less than a year's car payment.  The rest are all very routine things that wouldn't scream 'replacement' to me.

 

Have you talked to a CPST about the seats?  They can help with some configurations for you.

[Janeway]

How many miles are on it?

150,000

[EmseB]

What are the seats you are trying to fit?  Booster and which two convertibles?

 

ETA:  You might try posting this all on carseat.org forums with the seats you are using and the fact you're looking at buying a 2016 Ody.  There are several CPSTs that post there that could help you with configurations.

Edited June 10, 2016 by JodiSue

[Junie]

150,000

 

A Toyota with 150,000 *should* have quite a bit more life in it.

 

We just got rid of a car that was having lots of repair issues.  It was a Mazda Protege with about 230,000.

 

As a previous poster mentioned, the timing belt seems to be the only issue that needs to be taken care.

[Janeway]

What are the seats you are trying to fit?  Booster and which two convertibles?

The baby is in an Evenflo Triumph. I also own a Radian, which is in a different car. The 4 yr old is small for her age so she will be harnessed for a long time more. She is in an Evenflo forward facing cheapie. Ironically, she can still go rear facing in the Triumph. I forgot her car seat one day and was able to just put her in her little brother's seat. The 6 yr old is in a high back booster, I think also Evenflo brand. It is just a coincidence that everything is mostly Evenflo right now. I am not stuck to that brand.

[EmseB]

OP, do you know about this feature in the 2016 Ody?  Would that help at all?

[Catalytic]

My 17 year old gets into our 3rd row through the trunk...by choice, not because we can't slide the 2nd row.  We only keep one seat up in the back row (we have a '13 Sienna).  You could put the HBB kiddo in the 3rd row, with just his seat up, and just lean around it from the trunk to help with the seatbelt.

 

I wouldn't replace based on the things you mentioned, or because of the recalls.  Recalls happen on nearly every vehicle.  Granted, Toyota really peeved me off about the stuck accelerator, but it did finally get recalled.  We drive our vehicles until they are ready for scrap (usually 10+ years)

 

Siennas are in the top 10 vehicles for lasting over 200,000 miles.  (So are Odysseys)

 

 

[City Mouse]

What can you afford to replace it with?

If the speedometer and odometer are both incorrect, I might think that the tires are the wrong size, but either way, I would not replace it for that. Cosmetic issues don't bother me at all, nor regular maintainence expensive so. You will have that with any car.

 

It will cost way more that $2300 to replace it with another car of similar age, so I would not do it for that reason.

 

Now, getting a different vehicle so that all the car seats fit better would be reasonable to me if it was something we could afford.

[TammyS]

 

 

So..I want to list what is going on with my current car and you can all tell me if you would trade it in. It is not about new vs used on the next car. It is about whether you would feel the need to replace.

 

-timing belt gasket resealing ($2300)

-tune up (maintenance)

-transmission flush (maintenance)

-spare tire erosion (has been recalled but they did not change the design so it keeps happening despite having done the repairs)

-nick in the windshield

-gash in the passenger side door

-dashboard issues including the vent breaking (looks like it is under a recall, but Totora says this doesn't count)

-spedometer and odometer are wrong

 

The top issue with the timing gasket...does that include replacing the belt, water pump, tensioner, and pulleys?  If so, do it.  If not, keep calling until you find yourself a decent mechanic.  Yeah, it's a bummer to have a $2K repair job, but that's owning a car.  It's wayyyyyyyyy cheaper than new car payments.  Have you priced out your financing?  What would your new payments be? 

 

Now, hear me on this, do NOT let that belt break.  Get the job done immediately.  You have an interference engine.  If you let that belt break, your engine will be DESTROYED.  The whole thing.  Just google "interference engine timing belt break" to read stories of woe and heartbreak on this issue.

 

Maint stuff doesn't count in deciding whether or not to replace a car.  All cars have maintenance.

 

The nick I would have repaired at a glass place, but it also doesn't count.  All cars get nicks in the windshield.

 

Speedometer and odometer can be fixed.  If the odo is truly wrong, you will have a very hard time selling it and may need to get a corrected title.

 

Gash and vent issues are cosmetic.  I don't replace cars for cosmetic issues, but it sounds like maybe you need to be a little easier on your car?

 

So, no, I wouldn't replace that car.  You've got another 2-5 years with that car, at least. 

 

What I WOULD do is figure out what your payments would be on the replacement you are contemplating and start dumping that money into a savings account. You could pay cash in 5 years for brand new car.  But if you just get disgusted with your current car in 2 years, you would have a big chunk of change toward a down payment, or full payment for a used car.

