When to give up on a car?

darlingtonfan

darlingtonfan

Team Owner
Joined
Jul 31, 2016
Messages
523
Points
173
Location
Irmo South Carolina
This is the first time we've ever had this problem with a vehicle that we are still making payments on.My wife's 2014 Honda Pilot needs a ring job with a little over 80,000 miles on it.The Honda dealership said it will be about $2000 and we've taken it to a local mechanic to verify the problem.The local mechanic said Honda dealership is giving us a break on the price.It has something to do with it cutting off cylinders to save on gas.We have spent $1400 over the summer on AC and power window repairs as it's out of warranty.I am ready to get rid of it but my wife doesn't want to because she still owes money on it and we usually drive vehicles 6 or 7 years before trading.
 
darlingtonfan said:
This is the first time we've ever had this problem with a vehicle that we are still making payments on.My wife's 2014 Honda Pilot needs a ring job with a little over 80,000 miles on it.The Honda dealership said it will be about $2000 and we've taken it to a local mechanic to verify the problem.The local mechanic said Honda dealership is giving us a break on the price.It has something to do with it cutting off cylinders to save on gas.We have spent $1400 over the summer on AC and power window repairs as it's out of warranty.I am ready to get rid of it but my wife doesn't want to because she still owes money on it and we usually drive vehicles 6 or 7 years before trading.
Click to expand...
I would say, once it gets to the point where it's a money pit, it's time to get rid of it.
 
I guess it's going to take another class action lawsuit to fix the problem from 2014 up to now.Honda corporate are telling us we are using bad gas causing the problem now.The only cylinders that are bad are the 3 that are shutting down to save gas,and their is no way for us to override the ECO mode.The Honda dealership said their hands are tied till corporate changes their decision.I have never been so frustrated before with a vehicle.
 
darlingtonfan said:
I guess it's going to take another class action lawsuit to fix the problem from 2014 up to now.Honda corporate are telling us we are using bad gas causing the problem now.The only cylinders that are bad are the 3 that are shutting down to save gas,and their is no way for us to override the ECO mode.The Honda dealership said their hands are tied till corporate changes their decision.I have never been so frustrated before with a vehicle.
Click to expand...
Yes, I understand your frustration. Its only just out of warranty for a known fault.
 
Depends on what you owe. Could you trade it in?

My grandpa's Buick had the radio's screen fail. Well there were none instock in north america (all 3 countries). They sent it out for repair, leaving him a hole in the dash and no HVAC. They get the radio in, have him bring the car in, it still doesn't work. He tells them to screw off, goes out to the lot, asks a salesman to write him up an invoice on a fully loaded malibu. Raised all hell about the buick, they paid him over 100% trade-in value for the issues, and he came out basically with an almost free car with new warranty.

I owe 10K on my Hyundai (only about 1500 upside down) at 68,000 miles. I'm planning to sell it around 80-90K (warranty ends at 100K) or whenever the first signs of issues arise, and trade it in for another CPO- but i'm going to go with a hatchback next time. Trunks are just too small for what I do.
 
Magnethead said:
Depends on what you owe. Could you trade it in?

My grandpa's Buick had the radio's screen fail. Well there were none instock in north america (all 3 countries). They sent it out for repair, leaving him a hole in the dash and no HVAC. They get the radio in, have him bring the car in, it still doesn't work. He tells them to screw off, goes out to the lot, asks a salesman to write him up an invoice on a fully loaded malibu. Raised all hell about the buick, they paid him over 100% trade-in value for the issues, and he came out basically with an almost free car with new warranty.

I owe 10K on my Hyundai (only about 1500 upside down) at 68,000 miles. I'm planning to sell it around 80-90K (warranty ends at 100K) or whenever the first signs of issues arise, and trade it in for another CPO- but i'm going to go with a hatchback next time. Trunks are just too small for what I do.
Click to expand...
Wife and I are close to retirement and the reason we bought the Honda was to get 6 to 7 years or more out of it.Our plan was to pay off the Pilot in May and look for a small B class RV.We just have to come up with a new plan.
 
ToyYoda said:
That's the downside of these newer cars, there's so much stuff that can break on them now vs. 10-15 years ago, and a lot of it is newer, unproven technology.
Click to expand...
'08 Focus still has the original plugs, plug boots, fuel filter, clutch and brakes at 104,000 miles.
 
Professur said:
Original plugs in an aluminium head ... good luck when they have to come out. Original brakes?
Click to expand...
You sound like an nonbeliever. Original brakes and clutch.
The only thing I've replaced is a right motor mount (understandable for FWD) and serp belt and idler pulleys.
 
BobbyFord said:
'08 Focus still has the original plugs, plug boots, fuel filter, clutch and brakes at 104,000 miles.
Click to expand...
Those Focuses must hold up pretty well, there's still a ton of older ones on the road.

I'm interested to see how some of these newer features stand the test of time, like push button starts, 8-speed automatics, cylinder shut-offs, etc. That's one thing I like about my Frontier, even though it's a '16 it's full of 2005 technology, as that was the first year of the current-gen Frontier and they've been changed very little since. And I'm totally OK with that.
 
yep, i had a friend post today he's doing his first brake change at 126,000 miles (mostly highway). Our ram had the original spark plugs when we sold it at 296,000 and it was still getting 14.X MPG with 300 pounds of equipment in the bed and a 100 pound tonneau.
 
