Scotty, I have a 2015 Toyota RAV4 AWD with 425,000 miles. It’s been a great vehicle, I’ve maintained it religiously but I now have a head gasket leak just starting. It’s time for me to retire the vehicle. I don’t want to pay $3,000 to fix it just to sell it for less. The state I live in will give me $1,000 to scrap it, but I feel it has way more life left if I can find it the right home. Any recommendations on what I should do with it? Thank you
sell it as is
You could sell it as is like @mountainmanjoe said. You must have been on the road constantly to hit that mileage. Impressive.
Agreed. I am equally impressed with the mileage in such a short time span. You most definitely got your moneys worth on it.
Three options:
1) Scrap it right now. ASAP.
2) Sell it. As is. Like you said, fixing it then selling it doesn't make financial sense.
3) Keep it. As is, and drive it to the ground. Then scrape it.
***There is another option. One that doesn't make sense, but with your kind of mileage, it just might. I don't think anyone will recommend this option, yet it is an option. Fix it. And keep it. Assuming the head gasket is the only major problem besides basic maintenance. The question is, how much more mileage do you think you can get for fixing it for $3,000. If it is a couple thousand, probably not worth fixing it. But if it is a 100K, 200K, 300K, 400K+, it might be worth the effort.
Then again $3,000 is a good down payment for a new RAV4.
May I ask, how did you realize you had a head gasket leak? What were the symptoms?
Assuming the head gasket has started to leak but there has been no destructive oil and coolant mixing yet you may be able to sell it to someone who can replace the head gasket themselves. (Most of the price you were quoted is for labor.) Obviously you would not get top dollar, but it would be better than scrapping it.