[Carrie12345]

DS1...14 yrs old, Latin and Karate and History lover

DS2...12 yrs old, Russian ballet expert

Sir Lego.....6 yrs old

Princess Glitter....4 yrs old

Baby Beautiful....baby gymnast

 

I have my stb18, 14, 13, 9, and 5yos in my Dodge Caravan.  We had a Town and Country with the same layout (except the old one didn't have a 3rd row center shoulder belt) until a year and a half ago, so with infants.

 

Right now, the 18yo sits 3rd row middle when dh is with us. The girls sit on either side of the 3rd row.  5-pt harnesses in both captain's chairs.  It can be a tight squeeze to get back there for my oldest if ds9 insists on getting in his seat first, but not impossible. It isn't a major problem if ds9 waits his turn! And he has plenty of leg room for his 6'something" self since there's no seat in front of him.

 

When we had one rear-facer, the 3rd row kids just had to remember to get in on the FF's side.

 

I would put your oldest 3 in the back, have them help the 6yo in the middle, then have the younger two in captain's chairs.

[Janeway]

The top issue with the timing gasket...does that include replacing the belt, water pump, tensioner, and pulleys?  If so, do it.  If not, keep calling until you find yourself a decent mechanic.  Yeah, it's a bummer to have a $2K repair job, but that's owning a car.  It's wayyyyyyyyy cheaper than new car payments.  Have you priced out your financing?  What would your new payments be? 

 

Now, hear me on this, do NOT let that belt break.  Get the job done immediately.  You have an interference engine.  If you let that belt break, your engine will be DESTROYED.  The whole thing.  Just google "interference engine timing belt break" to read stories of woe and heartbreak on this issue.

 

Maint stuff doesn't count in deciding whether or not to replace a car.  All cars have maintenance.

 

The nick I would have repaired at a glass place, but it also doesn't count.  All cars get nicks in the windshield.

 

Speedometer and odometer can be fixed.  If the odo is truly wrong, you will have a very hard time selling it and may need to get a corrected title.

 

Gash and vent issues are cosmetic.  I don't replace cars for cosmetic issues, but it sounds like maybe you need to be a little easier on your car?

 

So, no, I wouldn't replace that car.  You've got another 2-5 years with that car, at least. 

 

What I WOULD do is figure out what your payments would be on the replacement you are contemplating and start dumping that money into a savings account. You could pay cash in 5 years for brand new car.  But if you just get disgusted with your current car in 2 years, you would have a big chunk of change toward a down payment, or full payment for a used car.

I haven't actually been hard on the car. The gash happened from something flying off another car. Then when the police ran the plates, it was a stolen license plate. We had pictures of the car and the car did not match the plates. The a/c thing was recalled, I can see it on Toyota's website, it is the dashboard. The dashboard and components have been recalled for cracking. It is the slat things, they have simply fallen a part. 

 

I do agree though. I need to just put away the money each month for a while and replace it when I need to. For the record, the payments for the EX were going to be about $455 a month. 

[TammyS]

 

 

I do agree though. I need to just put away the money each month for a while and replace it when I need to. For the record, the payments for the EX were going to be about $455 a month. 

 

Ok, so $455 * 12 = $5460.  If you do the repair and keep your current van for 1 year, you will save $5460 - $2300 = $3160, just in the first year of keeping the van. 

 

Two years, $8620

Three years, $14,080

Four years, $19,540

Five years, $25,000

 

But, but, but...what if your "old" van continues to deteriorate?  Well, let's say it needs $2K in repairs every single year.  Here's the math

 

One year, $3160

Two years, $6620

Three years, $12,080

Four years, $17,540

Five years, $23,000

 

So even going on the assumption that the van needs $2K in repairs every, single year (which is hugely unlikely) you would still save $23,000 over five years. 

 

Another way to look at it, if you dump your van now and pay $5460 per year for five years (I'm assuming we're talking a five year loan), in five years you will have spent $27,300 AND you will have a van that is approximately the same age and condition as your current van at which time you will be having this same conversation where you are deciding to repair or replace. And that's not even taking into account the fact that at some point your current van will no longer be worth full coverage insurance, so you'll save money there, whereas a new van will need full coverage and gap insurance (ALWAYS buy gap insurance on a brand new financed vehicle, so that you don't end up owing the bank on a totaled car while having to buy a new one at the same time).  It's also not taking into account opportunity cost.  You could deposit those car payments into a savings account or CD and earn interest on them (it won't be much right now, but more than 0).