Sunday21 Posted July 18, 2018 Report Share Posted July 18, 2018 (edited) Would you dump this car? Ford Focus 2013 I bought a 2013 Ford Focus. These cars have transmission and clutch problems. The clutch needs to be replaced every 2.5 years which cost $2500. Ford has two clutch warranties which are currently paying for the clutch problem. One runs for another 5 years and the other for another two years. I considered trading in the car with Ford for a younger model but the more recent vintages have similar problems. The car often judders, a common problem with the Focus. It cost me $150 for them to look at the car. After an initial free inspection, they told me that the car had a problem. On the more thorough assesmment,, they said that they could not find a problem. One side of the car is scrapped. To restore car requires $1000 for paint job plus car rental for a couple of days. Choices: 1) sell car and buy a better used car from a dealer. 2) keep car and accept that in about 2 years, I will be paying about $600 per year for clutch from now. What would you do? (And don’t buy a Ford Focus!) Edited July 18, 2018 by Sunday21 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Godless Posted July 18, 2018 Report Share Posted July 18, 2018 I'm sorry to hear that. I used to have a 2012 Focus. Loved it, but it was totalled after a couple years. So I guess I didn't have it long enough to experience those issues. I would look at trade-in options. Enterprise sometimes runs specials that will allow you to trade in for KBB value regardless of condition, and their prices are very competitive. Look for something like that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fether Posted July 18, 2018 Report Share Posted July 18, 2018 1 hour ago, Sunday21 said: Would you dump this car? Ford Focus 2013 I bought a 2013 Ford Focus. These cars have transmission and clutch problems. The clutch needs to be replaced every 2.5 years which cost $2500. Ford has two clutch warranties which are currently paying for the clutch problem. One runs for another 5 years and the other for another two years. I considered trading in the car with Ford for a younger model but the more recent vintages have similar problems. The car often judders, a common problem with the Focus. It cost me $150 for them to look at the car. After an initial free inspection, they told me that the car had a problem. On the more thorough assesmment,, they said that they could not find a problem. One side of the car is scrapped. To restore car requires $1000 for paint job plus car rental for a couple of days. Choices: 1) sell car and buy a better used car from a dealer. 2) keep car and accept that in about 2 years, I will be paying about $600 per year for clutch from now. What would you do? (And don’t buy a Ford Focus!) Sell it, take out a $140,000 Loan and get a Tesla Model X P100D with ludicrous mode Still_Small_Voice 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunday21 Posted July 18, 2018 Author Report Share Posted July 18, 2018 6 minutes ago, Fether said: Sell it, take out a $140,000 Loan and get a Tesla Model X P100D with ludicrous mode And send it into space? Still_Small_Voice 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bytebear Posted July 18, 2018 Report Share Posted July 18, 2018 I had a 98 Ford Mustang for 13 years. Loved it, but it was pretty ragged at the end. I now lease a Fiat 500e all electric car, and thanks to California's generous cash back program for such things, I have a super low cost lease ($80/mo). it's perfect for work but I can't go more than 30 miles in any one direction. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anatess2 Posted July 18, 2018 Report Share Posted July 18, 2018 21 hours ago, Sunday21 said: Would you dump this car? Ford Focus 2013 I bought a 2013 Ford Focus. These cars have transmission and clutch problems. The clutch needs to be replaced every 2.5 years which cost $2500. Ford has two clutch warranties which are currently paying for the clutch problem. One runs for another 5 years and the other for another two years. I considered trading in the car with Ford for a younger model but the more recent vintages have similar problems. The car often judders, a common problem with the Focus. It cost me $150 for them to look at the car. After an initial free inspection, they told me that the car had a problem. On the more thorough assesmment,, they said that they could not find a problem. One side of the car is scrapped. To restore car requires $1000 for paint job plus car rental for a couple of days. Choices: 1) sell car and buy a better used car from a dealer. 2) keep car and accept that in about 2 years, I will be paying about $600 per year for clutch from now. What would you do? (And don’t buy a Ford Focus!) A car purchase is personal. It's not just about money. But... if you're asking about money. That's easy. $600 per year is super cheap compared to what you would spend on a loan for a used car... and that used car could still end up with $600 per year maintenance. But then I'm the gal that will keep a car until the engine blows up. My current car is 8 years old that still runs great. I'm keeping this car hopefully until my youngest kid goes on a mission and I end up selling everything I own to live in a tiny house with a composting toilet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunday21 Posted July 19, 2018 Author Report Share Posted July 19, 2018 1 hour ago, anatess2 said: A car purchase is personal. It's not just about money. But... if you're asking about money. That's easy. $600 per year is super cheap compared to what you would spend on a loan for a used car... and that used car could still end up with $600 per year maintenance. But then I'm the gal that will keep a car until the engine blows up. My current car is 8 years old that still runs great. I'm keeping this car hopefully until my youngest kid goes on a mission and I end up selling everything I own to live in a tiny house with a composting toilet. Thank you. This is what I was thinking. Are you sure that you want to live in a tiny home? They tend to be smelly -even with just two people. The cooking smells alone not to mention the toilet smells can be offensive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrmarklin Posted July 19, 2018 Report Share Posted July 19, 2018 I would never own a car that I could not trust to take me across the US if necessary at a moments notice. If your car will not do this, get rid of it. askandanswer 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anatess2 Posted July 19, 2018 Report Share Posted July 19, 2018 14 hours ago, Sunday21 said: Thank you. This is what I was thinking. Are you sure that you want to live in a tiny home? They tend to be smelly -even with just two people. The cooking smells alone not to mention the toilet smells can be offensive. I'm living in a tiny house right now... Not a fancy, rich people tiny house but a tiny house made necessary due to poverty. I love it here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zil Posted July 19, 2018 Report Share Posted July 19, 2018 On 7/17/2018 at 7:20 PM, Sunday21 said: Would you dump this car? You left out pertinent details... Is it LoJacked? Leave it outside the nearest chop shop and catch a bus home. Is there a dead body in the trunk? If so, dump it fast! (Lakes are popular for this sort of dump.) Was it the get-away car from your last bank robbery? Why is it still in your possession!? Get rid of it already! Has an evil sorcerer from a parallel universe cursed all who go near it? Do our universe a favor and ship it COD to North Korea. Has a spotter lit it up for that fighter jet that's about to launch a missile in your direction? Forget the car - run! