To Keep or Not to Keep...

"Steve" (pankowsj)
10/31/2017 at 14:49 • Filed to: None

I have an 06 Malibu Maxx LT it has ~160,000 miles. When it warms, the transmission sucks and the cooling system is a mess (I recently replaced the thermostat, and did a full flush, and had the fluid and filter done in the transmission).

A friend is offering me her AWD ‘03 Subaru Legacy Sedan with 120,000 miles for $1500. Her family has maintained it at dealerships since new.

I usually believe that for every $1,000 you spend on a car (initial investment) you should get 10,000 miles out of it. I spent $4,500 on the Malibu in February of ‘16 and have added ~30,000 miles.

Should I sell the Malibu to my mechanic and buy the Subaru, or drive the Malibu into the grave?

If it helps, I live near some superb driving roads.

DISCUSSION (30)

itschrome > Steve
10/31/2017 at 14:52

yes.

Arrivederci > itschrome
10/31/2017 at 14:55

This is the correct answer.

shop-teacher > Steve
10/31/2017 at 14:56

As long as the head gaskets don’t need replacing, that sounds like a good deal to me.

awmaster10 > Steve
10/31/2017 at 14:56

Do it

crowmolly > Steve
10/31/2017 at 14:56

Absolutely. That Malibu is flying red flags like a Chinese military parade.

Steve > itschrome
10/31/2017 at 14:57

That’s what I was thinking...

Nibby > Steve
10/31/2017 at 14:58

do it, sell malibu to the mechanic and take the friend’s subaru

and marry her

Steve > crowmolly
10/31/2017 at 14:59

I’ll have to remember that one...

Thanks for the advice.

Steve > awmaster10
10/31/2017 at 14:59

I think I will... It doesn’t hurt that I really love the Boxer motors..

Steve > Nibby
10/31/2017 at 15:01

HAHAHA I’ll take the Subaru, but I am already married.

Steve > shop-teacher
10/31/2017 at 15:01

Those appear to be solid.

crowmolly > Steve
10/31/2017 at 15:01

Really it’s the trans issue that has me most concerned. You could have months left or just days left.

Steve > crowmolly
10/31/2017 at 15:03

Yeah, that’s been the thing for me... I don’t really want to rebuild the trans out of a Malibu...

Nibby > Steve
10/31/2017 at 15:04

ok then give her this cat

Kinja'd!!!

PartyPooper2012 > Steve
10/31/2017 at 15:05

Bank the subaru...

Buy subaru. Drive malibu till you kill it. Then you have a nice subaru waiting for you. win win win

Steve > PartyPooper2012
10/31/2017 at 15:08

Interesting... I would have to register the thing, and that’s a $200+ proposition, when it’s all said and done I could break even now, or not break even later (no way I get 2k for the Malibu from a yard).

shop-teacher > Steve
10/31/2017 at 15:10

I’m a fan of the Malibu Maxx, but if the trans is that bad after having the fluid and filter change, keeping it around and waiting for the trans to need a rebuild/replace doesn’t make much sense to me.

shop-teacher > Nibby
10/31/2017 at 15:11

I need to train my cat to do this.