Hi Scotty,
I have two cars: a 2005 Mazda 6 (4 cylinder) with 215,000 miles on it and a 1996 Acura TL (5 cylinder engine) with 270,000 miles on it. I am wanting to upgrade to get a car that is more reliable. I was thinking about selling one or both cars and getting a 2010 Toyota Corolla. I have a family (2 kids). I currently live in Missouri and I am moving to Iowa soon. My dilemma is that I am not sure which car I should sell.
The Acura is not worth much money and it has been sitting for a few years however recently I have gotten the car back up and running. It has sentimental value to me because it was my first car. I have replaced a lot of parts on the car other than the engine and transmission which are original. In the same regard it has taught me a lot about cars which is a positive thing. Supposedly these cars can last a very long time however it is getting hard to find parts for this car. It is also pretty difficult to work on and if I take it to a shop, half of the mechanic shops turn me away because they have no idea how to work on it.
The Mazda has been reasonably reliable however I am not sure how much longer it will last. I am concerned because it has a Jatco transmission although I have not noticed any irregular or erratic shifting. The car has some rust issues around the wheel wells but I still think that I would get more money for this car if I sold it.
What are your thoughts?
Thanks,
-Sean
I'd sell the Acura. Sentiment won''t get you to work on time, and it's reached the age where all the rubber bits are going to be degraded, the long period of not being used does bad things, too. A later model Mazda will be easier to get parts for, and since they both have reached the parts-needing age and mileage, that could be a major item.
Why sell it? I would keep both of those, cause if you sell it, they hardly have any resale value and all the money you spent on it will be wasted. I would drive it till the wheels fall of and then junk it. Prices for cars are still high. I would wait till the market cools off to buy another one. If you really have to upgrade to a newer car and have to sell one of your car its a tough choice because there both good cars in terms of reliability. I would sell the Acura since you said most mechanics turn you away for maintenance.