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunday21 Posted July 19, 2018 Author Report Share Posted July 19, 2018 @zilI can hardly wait to read this novel! zil 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vort Posted July 19, 2018 Report Share Posted July 19, 2018 Youtube's ChrisFIx will show you how to rebuild your transmission. Save money AND have fun! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prisonchaplain Posted July 19, 2018 Report Share Posted July 19, 2018 On 7/17/2018 at 6:35 PM, Godless said: Enterprise sometimes runs specials that will allow you to trade in for KBB value regardless of condition, and their prices are very competitive. Look for something like that. I recently bought a 2016 vehicle from Hertz and was very pleased with the process and result. Also, we just bought a Ford Fusion, and it seems very solid. It's slightly bigger than the Focus, but still has a tight, snappy feel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prisonchaplain Posted July 19, 2018 Report Share Posted July 19, 2018 31 minutes ago, Vort said: Youtube's ChrisFIx will show you how to rebuild your transmission. Save money AND have fun! If I ever tried this approach, it would cost me tens of thousands of dollars (therapy, marriage counseling, possible divorce attorneys), and I'm not quite sure that kind of fun is kosher. askandanswer and Sunday21 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeuroTypical Posted July 19, 2018 Report Share Posted July 19, 2018 (edited) I had a 10+ yr old Honda Accord, which I drove until it crashed. Under 300k miles. I replaced it with like a 15+ yr old Honda Accord, which I bought from an in-law trying to get his car dealership off the ground. Put 50k miles on it, sold it for $900 less than what I bought it for. I replaced that one with a 10+ yr old Honda Accord owned by a BIL, that I accidentally backed up into, and bought it for a pre-crash price to make things good. I drove until it crashed. Under 300k miles. Replaced that one with my current 20 year old old Honda Accord. I've put 200k miles on it, replaced the engine once. It will hit 300k miles in a few weeks. I'm getting ready to sell it at a buddy's car dealership, after he can find me a newer (drumroll please) Honda Accord. [Edit - actually, that's just my hope. Still working on details with wife. She might want something else.] I like old Honda Accords. Got myself an 80 mile daily round-trip commute. I don't want something to depreciate. I want it to stay together and just sit there and be reliable and get good gas mileage. #DadCar Edited July 19, 2018 by NeuroTypical zil and Sunday21 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zil Posted July 19, 2018 Report Share Posted July 19, 2018 I love my Hondas. I only sold my Civic because I needed something big enough to carry two large dogs to Oklahoma, so I got a CR-V. I will keep it until it keels over. I expect to keel over before it does (not a joke, truly, I think I will die before it does). Sunday21 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
person0 Posted July 19, 2018 Report Share Posted July 19, 2018 My newest vehicle is a 2008. Until last year I drove a 1994 for 7 years. Fortunately, very little has been needed other than oil changes. I always buy old used cars, run them until they bust, and so far, donate them after they bust 🙂 NeuroTypical and Sunday21 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zil Posted July 19, 2018 Report Share Posted July 19, 2018 3 minutes ago, person0 said: ...after they bust I so want to make a snarky comment here... Turning off laptop now.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prisonchaplain Posted July 19, 2018 Report Share Posted July 19, 2018 I went a different route than others are promoting. I wanted a late-model vehicle with high depreciation. So, I figured American large sedans were they way to go. Sure 'nuff, got me a 2016 Impala. New it runs close to $28K, and I paid $11K. It's comfortable, smooth, still has a new car smell, and the rapid-depreciation was borne by the previous owner. :-) NeuroTypical and Sunday21 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunday21 Posted July 19, 2018 Author Report Share Posted July 19, 2018 3 hours ago, Vort said: Youtube's ChrisFIx will show you how to rebuild your transmission. Save money AND have fun! Am doubtful! Today, I nailed in the baseboard in my living room. Very stressful! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunday21 Posted July 19, 2018 Author Report Share Posted July 19, 2018 3 hours ago, prisonchaplain said: I recently bought a 2016 vehicle from Hertz and was very pleased with the process and result. Also, we just bought a Ford Fusion, and it seems very solid. It's slightly bigger than the Focus, but still has a tight, snappy feel. A Fusion! Maybe I could trade in for a Fusion! prisonchaplain 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zil Posted July 19, 2018 Report Share Posted July 19, 2018 2 minutes ago, Sunday21 said: A Fusion! Maybe I could trade in for a Fusion! It seems to work well for the sun. prisonchaplain and Sunday21 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vort Posted July 19, 2018 Report Share Posted July 19, 2018 2 minutes ago, Sunday21 said: A Fusion! Maybe I could trade in for a Fusion! A long time ago, I saw a documentary on a fusion-powered car. Still_Small_Voice, zil and Sunday21 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunday21 Posted July 19, 2018 Author Report Share Posted July 19, 2018 55 minutes ago, zil said: I so want to make a snarky comment here... Turning off laptop now.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest MormonGator Posted July 19, 2018 Report Share Posted July 19, 2018 I hope things work out @Sunday21. Car trouble is such a pain! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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