Should I keep my truck?
I have an 86 Ford Ranger and it just hit 350,000 miles. It is my daily driver and my weekend warrior. I love this truck, but she is starting to have problems, the biggest of which is there's a small crack in the head. In total everything that I need to fix will come to about $2,000 not counting another $800 for new tires. I'm trying to decided if it is worth it to fix my truck or if its time to move on.
I'm just out of highschool and only work part time so I don't make alot. Also I love this truck, its my first vehicle and it has a lot of sentimental value to me.
Well think of it like this your not going to get over 200$ selling your truck in that condition. Your going to have to scrap it and buy a new car do you want to take a risk buying a cheap car that could break down or would you rather fix yours
Keep it. I have a '87 Firebird Trans AM GTA and I'm about to start putting money into it due to a rusted through exhaust pipe, paint cracking(not a surprise), and getting the headliner and fabric repaired/replaced since it preserves imprints and the fabric hangs down.
If it runs and holds together, why get rid of it. Assuming your truck even has any value left after all of those miles, you will actually increase its value by repairing it. Since you don't have much money, I'd actually start off by repairing the most important thing first. Find out how much it will cost to repair the issue, then go to your bank and take out a loan for that much. Tell the accountant that you would like to stretch the payments out as long as possible. This means you have more time to pay it off and the monthly payments will be smaller, but you can still pay more than the required amount.
You can get a used replacement head for under $200. Fix that beast!
Fix it
It's pretty much up to you - but I definitely wouldn't sink $2K into a truck with 350K miles on it.
Get some more quotes - consider buying a rebuilt head and having someone install it (or do it yourself).
This is always a tricky question. If you take the 2000 and buy another vehicle, and use the 800 do to repairs, as most used cars need tires, brakes, or something, that may work.
I would see if you can get it repaired for less than $2000.
You can see my other posts on this subject.
I think you need to try start setting aside money and when you get $5000 saved up move into another vehicle.
I think below 5000 the value for the money drops off.
Either fix it, or trade it in for a bicycle. You might get a good used head from the salvage yard and replace your cracked one. That could knock a couple hundred bux off the repair. Fix the cooling system so you don't crack it again. Get a set of used tires, or cheaper tires, such as Hankook or Primewell.
Shop around. Is that a 4 cylinder or a V6, and why are the tires $800? Regardless, Take heed to what everyone is saying, especially Tim. Sound advice…
As long as the body is intact, and the frame is structurally sound, you can keep changing the parts that wear.
Your high priced quotes are mostly labor and profit. I learned how to repair cars so I have never had to bring my vehicles anywhere except for tires and front-end alignments.
Where did you get the idea that there's a small crack in the head?
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