1985-1998 [Subscribe to Daily Digest] |
Slightly different circumstances if you're thinking of cutting back to save serious $...
My persective (only) if it might help:
With my Saab stories and thoughts:
If the job loss is severe and expected to be financially constraining for a long time, selling assets and buying a cheaper car with cheaper insurance could make life easier, and then when things get better, you could restore the original conditions if you like (go buy another 2000 Aero and sell the older turbo).
If you're confident of picking up another job soon, the money saved in the short term, won't be that necessary.
If you want to downsize your expenses regardless, you'd have to consider the risks like i said before.
My experiences:
My first saab was an original owner beautiful condition 86 Saab 900S hatcback with 155K miles for $2600 (1996). Within the first few months the calipers seized and I had to replace all four calipers, rotors, pads, then the alternator went, and then I had to buy snow tires (because the road tires were worn - I flatted two of them and bought used ones), then the clutch slave went, and since the car was apart and the clutch had 30% of its life left, I replaced the clutch, and master. I'm sure something else went wrong too, I just can't recall, anyway, I loved it for a year, spent $3000 on repairs/parts in that year, and sold it for $3300 so I'd have travel money.
Next Saab was a 193K mile 1990 Saab 9000S I bought three years ago next week for $1050 and in the first 10K miles only had to replace all the rotors, calipers, and pads so far (seized up), a ball joint, maybe something else, can't recall. Anyway, that car has been good to me, BUT I bought it with a stack full of thousands of dollars worth of receipts in the previous two years (DI, alternator, etc.), plus thousands from years prior to that going all the way back, so I bought it knowing that it had been replaced through and through by the somewhat well-off owner and our local saab mech (who likes to replace parts the moment they look worn rather than when they fail). That car has been great, I love that car, and it reminds me of my 900 with maroon cloth interior so I get a little nostalgia value from it.
A few months after that my wife had fallen in love with the 9000, so we bought her a $2200 92 9000S (that I now have to decide upon) with my plan to sell our 95 Subaru AWD wagon to pay for both cars (9 months later we dropped price and sold it for $4700, but I came out more than $1000 ahead after registration expenses). This was a well-maintained CT commuter car (Merritt Parkway, NYC, etc.). Needed nothing except cruise control, and did need nothing for 15K miles when pulley started making noise, then heater core sprung a tiny leak, then it was good for a year, then exhaust, serp belt, alternator, and 36K miles after I bought it, finally clutch master and slave. Still, on a yearly basis, been a very good car. I estimate cost of ownership a little over $1500 yearly plus insurance.
Now, I just bought a beautiful 93 CSE auto with 147K for $2800 (I've put about 4K miles since then). So far, needed new rear calipers, rotors, pads (to feel comfortable about braking), used front right strut assembly (to keep from bouncing), trans flush (felt like slipping a little, the fluid was nasty), DI cassette, blower motor, radiator has sprung a tiny leak, plus I've got some clunks and clicks getting louder I have to track down. The money is adding up, but I love the car and want to keep it for awhile, trying to get through these things so I can coast free for awhile.
If I were you, I'd get as much info about that Turbo that I could to determine what parts are due for failure and which ones have already been replaced, is there timing chain noise, how is trans or clutch, and then determine what you could get for your 2000 Aero (cashwise or freedom from payments), determine if you'll be happy with the turbo for a few months to a year and budget some money for fixing things, and long-term, what it will take you to get back to where you want to be (saab-wise).
If you would downgrade for the long-term, figure out the cash out of 2000 vs worst-case scenario repairs on an $800 car over a year or two and see if you still come out ahead. If you could buy and replace that $800 Saab several times with the money you'd get from the Aero, and you really will need the money, it might be worth considering - if you want to make buying and selling $800 Saabs a hobby for awhile to save money(=make money), or repair projects a hobby.
The $ I came out ahead selling the subaru, took care of the repairs on both my older 9000's for the first year to two years of ownership, and the insurance was less, so I'd say I came out ahead, two cars for the price of one plus $1000 towards repairs. But had it been my 900, or my 93, the $1000 would have been eaten up quickly and then I'd be paying more...
Good luck with all things.
posted by 68.223.153...
, Fri, 10 Dec 2004 08:46:25
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