# Major repairs versus new car **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [September 15, 2008, 7:24pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/major-repairs-versus-new-car/19606 "2008-09-15T19:24:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![cphippen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f17d59/32.png) [@cphippen](https://community.cartalk.com/u/cphippen)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2008, 7:24pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/major-repairs-versus-new-car/19606/1 "2008-09-15T19:24:09Z")
Am I crazy to spend about $4,300 for a new transmission for my 1999 Volvo XC that has 200,000 miles on it, but is otherwise in great condition? It has been lovingly serviced and cared for. I love all of this car’s attributes: size, handling, interior, etc. A new Volvo is about $40,000 and a recent used one is about $25,000. Next to those numbers $4,300 for exactly what I want seems cheap. Am I crazy? ---
**Author:** ![Docnick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Docnick](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Docnick)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2008, 7:28pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/major-repairs-versus-new-car/19606/2 "2008-09-15T19:28:40Z")
You should get a quote from a good independent transmission shop as to the cost of a REBUILD. That would be considerably less, I think. If you love the car that much and it is otherwise reliable, It would be worth a rebuild. ---
**Author:** ![andrew\_j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/91b2a8/32.png) [@andrew\_j](https://community.cartalk.com/u/andrew_j)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2008, 8:33pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/major-repairs-versus-new-car/19606/3 "2008-09-15T20:33:29Z")
No not really. Enjoy your fixed Volvo. ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2008, 11:11pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/major-repairs-versus-new-car/19606/4 "2008-09-15T23:11:45Z")
If you don’t fix the transmission, it will be worth $4300 less when you sell it. Whether you keep it or not, fix the transmission. And check around for a better price as Docnick suggested. ---
**Author:** ![GreasyJack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/df705f/32.png) [@GreasyJack](https://community.cartalk.com/u/GreasyJack)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2008, 12:13am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/major-repairs-versus-new-car/19606/5 "2008-09-16T00:13:19Z")
Usually the thing to do with a blown transmission in a high-mileage car is to try to find a used transmission, although I don’t know if there’s going to be a lot of these out there for this car. ---
**Author:** ![Dave\_G](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/dave_g/32/768_2.png) [@Dave\_G](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Dave_G)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2008, 12:41am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/major-repairs-versus-new-car/19606/6 "2008-09-16T00:41:59Z")
$4300 would be a poor investment on a car of this age. Instead simply obtain a used transmission from a low-mileage car at a salvage yard. Your first transmission made it 200K, so a used transmission with 50K on it will outlast the rest of the car. ---
**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2008, 12:45am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/major-repairs-versus-new-car/19606/7 "2008-09-16T00:45:35Z")
> Usually the thing to do with a blown transmission in a high-mileage car is to try to find a used transmission That’s what I’d do. What’s the car worth??? Why put $4k into a vehicle that’s NOT worth $4k.