ToyYoda said:
Those Focuses must hold up pretty well, there's still a ton of older ones on the road.

I'm interested to see how some of these newer features stand the test of time, like push button starts, 8-speed automatics, cylinder shut-offs, etc. That's one thing I like about my Frontier, even though it's a '16 it's full of 2005 technology, as that was the first year of the current-gen Frontier and they've been changed very little since. And I'm totally OK with that.
Click to expand...
Most newer nissans are also belt driven CVT. I don't want to have one of those when it's belt replacement time. Nope Nope Nope.

Not sure if I will stay Hyundai or not. Depends on what's around when I get to that bridge. Nissan is out and ford is out. I wouldn't mind a toyota.

But 20,000 miles at 20 miles a day is 3 years. Who knows what models we'll have CPO or similar in 3 years.
 
Magnethead said:
Most newer nissans are also belt driven CVT. I don't want to have one of those when it's belt replacement time. Nope Nope Nope.
Click to expand...
Mine has a conventional 5-speed automatic, but yes, the majority of Nissans are now CVT's. I think the trucks and the 370Z are the only non-CVT automatics that Nissan offers now. Even the Pathfinder now comes with a CVT.
 
darlingtonfan said:
This is the first time we've ever had this problem with a vehicle that we are still making payments on.My wife's 2014 Honda Pilot needs a ring job with a little over 80,000 miles on it.The Honda dealership said it will be about $2000 and we've taken it to a local mechanic to verify the problem.The local mechanic said Honda dealership is giving us a break on the price.It has something to do with it cutting off cylinders to save on gas.We have spent $1400 over the summer on AC and power window repairs as it's out of warranty.I am ready to get rid of it but my wife doesn't want to because she still owes money on it and we usually drive vehicles 6 or 7 years before trading.
Click to expand...
That would make me want to puke!!!!!!!!!! A 2014 that was out of warranty ...... still owed money on it..... and needed an engine overhaul!!!!!!!! That's bullcrap.......!!!!!!!!!!

Especially since you have spent so much already!!!!!!!! I go with you...... get rid of that piece of crap...... there is a time to stop the money pit.... and I think this is your time...... I really hate it for you..... I have never bought a new vehicle in my life...... and never will..... but... if I did ..... and had the experience you have had..... I'd be pissed off enough to bite nails in two...... I've purchased 2 year old vehicles several times but never new ones.... I was never the kind to put much faith in warranties or want to pay several thousand dollars to smell that ''new car'' deal..........
 
Non-believer? Not so much as I don't believe in bigfoot or unicorns. The fact that I've never seen one doesn't mean it doesn't exist. I've personally never owned a car that I ran for more than 2 years on the same set of brakes (front brakes at least)... and i've owned a lot of cars over the years. I'd say no more than 50 thousand KM, 30K miles before changing them out. But a car that does 90% highway and doesn't have roadsalt to deal with, particularly with high durability brakes might achieve it. Myself, I deliberately choose high wearing, high clamping brakes. As Yosemite Sam once said "When Ah says "Whoa" ya varmit, Ah means "Whoa""
 
Professur said:
I deliberately choose high wearing, high clamping brakes. As Yosemite Sam once said "When Ah says "Whoa" ya varmit, Ah means "Whoa""
Click to expand...

I agree but the brake dust on the wheels looks like hell
 
Dodged a bullet with this thread!!
SHEESH!! When to give up on a car had me thinking.
I thought it was going to be about how long an older person should be driving before turning in their license.
Us older folks tend to get serious about these things. ;)

As to your dilemma, depending on how much you still owe would be a determining factor combined with what you might get for a Pilot on a trade. Maybe now would be the time to trade it, while it still has value, on a class B unit and start fresh. :idunno:

I'm surprised Honda isn't backing up a known problem and feel you should become the worlds champion letter writer to everyone and anyone who might help you with this problem. Have you tried the consumer advocate of the local newspaper or television station? All they can do is blow you off or then again, they might want to take it on considering Honda isn't willing to support you on an issue they know is a problem even though it is out of warrantee.
As they used to say in the commercials for the New York State lottery: "HEY! You never know!"
 
GM denied, denied and denied DexCool ate gaskets and leaked into the oil destroying bearings. DAMHIKT, then offered $700 if memory serves.
Daughters Escape, rear deck lock actuator failed. Why? The seal around the rear glass allowed water to leak onto the electric actuator. Not a good thing, water and electric motors. They denied claims at first also.
The manufacturers thinking is most car owners will take it on the chin and move on. BASTAGES!!!!!
 
We had a 2011 Chevy Equinox a few years ago. I don't remember what the problem was because I didn't have to pay for it because it was still under warranty, but we had some issues that required the engine to be tore apart at 35k miles. At 84k miles the cat converter had to be replaced and had an issue with the fuel system. We put $2500 into it.

When it died on me in the middle of Charlotte rush hour with the kids in the car, enough was enough, i require a reliable car for my family car, when its not reliable, its useless to me. I could only imagine how many more problems we were going to have with it going forward. I traded it in even though we were upside down on it in 2014. I still do not regret that decision.

It never got within 7 or 8 MPG of the advertised MPG. I traded in for a bigger car, and believe it or not better MPG.
 
Ahh..the other issue with the Equinox was "excessive oil consumption". Apparently that's a problem on that model year.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom