Our cars are a vital element of our lives. When we buy them, we name them, bond with them, and even have them introduced to our friends and families. But the problem with cars, and most mechanical things, is that they depreciate with time. Although you could be attached to this prized asset, you may find that it’s time to replace it. Choosing the most opportune time to sell your car is what will determine how much you get from it. So, how do you know that it’s time to dispose of your car? What are the signs you need to look out for? In this article, we are going to look at the tell-tale signs that your car has seen better days and that you need to sell it and get another one.
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The Only Thing Holding it Together is Duct Tape……..and Hope
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Every morning when you wake up, you cannot wait to drive in your car because you love it so much.
Your car has a few quirks and you understand it because nothing is perfect, and so you want to keep the vehicle for as long as possible.
However, when other people see you behind the wheel of your car, they look at you in consternation. While it may hold sentimental value to you, others see it as a junky deathtrap. At this time, the rust is bad and there is nearly no frame left. The remaining piece of what was once a favorite toy is now held with duct tape and a piece of chain. The A/C is no longer working and the passenger side floor even has a rotted out hole. At the place of a front bumper is a makeshift piece of wood.
Also, if you find yourself pleading with the Almighty every time you start your car, then this is a sure sign you should have the car replaced.
If you find that these sound familiar to your current situation, I hate to be the one breaking the news to you. You simply have to get rid of your muffler. Don’t look at your car through sentimental eyes. Instead, you should see the danger your car has turned into.
Repairs Cost Become More Expensive than Even the Car
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Those fond memories all come back when you start your car for the first time. You can’t help but remember how you cruised in it when it was in great shape and how good your toy treated you. But it has now come to a point where you keep shelling out cash every month for repairs.
At first, the expenses were about little things. Fixing that leaky A/C, or replacing a faulty CD player. Now, however, you have to deal with a bigger problem such as your car refuses to reverse properly. This is a harbinger for the more bad news. There is a reason your car acts sluggish. One of the reasons could be that the transmission is leaving you. To make it worse, the problem keeps on getting worse despite the fluid you put into it.
The problem with fixing a transmission is that it’s the most expensive repair you will need to make on your car. If, for instance, you got your car for $1500 years back, you may find that it costs more to replace the transmission.
Another problem you may have to deal with is that your car fails an inspection test again. That would mean spending more on repairs so it passes.
The point we are trying to make is that when you notice that repairs are getting costlier by the day to the point of even surpassing the value of the car, it might be time to part ways with it. Fortunately, there are online car buying websites like Homecar24 that will pay you money instantly for your used car.
It No Longer Meets Your Needs
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Your old beast might have served you excellently when you still lived at home. However, your life has now changed.
You recently moved to a new house with your spouse and the two of you are due to have a kid in a few months.
You don’t want to drive your kid in an old junky deathtrap! It simply means you need to get a new car, preferably a minivan or an SUV that you and your family can ride to school every morning.
Or, you could have got a new job requiring you to commute longer. You no longer have to drive only 5 minutes and you are at work. Instead, you have to do 45 minutes. To compound the problem, you have to do so in an old, rickety vehicle. If it’s a 90’s car that also means it’s no longer a fuel economy vehicle. You must get a new vehicle that has better gas mileage. It’s the only solution.
Parts are Expensive and More Difficult to Find
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Every year that passes is akin to a slow dagger pushed right into your car’s heart. Eventually, it’s going to be killed, you just are not sure when that will be. In short, with each passing year, your vehicle becomes even more outdated. And that means parts will be harder to find than ever.
Take, for instance, how Ford changed to aluminum frames for trucks. Repairing these frames requires a whole set of tools and skills. It’s very different from what happens when you have to work with a steel frame. That means the personal knowledge and tools you learned from repairing your old model; won’t help anymore.
If you decide to phase off these old parts and purchase new ones, you realize that their prices have gone up a lot more considerably.
In short, if you find that parts for your car are expensive and increasingly more difficult to come by, you should sell it as fast as possible. That’s because soon, you won’t be able to sell it. After all, no one wants a car whose parts they cannot find.
Conclusion
Knowing when to sell your vehicle is critical. It not only helps you fetch a better price for it but also saves you from the imminent danger that your car approaches with each passing day. The things you need to look out for is when your car continuously breaks down and you are spending more money on it, the parts are more difficult to find and also more expensive, and when it has outgrown its needs. When these signs become more common, you should dispose of your car ASAP.
