I have a 2002 Buick LeSabre Custom. I got it through JD Byrider dealership been paying on it for 3 years. I got it back when I worked a different job and and made far more money than I do now, otherwise would have gotten something much cheaper. I needed something reliable at the time as I was a field tech and traveled constantly. Now I'm not, make far less and the car which I'm still paying on it though and it's a heavy financial burden I was looking originally forward to getting it paid off but it will not be till August before that happens. However that light at the end of the tunnel was supposed to be showing and getting brighter, is just getting dimmer and dimmer.

However it's got a crap ton of problems now. One thing after another is going wrong and not just small stuff some major stuff. So much so it's going to take several sumo wrestler ass loads of money to get everything fixed many of which will need addressed before i get it paid off... in fact a few big issues I have to get fixed very soon to keep it running, brakes and rotors, fuel pump, radiator, thermostat, ABS system. electrical issue with the blinkers and 3 windows are out. It's got 150,000+miles on it now. I was looking to check and see if I am getting something on my tax return in Jan. and put all of it into my car to fix a couple of things the most major stuff that I can get fixed to keep it going

So I made my payment yesterday taking it down to about 2000 bucks left on it.
I get a call from the dealership.. "Since my payment is down so close to being paid off and since I'm a preferred customer" (having never been late or missed a payment) they want to offer me to trade in my car and get into something else.The cars trade in value whatever that will be and an automatic 500 off the price tag of whatever I get into. They also have this weekend a holiday sale going to allow no down payment needed. He wants me to come in on Saturday...

So I'm personally conflicted. I really really didn't want to get into anything else with these people I'm not a huge fan of JD Byrider now that I've dealt with them, and unless I can get into something much cheaper monthly I can't afford it as I make less now. I just don't have the money the only reason I've made it so far has been because of outside help from family frequently.

However the list of problems grows in the car and making payments I can't afford to fix anything on it and I have to have a working car. It's just a fact of life that I will have to get a different vehicle at some point and I have several people telling me it's not worth putting money into it. The idea of being into something problem free would be nice, but financially it doesn't work out JD Byrider seems to sell all their cars for very similar rates and don't want to budge much. I don't know if it's even possible to have them lower the payment enough to ease the burden on whatever I get into.

Opinions?

Don't trade it man, just do a giveaway here on GOG.

Of all the people in your life that you could ask, GOG forums is the most qualified group of people to suggest what you should do with something as important as your car?

Just buy The Guild you don't need anything else jeez

Just more or less curious what others thing or would do in such a decision. It's not like someones post here is going to make up my mind. I'm just curious as to others perspectives on the decision I have to make. It may make me think of something I haven't considered, at the very least it just occupies my boring day here at work to pass the time away.

I have family and such I've reached out to for their opinions as well. I'm just toiling this over in my head and it helps to see all sides, sides I may not be seeing.

http://www.haynes.com/repairmanuals/buick/lesabre

That should help, sourcing parts might be harder.

As for the car, I know its anti-american (generally speaking anyway) but if you do choose to trade it in look at fuel efficient cars, something that does more than 20 miles to the gallon is a good starting point :-P

Tough one. I would say, if you can afford to, that you should cut your losses with your current car. At over 10 years old, with 150,000+ miles on the clock and several mechanical problems, your car is probably not even worth the $2000 you've got left to pay on it. It might be better to put the money you would spend fixing it towards a newer car.

On the other hand, I would be very skeptical about any offers from your dealer. They don't want to help you out, they are just looking to keep their income flowing - if you pay off the car in full then that stops. Solution - get you to trade in for a newer model with a new finance agreement.



OK, a quick search on JD Byrider suggests they specialize in selling cars to people with credit problems, "with interest rates that correlate to the high amount of risk being taken by the company". On that basis, I'd say get it fixed up for now, and paid off as soon as you can. Then save up as much money as you can while you run the Buick into the ground, and put it towards a deposit for a newer car from a different dealer with more competitive finance rates...

GOG.com. Games, and we'll fix your life. :-P

Lol yeah that's what I've told myself for the better part of a year now. That when I have to finally get into something else I wanted something smaller and highly fuel efficient. Gas has been one of the biggest money sinks i have. I'm probably very strange but I actually drool at the those tiny cars and wish I had the money and the credit to go out and get something very efficient. Others dream cars are Ferrari's and Mustangs.. me? mine is like the Scion IQ-4.

I'm horribly car illiterate though. I didn't get my license to drive until I was 27 years old. Only been driving since 2008. Didn't even want to learn then but was forced to since I moved out to this blasted state. I don't own any tools besides a screw driver and a hammer and some wire cutters. So I'm not sure if I'm a good candidate for DIY on a car.