The question is not how much car can you afford to buy? It's how much car can you afford to maintain? True some manufacturers still offer "free" maintenance but the truth is you are really paying for the maintenance in the price of the vehicle. I was reminded of this automotive maintenance issue today at the shop.
A flatbed tow showed up with a 2001 Infiniti QX4; its the high line version of a Nissan Pathfinder SUV class of vehicle. It was brought in as a no start and an exhaust leak issue. The no start was due to a dead battery. The Infiniti was not being driven due to the fact it was a year overdue NJ State Inspection. This is where it gets interesting. From the customers perspective there was nothing really wrong with the Infiniti. Just an exhaust leak and a dead battery. In removing it from the flatbed I discovered the following. There was a fuel leak at the gas tank, the service engine light is on (I drove it in from the street after we jump started the dead battery), an exhaust leak/noise from somewhere, 2 bald front tires and a very loud knocking sound from the engine; I'm thinking connecting rod or something worse if thats possible. Never brought it into the shop, didn't lift it to look it over; I had seen and heard enough. Funny thing is I remember saying to Tom (the owners father) that when she was considering purchasing the truck as a used vehicle 4 years ago with 75,000 miles on it that this Infiniti was going to require regular and planned maintenance. It did not get this mainteance as you may have guessed. Tom understands and can only advise as parents are sometimes forced to do in the case of older adult children. Turns out Tom's daugther has friend that can repair the exhaust and get the Infiniti through NJ State Inspection without repairing any of the other items. Or that is what I have been told. Of course that makes me feel wonderful having just spent $8200. to continue to be part of the new NJ State inspection program but that's a blog entry for another day. Anyway back to the story at hand.
The bottom line is its not about how much car you can afford to buy. Its about the whole package. Affording the car AND the upkeep. Taking care of it so it can take care of you. Jennifier is in the process of finding this out. Don't be a Jennifer. Cars are a great deal like children; be sure you can afford to support them in the long run because its not about the cost to get into the game; its about how long the suport last throughout. Be sure if you order champagne you can really afford to drink it. Otherwise it may still taste like beer. And probably flat beer at that....
In a previous blog, “A Runners Wife” I spoke about my husband training for the NYC marathon. All I have to say is that the months of training all came together of an amazing race. Race day is a grueling day for runners, and the family. But a miracle happened...
U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder testified before the senate judiciary committee and basically shrugged when asked if any other enemy combatant captured overseas had ever been brought to civilian criminal court to face justice. Talk about an incompetent boob, not to mention a disgrace.
Here is a list of wines all from Spain, and menus from restaurants in Brooklyn where a crew of us did a food / wine crawl through Carrol Gardens and Williamsburg recently
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