Greg's New Ride
Greg is ready to retire his pretty 325i convertible. He found this really sharp 528i sedan that is 10 years newer. The 325 is going to offered for $3500 to some deserving home. I thought that I might simplify the parking situation in our drive and sell the Miata. However after spending about $1500.00 on engine repairs, new tires, and refurbished alloy wheels, it looks great and runs beter than ever. OK ... just one more year.
Comments
How many miles on the Miata Kevin? What needed to be done? Mine started leaking oil at 55k and needed a timing belt and seals. I'm at 80k and know I'm going to need a clutch pretty soon. How much do you think it will cost to keep it running to 250k? I had a 187k on my 1986 volvo 240. What's the highest milage car that you've ever had?
I think that maintaining a car, particularly after it is paid for, is the smartest money you can spend. Take your Miata, which still looks new, gets great gas mileage, and is fun to drive compared to so many other cars, and compare it to the costs of a new car. The costs of owning a new car is at least $4000.00 per year, either in payments or depreciation. My guess is that the cost of maintaining the Miata for another five years will be $500.00 t0 $1000.00 per year, and probably closer to the lower figure. I bought my 1999 Miata with 116 K and complete maintenance records, including a timeing belt change at 60K. The problem I just encountered was that the key that splines the timing belt drive gear to the crankshaft wallowed out the keyway that is cut into the crankshaft. ( It turned out that the key was also broken in two pieces. ) The proper repair is to take the engine completely down and replace the crankshaft, the timing belt drive cog and the timing belt. That repair could have been $5000.00 and the car is only worth about $6500.00. My mechanic (that I actually found on the Car Guys website) had encountered this same problem twice before on Mazdas. He did fix the issue for $750.00 by using J.B. Weld to epoxy the key and timing belt drive gear to the worn crankshaft.
A week after I paid for this I ran into a curb and tore the two tires on the right side off the car and bent two alloy wheels. I had the wheels refurbished at $130.00 each and bought a new set of Michelins for $360.00 (after a $60.00 rebate from Costco)(The $60.00 rebate went to one tank of gas for the truck). The car now looks and runs great.
Finally, I put 250K on the BMW733 I bought new in '82. My cost for all maintenance over ten years was $500.00 per year. I bought an Izuzu Rodeo with 80K and ran it to 250K over the next five years with no expenses except brakes and oil changes. I have 133K and six years on the Ford Explorer Sport Trac truck. I hope I can keep it for six to ten more years.
You lost me with your explanation of the crankshaft problem. I was able to cange a turn signal lamp in our bug by myself a couple of weeks ago, but that is about the extent of my auto repair skills. I never quite clicked with Dada when I would watch him work on cars.
Jeff