To Keep or not to Keep?
By: Bob Hanses, KNSD
Updated: January 26, 2012
This is where you'll usually find Tim Kotter, underneath a broken down car trying to get it back on the road.
But for Kotter, fixing the car is the easy part.
Is it worth the time and money to fix the older vehicle?
These days it's a common question for mechanics.
In tough times, car owners want to get as many miles as they can from their aging cars and that usually means more trips to the mechanic.
The difference between keeping and selling often includes the consideration of making car payments, paying more for insurance and registration.... verses simply paying for repairs.
The rule of thumb is do not pay more to fix the car than the car is worth.
But if you decide to take it to a mechanic and keep the car longer, you need to see more than just that one repair.
You need to look at the big picture, bumper to bumper.
But for Kotter, fixing the car is the easy part.
Is it worth the time and money to fix the older vehicle?
These days it's a common question for mechanics.
In tough times, car owners want to get as many miles as they can from their aging cars and that usually means more trips to the mechanic.
The difference between keeping and selling often includes the consideration of making car payments, paying more for insurance and registration.... verses simply paying for repairs.
The rule of thumb is do not pay more to fix the car than the car is worth.
But if you decide to take it to a mechanic and keep the car longer, you need to see more than just that one repair.
You need to look at the big picture, bumper to bumper.
