Clunker or keeper?
Editor’s note: Barry Courter has a 26-year-old son who is a college graduate and a 21-year-old daughter who is a college senior. Each week he poses a question he wishes they would ask.
Q: Dad, how will I know when it’s time to get rid of a used car?
A: There is probably a mathematical formula out there, but basically when you are putting more money into maintenance or repairs than it is worth, it’s time to get rid of it. It’s nice to not have a monthly car payment, though you should plan for at least one or two repairs per year. It’s when that repair costs a lot, or when you are faced with several, that it’s time to put the vehicle out to pasture.