It’s hard to let go of a car that’s been with you through thick and thin. Maybe it’s the truck that hauled your kids to college, or the sedan that got you through a few lean years when you couldn’t afford a new one. You know every noise it makes, every quirk in the seat heater, and exactly how far the gas gauge will go past “E.” But at some point, you have to ask the question nobody wants to face: is it time to say goodbye?
Cars don’t last forever, but modern ones last a lot longer than they used to. Two hundred thousand miles isn’t unusual anymore, and a well-kept car can easily double that. The key word there is well-kept, but also maintained. If you’ve been religious about oil changes, transmission service, and the other unglamorous maintenance items, you’ve earned every mile. But if your dashboard lights look like a Christmas tree and your mechanic knows you by first name, that’s a sign.
The first real test comes when repairs start costing more than the car is worth. You can check online to get a ballpark trade-in or private-party value, or even click SELL A CAR at the top of CarPro.com, but the rule of thumb is simple: if your next repair bill would cover six months of car payments on something newer, it’s time to rethink your loyalty. I’ve seen folks sink thousands into an old car because “I just had the transmission done.” The problem is, next month it’ll be the air conditioning, then the power steering, then the alternator. It’s like feeding a horse that can’t pull a wagon anymore. Show listeners have heard me say many times: “Once it starts, it will never stop,”
Another clue is when safety passes reliability. Older cars don’t have the crash protection, airbags, or driver-assist systems we take for granted now. A 10- or 15-year-old vehicle might still run fine, but one accident could be the end of the road. You can’t put a price on safety for your family.
Then there’s fuel economy. If your old SUV gets 15 miles per gallon and you’re driving 15,000 miles a year, you’re buying a thousand gallons of gas annually. If a new one gets 25 mpg, you’ll cut that by 400 gallons — roughly $1,200 a year at today’s prices. That kind of savings adds up fast.
There’s also something to be said for peace of mind. Newer cars have warranties, roadside assistance, and a level of dependability that lets you get in and go without worrying what might break next. That’s worth more than people realize.
You can also push it too far. You can take an older car that is still running and drivable, and it has got some value as a trade-in. It could be worth $1500 to $2500 and you do not realize it, especially with today’s high used car prices. But, if you keep going until you have a catastrophic mechanical failure, the value is gone. You can donate it, pay a tow bill to have it hauled off, or make a boat anchor out of it.
Saying goodbye doesn’t mean you didn’t appreciate the miles you had. It just means you know when it’s time to move on. If your old friend is showing its age, don’t feel guilty for trading it in before it leaves you stranded. Cars are built to serve us, not the other way around.
So, when the repairs pile up, the safety tech falls behind, or you find yourself holding your breath every time you turn the key — that’s your sign. Thank it for the miles, take a last picture, and move on. You’ll both be better off for it.