How to tell it's time to replace a car?

[cannondale]

I am a rural mail carrier and i use my own car to deliver the mail. I don't buy very expensive cars because of how fast they get beat up. I do most of my own repairs and maintenance, I just have trouble determining when to replace a car. It's difficult to find cars that you can sit on the right hand side and drive so I keep flogging away at repairing the car I have. I don't know if tracking expenses and calculating per mile how much a car is costing me or some other way is better. I would appreciate any suggestions/input on the subject.

Thanks,

cannondale

[nsusa]

An important factor to look at is the insurance. Sometimes insurance goes up on older models if they turn out to be a favorite among highschool kids.

Other than that - it often can make sense to keep it and drive until it dies. If the number of repairs is low and you don't mind driving the vehicle - keep it. However - with gasoline cost going up - compare the current gas mileage to one of the newer small cars. You could save quite a bit.

Chris

[cannondale]

I guess what I'm trying to figure out is when do you stop dumping money into a car? Just about anything can be repaired or replaced but at what point do you determine it's no longer worth it? Do you go by number of years or cost per mile or maybe when the repairs start increasing annually? I was just hoping for someone elses input and views on this subject. I know many people just go buy or lease a new car every four or five years and don't have to be concerned with this.

[FIREPHD/PA]

What i usually do, is calculate the entire cost you spen yearly to keep your car up and running. And see if it is in your best interest to get rid of it. Around here the Post Office sells old mail delivery wagons, and they are all rt side drivers. Let me see if I can find a list of sellers for you.:)

[cannondale]

I appreciate the offer fire but I just bought another car! When I posted this question I was just trying to find out if anyone had come up with a sensible way of avoiding being nickled and dimed to death. I always seem to put money into a car way past the time it makes sense.

[JDONA444]

Im In The Automobile Business. If I Can Help, Just Let Me Know