I have a '98 Ford Contour I bought used a little over 4 years ago for my first car. Since then I've gone through two batteries, two alternators, had the transmission rebuilt, motor mounts, timing belt, timing tensioner, idler pulley, and now it's back in the shop. It hasn't even been a full 10 days since it was in the shop for the timing belt/tensioner and alternator and it's making noises a car shouldn't be making.
Every time I start to get some money together and start entertaining notions of getting something that isn't held together with rust and prayers, it breaks down and I end up broke. I've put around $3,500-4,000 into it over the years and I'm hoping whatever is wrong with it now isn't expensive and the car will last long enough for me to save enough money to at least put a decent down payment on a newer car(probably a Honda or Toyota).
So what about you guys? How much have you had to put into repairs beyond the usual maintenance(oil change, air filter, spark plugs, etc...)? What kind of car are you thinking of getting to replace it?(if it isn't reliable)
Every time I start to get some money together and start entertaining notions of getting something that isn't held together with rust and prayers, it breaks down and I end up broke. I've put around $3,500-4,000 into it over the years and I'm hoping whatever is wrong with it now isn't expensive and the car will last long enough for me to save enough money to at least put a decent down payment on a newer car(probably a Honda or Toyota).
So what about you guys? How much have you had to put into repairs beyond the usual maintenance(oil change, air filter, spark plugs, etc...)? What kind of car are you thinking of getting to replace it?(if it isn't reliable)
