When the Math Stops Mathing
People equate cars as part of their status. A luxury or exclusive vehicle can quickly make you into a legend for other car fanatics. However, for the vast majority of us who can’t tell the difference between an alternator and a radiator, we just want a reliable set of wheels that will get us safely from point A to point B. Experiencing car troubles will seriously make you want to pull your hair out, which is why it’s so important to do all you can to minimize them as much as possible.
Some problems are unavoidable like starters failing after 150,000 miles or tire pressure sensor batteries randomly going dead. You can kick some major repairs down the road by doing optional, but very important, maintenance like transmission flushes and engine gasket changes. And, of course, routine oil changes every 5,000 miles, ensuring your coolant levels are adequate, and not passing on preventative suggestions from your mechanic can make all the difference in how a vehicle ages.
We’ve all heard the stories of vehicles lasting for more than 250,000 miles, and while some people are immediately turned off by the idea of keeping a vehicle for that long, some of us aspire to keep our favorite cars around for as long as we can. High mileage vehicles come with their own set of struggles, so it’s important to understand and master when it’s time to just move on. Eventually the math stops mathing.
Unfortunately, no matter how well you maintain a vehicle, some components are destined to fail. That’s why it’s incredibly important to choose the most reliable vehicle without breaking the bank. It’s also wise to budget for repairs and give yourself ample lead time to save for your next set of wheels. Setting aside a small amount of money each pay period can help you avoid taking on an insane car payment out of necessity. Ultimately, It’s not a matter of if something will break, but when.
There’s nothing worse than rushing out the door all for your car to throw a check engine light or refuse to start. Well, I'll take it back. Getting your car totaled from engine or transmission failure, a distracted driver, or any other traumatic driving event might actually be worse.
The whole ordeal from being confused as to why your vehicle is behaving strangely to getting the oftentimes bad news that you’ll have to part with it is a rollercoaster of emotions. It’s not easy figuring out the logistics of getting a tow, going to a mechanic, and actually paying for the work. Then, when you finally get it back, depending on the severity of the issue, you have to retrain your brain to trust it not to leave you stranded again.
There’s that saying that you’re going to pay whether it’s upfront or on the back-end that sums up car brands perfectly for me. There are some brands you’ll never touch with a ten foot pole again if you escape unscathed and there are other brands that you’ll stretch your budget for because you know they’ll withstand the tests of time. Unfortunately, we all tend to get a horror story before we realize which brands are actually worth the headaches.
Before you get hit with a multi-thousand dollar repair bill, try everything you can do to extend the life of your car now, especially if it’s paid off. With car payments rising and taking up more and more percentages of people’s income, you don’t want to get wrapped up in a long term contract from being unprepared for a major car expense.
Oh, and let’s not gloss over the beaters out there. Car payments aren’t realistic for a lot of households and sometimes you have to drive what you can just to stay afloat. Never feel bad about driving an older car, one with higher miles, or an outdated body style if it works for your financial situation. More people probably should embrace the beaters to save their budgets.
In today’s society, so many people are trying to keep up with social media and people who truly don’t care that they’ll sacrifice their families, livelihoods, and sanity all to drive a brand new car, live in a huge house, or wear designer brands. Sometimes unplugging from the matrix is simply deciding to be confident and content with what you have instead of constantly trying to find and keep up with the next, new shiny thing.
For everyone out there with a car that’s currently giving you the blues, try to keep your head up. While it’s easier on paper to just get a new car, sometimes it’s better in the long run to fix the small problems and avoid adding another mandatory monthly payment to your financial situation.
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Signed,
Jessica Marie
