Hi Scotty…

I’ve watched your show off and on for a year or more on the YouTube channel and have enjoyed your comments and humor. If you have had a show discussing when a car owner should separate and divorce his car, I missed it or didn’t see it. But that’s where I am now and would appreciate your wise and tested experience – both personally and professionally as you’ve seemed to be very much attached and appreciative of your Toyota Celica.

For me, like many owners of older cars, there comes a time when you probably should draw a line in the sand and lean more to spending your money on a newer, more reliable replacement car. Is that where I am now or should I spend a little more money to hopefully fix some other issues that have just recently started to be a concern? Here’s my dilemma.

I’ve owned a 1996 Infiniti J30 (SN-JNKAY21D7TM302892) for well over 10 years and it’s just now creeping up to 90,000 miles on the odometer. It had 37,000 miles when I purchased it and, as best I can tell, am the 3^rd owner. It was in great shape when I bought and it’s still a really nice car. The interior and exterior look great and there is virtually no rust underneath. It’s not my primary car and it’s garaged when not in use.

I know it’s an old car and, in my observation of others, this model style requires a discriminating taste. My daughters, for example, clearly aren’t fans of it. But the longer I’ve owned it and driven it, the more I appreciate it’s styling, handling, and its craftsmanship. Is this weird - I sort of worry what would happen to it if I sold it. I know that’s crazy, but that’s why I think you’re uniquely qualified to help me. There’s very few J30’s for sale anywhere in the US. Is that because they’re all laying in junk yards or do their current owners simply not want to give them up?

I originally bought the J30, and this was probably stupid, because my 2006 Eddie Bauer Ford Explorer was nickel and diming me to death and I was afraid another repair job was right around the corner. It reached a point where I didn’t want to be stuck without a vehicle (because I didn’t want to spend any more money on repairing it) nor did I want to be rushed into purchasing something quickly in order to simply have transportation. It was becoming a rust bucket, too, and just seemed to a constant problem.

So, I looked for a car I could use as a backup in case the Explorer was forever permanently sent away (I didn’t want to spend a dime more on it) and because my then soon-to-be-driving daughter could have a car after she obtained her license. As it turned out, after she got her license, she got the Ford and I’ve held on to a cool car.

As for the J30, recently I had the rack and pinion and the driver’s side control bar replaced. The cost was approximately $1,000. Other than this work, I’ve only needed to replace the battery, wiper blades, brake pads, the rear mounted antenna (broken before I purchased it), a relay switch, having the A/C unit recharged, and oil changes every 5,000 miles. I also had the transmission fluid replaced by the Toyota dealership here in Lexington, KY, before I purchased it.

After bringing it home from this last repair, I’ve noticed the car is leaking a little more transmission fluid and oil than before. I had the leaks checked out by another car repair shop and they want $1,700 to fix the leaks. The mechanic who replaced the RnP mentioned the leaks, too. The oil spots have been noticeable for a couple of years but I’ve never had to add oil in between changes. The transmission fluid leak I’ve noticed before but now seems to leak at a higher volume, at least the spots are larger on the cardboard I lay beneath the car.

So, Scotty, I don’t want to have worry about the leaks or have them checked or filled every month or so. Fixing them makes sense but the first mechanic also believes the A/C condenser will need to be replaced soon. It’s making noise and I suspect it’s a symptom of inevitably failing.

Doing the math, I just spent a $1,000 on the RnP and control bar repairs. An estimate of $1,700 was given to fix the oil and transmission leaks and I have no idea what a condenser replacement will cost. But because of the J30’s age, I worry that more parts will need to be replaced and I’m finding they’re hard to find and can be fairly expensive to replace and install. At what point do you say enough already.

Should I fix the J30’s leaks now or continue driving it as is (just check and replace the fluids as needed), or sell it and use the money for another car? If I sell it, what do you think would be a fair price?

Thx, Bruce