Let me start by saying I know diddly about cars. I can do the very basics, but that is it. So here is my problem:
I drive a '97 Infiniti I30. Love it. 157k on it. Engine and everything else runs great as far as I can tell. I have maintained it very well. Personally, I think I could get the engine past 200k. However, I recently had my car checked out and apparently my rear brakes are effed up. The guy told me that my calipers were out of line and it is causing my brake pads to wear down quicker than they should. My left rear pad is at 1/32 while my right is at 8/32. I told this to my brother and he said that didn't even make sense, but that is what they told me. The solution? A complete brake overhaul topping $800. I know that $800 is not a magnificent amount of money, but the car is probably only worth about $2,000 at this point, and I need a couple of tires too, so to fix this issue, I would be dropping about a grand on a car worth about two grand. I can't help but wonder if it is even worth it. I have looked at cars, and have found some I like, and the payments would certainly not break the bank, but I enjoy not having a car payment. Also, my car wont need to pass inspection for about another year.
So...what should I do? I think my first step is to take it to another mechanic and see if I can get it done cheaper. If I can get the work done for say, $500, then I probably just do it and keep driving the car for a while. But if I can't, maybe I just put a new pad on and drive it until it needs to be inspected again? Or should I just say screw all that work and just go out and get the new car?
I drive a '97 Infiniti I30. Love it. 157k on it. Engine and everything else runs great as far as I can tell. I have maintained it very well. Personally, I think I could get the engine past 200k. However, I recently had my car checked out and apparently my rear brakes are effed up. The guy told me that my calipers were out of line and it is causing my brake pads to wear down quicker than they should. My left rear pad is at 1/32 while my right is at 8/32. I told this to my brother and he said that didn't even make sense, but that is what they told me. The solution? A complete brake overhaul topping $800. I know that $800 is not a magnificent amount of money, but the car is probably only worth about $2,000 at this point, and I need a couple of tires too, so to fix this issue, I would be dropping about a grand on a car worth about two grand. I can't help but wonder if it is even worth it. I have looked at cars, and have found some I like, and the payments would certainly not break the bank, but I enjoy not having a car payment. Also, my car wont need to pass inspection for about another year.
So...what should I do? I think my first step is to take it to another mechanic and see if I can get it done cheaper. If I can get the work done for say, $500, then I probably just do it and keep driving the car for a while. But if I can't, maybe I just put a new pad on and drive it until it needs to be inspected again? Or should I just say screw all that work and just go out and get the new car?