Oct 23, 2025
Is It Time to Replace My Vehicle or Should I Repair It?
Sometimes it’s a hard decision whether it’s time to replace your current vehicle or continue to afford its repairs. Time and road miles can take a toll on any car, making it more cost-effective to trade it in for a newer model. Here are a few things to consider when making your decision.
When Is It Time to Replace My Vehicle?
- Age – How old is your current vehicle? A high-mileage vehicle with aging parts generally deteriorates more quickly, requiring more frequent visits to the mechanic.
- Cost Concerns – Do some larger repairs that your vehicle needs include faulty transmission, bad brakes, or steering problems? A trustworthy mechanic can examine your vehicle to tell you if your vehicle is accumulating costly problems.
- Parts Becoming Harder to Find – Depending on your make and model, you may start running into a problem finding the parts needed to do repairs. Then it would be worth looking into a newer model to drive.
Should I Just Repair My Current Vehicle?
- Fix What You Can Yourself – If you are looking at saving money, figure out which repairs you can buy parts for and do yourself. Online videos and tutorials have come a long way, and you can probably learn to do easier repairs. There may be repairs that are needed in the future, but not in the present. If budget is an issue, this can help you decide what is important to repair now and what is not pertinent and can wait.
- Follow the Recommended Service Schedule – Your make and model should have a guideline on services that should be done at what time. Finding a reliable service technician and sticking to this schedule can extend the life of your vehicle. It is never too late to start a good vehicle maintenance plan.
- Just Not in the Budget– Before choosing to purchase a new vehicle, check your budget first. Make sure you can afford to make the move to a newer vehicle. You might find that the newer vehicle will cost about the same as continuing to repair an older model.
Repair or Replacement – Choose Thelen Mazda in Michigan
If you choose to bring your Mazda model in for repair, trust the expert mechanics at the Thelen Mazda Service Center for all of your repair needs. When you decide it’s time to trade in, our friendly sales staff at Thelen Mazda in Bay City, Michigan, can assist you in finding a quality new or used Mazda vehicle for your budget.
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