Time To Dump My Cruiser?

[JoeyC33]

I really do love my 2001 Limited but I'm thinking more and more that it's not worth all the problems and money I have put in and now is the time to get rid of it. About 2 months ago I put $1200 into a new alternator, battery, electrical work and clock spring. Now this week the breaks started to squeak really REALLY bad and the car shakes violently when I go over 70MPH. I'm going to call service Monday and I'm sure the repairs will cost me another arm and leg... It has 54,000 miles and its not even like I put that much stress on it, its basically a weekend car. Any advice?

[CREWZIN]

Joey,

I'd probably feel the same way you did if a lot of things went wrong with mine. As you can see from my signature I'm coming up to the $1000 time when the timing belt, water pump, tensioner, serpentine and alternator belt need replacing and if it wasn't a worthwhile investment I'd probably think about trading it in also. I'ts only let me down once since I bought it so I consider it a pretty good investment.

In the long run, it's up to you.

[MINIHEMI46]

JoeyC33, first off is it paid for? Lots of people don't think about it much is a car is a machine and it breaks down from time to time. It's not perfect, nothing is in this world. And I don't care if you drive a toyota, nissan, chevy, ford. If a toyota or nissan was so great why is there service bays at the dealerships and every bay is full. Think of it this way, your PT has a bad flu bug and your taking it to the doctors office. If it's not paid for yet, it's still cheaper than trading it in, you getting the shaft and out thousands of dollars or payments for 5 years on a something new and after you drive it off the lot it's used. Or you buy a used one and get someone elses repairs.
just my 2 cents.

[Duster]

It's up to you but a new car will costs you, say, 500$/month for the next 4 years...so even if your car (assuming it's completly cleared) needs 1500$/year for reparations, it can be good move to keep it.

Especially with only 54,000 miles and if it's in good visual shape.

[damilleniumboy]

Your tires just need balanced. Your pads are way gone, and the drums/rotors need to be re-surfaced, so that is why it shakes "violently" when you try to brake. Who is making the repairs on it?

[JoeyC33]

Sorry it took so long for me to get back to the post. I bought the car used about 2 years ago with 34,000 miles on it and it's all paid off now. As far as the shaking issue its definitely not a balance issue. The dealer did an balance around Sept. and the car still was shaking so I took it to a tire/break place and they claimed the balance was way off and questioned if the dealer ever did it to begin with. Everything else (tires, alignment, etc.) was perfect so they did another balance and now it still shakes when I go 70 and above only getting worse the faster I go so I'm stumped...