Hey Scotty, I have a 2009 Pontiac Montana SV6 minivan with 56,550 miles on it and I just got the breaks replaced for $640, I’m not wanting to spend to much more money on repairs in the near future as it is already costing me $960 a year in regular maintenance and in my opinion that is a bit too much than I should be paying. I’ve asked some local mechanics about some common problems with this vehicle and they mainly mentioned the pressure control solenoids in the transmissions fail around 62,000 miles and the intake manifold gaskets start leaking around the same time. Is this true and should I get rid of it and get something like a Toyota or Honda SUV instead before I have to spend big $$$ on it?
It is a financial decision. You can put it up for sale and see how much you will get for that. But realize that the used car price is a bit high and in the meantime you will not easily find a good deal on Toyota or Honda.
I believe this is basically a Chevy Uplander. Yes they do tend to fall apart. If you don't want to sink money into it, put it up for sale on craigslist and see what you get offered.
Newer vehicles have more intensive digital technologies. They are more expensive to insure as well as repair. (Before you buy any vehicle, get a good handle on insurance costs. They might eat up any potential savings).
If you dislike the vehicle, well, then, sell it. But if you're doing a cost/benefit analysis, then take all the potential costs (including the car note and depreciation of a newer vehicle as well as insurance) into consideration.
