My car, a 1997 Lexus ES300 needs a new transmission and torque converter, which my mechanic has quoted me a price of about $6000. I am trying to decide if i should fix my car or try to find a reliable car for 6k. up until this point my car has been very reliable with only the usual maintenance needed.
#to fix or replace (1997 lexus Es300)
cloud saffron
fading blaze
How many miles on the odometer ?
You can find another decent toyota with 140k miles or so with 6k
cloud saffron
around 124K
fading blaze
Honestly thats not too bad for a lexus/toyota
Is your transmission a total dud right now or ?
cloud saffron
had to get it toed to the shop
proper sparrow
6k to stay in a known entity vs 6k to buy something that can (read: will) have other problems. I vote fix. Nothing you buy for 6k is going to be ready to drive reliably, without at least something it’s going to need right away or soon after you get it and discover the problem.
random robin
I vote fix as well, it's a lexus. It'll be good for another 150,000+ miles
viral salmon
Def fix
fading blaze
Honestly, 6k for a whole new tranny on a 97' ES seems like a bit much; Unless you have some emotional ties with the car, I'd personally suggest looking at other cars
Im curious though, what lead to the failure of the transmission? Was the fluid never serviced? Harsh use?
cloud saffron
its technically $5745 for a transmission and torque converter
fading blaze
still pretty expensive just for a clunker repair
random robin
still pretty expensive just for a clunker repair
I will agree with that
Every shop has always quoted me or my family members around 4k
I don't see why it'd be over 5
fading blaze
yeah its way too high for whatever reason, shop just sounds predatory lol
random robin
Little bit yeah
Especially because you could buy the same car for around the same price like you pointed out
fading blaze
Especially because you could buy the same car for around the same price like you...
exactly my point, like the only reason I can see to repair for that kind of price is if it has some sentimental value and you got the money
But I dont think either of those are the case in this situation
proper sparrow
100% worth shopping around the trans replacement job. It is steep. I still suggest that there’s value in knowing the service history versus not, and even that other one may need new ball joints, dampers, o2 sensors, whatever - especially if OP has done that stuff on their own car they know it was done. There’s rarely a car in that price range that doesn’t need something either immediately or soon after the purchase.
random robin
100% worth shopping around the trans replacement job. It is steep. I still sug...
I definitely agree. One of my friends was able to get a 06 civic for 2900 with 140k miles. It has some evap system problems but that's it and it'll be a cheap fix. He got very very lucky and i would honestly stick with the car you have